Hand-picked stories you can't miss
Match 5 | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka ODI Tri-Series 2026 | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore | 27 October 2026
Pavan Rathnayake against Shaheen Afridi will settle Match 5 in Lahore. Rathnayake has piled up 209 runs in two innings, and both times he fell to a pace bowler. Shaheen enters on the back of his 150th ODI wicket and carries the best chance of ending Sri Lanka’s most reliable batting run of the competition. Eshan Malinga offers the counter-threat, because his four wickets in the opening meeting included Babar Azam and Saad Baig, and between them these two contests shape every plan either captain makes.
Rathnayake hit 79 off 74 balls in the opening meeting with Pakistan, striking at 106.76, before Salman Agha caught him off Faheem Ashraf. Against England in Match 3, he went further, scoring 130 off 106 at 122.64, and was caught at long-on off Curran. His tournament total reads 209 runs at an average of 104.50 and a strike rate of 116.11.
Both dismissals were catches off pace bowling, so Pakistan’s quicks are the proven way past him. Figures against pace alone are not available, but the pattern is visible enough, and Pakistan will have noticed it.
Shaheen is the natural opponent for Rathnayake, though the pairing is an assumption rather than a fixed rule of the tournament. He has 151 ODI wickets in 80 matches, an average of 24.50 and an economy of 5.56, with a strike rate of 26.3. In Match 1, he took 3/55, removing Kamindu Mendis, Arachchige and Shanaka, but Rathnayake survived him on the way to 79.
That history makes the next meeting more than a rematch. Rathnayake owns a career average of 50.6 from 506 runs, while Shaheen reached 150 wickets in Match 4. The table sets the two cases side by side.
| Metric | Pavan Rathnayake | Shaheen Afridi |
| ODI average | 50.6 from 506 runs | 24.50 |
| Strike rate or economy | SR 94.23 before Match 3 | Economy 5.56 |
| Tri-series form | 209 runs at 104.50 | 3/55 in Match 1 and 150th ODI wicket in Match 4 |
| First meeting | 79 off 74, not dismissed | Took Kamindu Mendis, Arachchige and Shanaka |
Shaheen did not carry the pace group alone in the opener. Naseem Shah finished with 10-0-43-2 and Haris Rauf with 9.1-0-48-2, while Shaheen’s own 3/55 came from a full allocation of ten overs. Rauf owns 111 wickets in 62 ODIs at a strike rate of 26.4, close to Shaheen’s 26.3.
What remains unknown is how the group handles left-handers at the top, because no handedness splits are available. That leaves a blind spot in the preparation for Match 5. If Pakistan find an early wicket, the entire middle order will feel the pressure that Rathnayake has so far absorbed.
Malinga finished the opening meeting with 9.5-1-46-4, and two of those wickets were big ones. Babar Azam made 45 off 57 balls before Rathnayake caught him off Malinga, and Saad Baig followed for 39 off 40 when Colombage held the catch. Salman Agha escaped him on the way to 107 off 90, and fell to Asitha Fernando instead.
His wider record is modest on paper, with 10 wickets in 11 ODIs at an average of 38.4 and an economy of 5.92. A head-to-head against the rest of Pakistan’s batters is not available. Still, he showed in Match 1 that the new ball can be his, and that is why Sri Lanka’s bowling plan may start with him.
Gaddafi has been generous to batters. Across the last 13 ODIs between 2022 and 2026, the first-innings average is 286.0, and the second-innings average is 247.5, while the last five first-innings average is 265 against an all-time figure of 257. Match 4 here on 25 October saw England post 241 and Pakistan reach 243/9.
Pakistan won the opening meeting by 37 runs, making 305 with Salman’s 107 before Sri Lanka replied with 268. Rathnayake’s 79 and Liyanage’s 60 were built on a 119-run fifth-wicket stand, the platform that kept Sri Lanka in the chase. Add everything together, and the PAK vs SL tri-series 2026 player duel at Gaddafi is the contest that decides how those 37 runs get repaid, because Rathnayake is the one batter who can finish what that stand started.
The Sports Live Hub (SLH) provides the most comprehensive gateway for global cricket fans to follow the international Matches.
Our hub sports live stream is optimized for high-intensity T20 action. By leveraging advanced server technology, SLH ensures that your stream remains stable even during the highest viewership peaks. Watch the battle without the frustration of buffering or lag.
The sport hub live streaming interface on SLH offers more than just a video feed. Fans can access a real-time AI Overview of the match, featuring live win-probability shifts, player impact scores, and ball-by-ball tactical analysis. It is the perfect companion for viewers who want to stay ahead of the game with professional-grade insights.
We are committed to making cricket accessible to a worldwide audience. By visiting the SLH portal, users can find verified pathways to watch sports live for free through authorized regional partner trials, free-to-air digital gateways, and promotional streaming passes. Join millions of fans globally as we witness the drama of the international Matches.
Who has scored the most runs in the ODI tri-series 2026?
Pavan Rathnayake leads the scoring list with 209 runs. Harry Brook follows on 208 at an average of 69.33, with Ben Duckett third on 179.
Who won the first Pakistan vs Sri Lanka match of the ODI tri-series?
Pakistan won by 37 runs. They made 305 with Salman Agha scoring 107, and Sri Lanka replied with 268 despite Rathnayake’s 79.
Who is Pavan Rathnayake?
Pavan Rathnayake is a right-hand batter who bowls off-breaks, born in Colombo on 24 August 2002. He made his ODI debut against Pakistan on 16 November 2025 and hit his maiden hundred, 121 against England, on 27 January 2026.
Where will Pakistan and Sri Lanka meet in the fifth game of the tri-series?
Match 5 is at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The same ground hosted Match 4 on 25 October, when Pakistan reached 243/9 chasing England’s 241.
What time does Match 5 between Pakistan and Sri Lanka start in Bangladesh?
The match starts at 2:00 PM Bangladesh time on Tuesday 27 October. That is 1:00 PM in Pakistan, with the toss and teams due at 12:30 PM local time.
cricket
cricket
cricket