Match overview

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 6 runs in a high-scoring ODI at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 11 November 2025. Batting first after Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to field, Pakistan posted 299/5. Sri Lanka gave themselves every chance with a flying powerplay of 75 without loss, well above the venue's average of 41, but lost 7 wickets in the middle overs and could not fully recover. They finished on 293/9. Agha Salman was named Player of the Match in a game that stayed alive until the final overs.

The result was tighter than the scorecard suggests. Pakistan's death-overs bowling conceded 71 runs for 2 wickets, which in a chase of 300 always invites a nervous finish. In the end, the damage done between overs 11 and 40 with the Sri Lanka batting was irreparable. Seven wickets gone in that phase, for 147 runs, meant the final target stayed just out of reach.

For Pakistan, this was their fifth win from the last six meetings in this rivalry. Sri Lanka had beaten them by 6 runs at this same ground in an earlier 2025 fixture, so there was a certain symmetry to the margin.

Venue and conditions

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium has a well-established character in ODI cricket. Across 79 matches at the venue, the average first-innings score sits at 214 and the average second-innings score at 208: a ground where totals above 280 represent a meaningful challenge for the bowling side. Pakistan's 299/5 was therefore above par, though the pitch clearly offered no demons for batters.

The chase success rate at Rawalpindi is 60 per cent, which partly explains why Sri Lanka felt confident opting to field. Teams winning the toss choose to field at this ground 58 per cent of the time. The powerplay data backs that instinct too: the average powerplay contribution is 41 runs, so Sri Lanka's 75 without loss represented a significant gain on the field.

Where the match turned was in the phase between overs 11 and 40. The average death-overs contribution at the ground is just 34 runs; Pakistan extracted 104 from that phase. Sri Lanka matched them in the powerplay but could not replicate that efficiency through the middle.

How to watch

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka ODI cricket is broadcast in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports Cricket. Matches are available via Sky's satellite service, the Sky Go app, and NOW TV for those without a full Sky subscription. UK viewers should check Sky Sports schedules for specific start times, as day-night fixtures in Pakistan typically begin in late afternoon local time, which translates to early-to-mid afternoon kickoff in the UK.

Recent form

Pakistan arrived at this fixture in confident shape. They had won four of their previous five ODIs against South Africa in 2025, losing only one of those matches. That sequence against a well-organised South Africa side gave their preparations genuine substance.

Sri Lanka's recent run made for harder reading. They lost to India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh before back-to-back wins against Hong Kong and Bangladesh. Three defeats against top-eight opposition ahead of this game meant they came in under pressure, and the mid-innings collapse at Rawalpindi reflected that fragility. Their powerplay showed the attacking intent they are capable of; the middle overs showed what it has cost them when it does not click.