Babar breaks century drought to help Pakistan clinch series
Pakistan's senior batters made light work of chasing down the target of 289 set by Sri Lanka
Andrew Fidel Fernando
14-Nov-2025
Babar Azam broke his century drought • Associated Press
Pakistan 289 for 2 (Babar 102*, Fakhar 78, Rizwan 51*) beat Sri Lanka 288 for 8 (Liyanage 54, Abrar 3-41) by eight wickets
Babar Azam hit his first international century in more than two years, as
Pakistan's senior batters made light work of chasing down the target of 289.
Sri Lanka's middle order had dragged the total to 288 for 8 after they'd lost early wickets.
But on a flat Rawalpindi track, they never looked like defending their score, particularly after their opening bowlers were wayward. Pakistan got home with 10 balls to spare, and eight wickets at their disposal.
They have now won the series 2-0, with one match to play.
Babar's 102 not out off 119 - his 20th ODI ton - was not only significant for ending his international century drought (his last hundred had been in May 2023), but for equaling Saeed Anwar's record for most ODI hundreds for Pakistan. He had two ultra productive regions - through cover and midwicket. Those areas brought him 61 of his runs, and six of his eight fours. He was never seriously tested in this innings, however. Sri Lanka had played one bowler too few, and their seamers were having an off day in any case. At no phase in the innings did the required rate threaten to get out of hand.
Though that century is the big news, all four of Pakistan's top order batters played important innings. Saim Ayub set the chase off rapidly with his 33 off 25 balls, before
Fakhar Zaman's 78 off 93 helped consolidate that start. Babar put on a 100-run stand with Zaman, before
Mohammad Rizwan joined him at the crease for an unbeaten 112-run affair. Rizwan finished with 52 not out off 51 balls.
revival but issues remain 
