Match overview
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 8 wickets in an ODI at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 14 November 2025. Sri Lanka batted first and posted 288/8, a total comfortably above the venue's average of 214. Pakistan's chase was largely one-sided: 77 runs came in the powerplay alone, and only 2 wickets fell across the entire 50-over reply. Babar Azam won the Player of the Match award. The result continues Pakistan's strong run of recent ODI form and deepens Sri Lanka's difficult sequence, with four defeats in their last five outings.
Sri Lanka's innings had decent shape to it. Their 51-run powerplay was measured rather than explosive, but the middle overs produced 162 runs for 4 wickets, keeping the innings ticking. The death overs added 75 more at the cost of 3 wickets. On paper, 288 looked competitive. In practice, Pakistan's batting made the pursuit feel routine from the opening exchanges.
Pakistan's reply was built on assurance at the top of the order. The powerplay produced 77 runs for 1 wicket, compared to the ground's ODI average of 41. After that platform, the middle overs yielded another 158 for just 1 wicket. The final 10 overs were a formality: 54 runs, no further losses. Pakistan crossed the line with their batting order barely tested.
Venue and conditions
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium has now hosted 79 ODIs. The average first-innings score of 214 makes Sri Lanka's 288 look a genuinely good effort; it was 74 runs above par. Historically, chasing sides win 60% of completed matches here, so Pakistan's decision to field after winning the toss aligned with the ground's tendencies. Toss winners have chosen to field in 58% of matches at Rawalpindi.
The pitch here tends to offer early assistance with the new ball before flattening out into a batter-friendly surface by the middle overs. Both innings in this match reflected that pattern: Sri Lanka's powerplay was relatively circumspect (51 runs, 1 wicket) before the middle phase opened up, and Pakistan's batting simply accelerated further and earlier. Average death-overs runs at the ground stand at 34; both sides exceeded that figure.
Dew can be a factor at Rawalpindi in evening matches, which partly explains why fielding first after winning the toss has become the default choice. The second innings here was played in conditions that clearly suited Pakistan's top order.
How to watch
Pakistan and Sri Lanka ODIs are available in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket. Subscribers can stream via Sky Go, and matches are also accessible through a NOW TV Sports membership. For bilateral series not covered by Sky, check the ECB's broadcast guidance page for the most up-to-date information on UK rights.
Recent form
Pakistan arrive at this fixture with four wins from their last five ODIs. Victories over South Africa on three occasions and Sri Lanka in the immediately preceding encounter paint a picture of a side in steady rhythm, even if the lone defeat, against South Africa, shows they are not unbeatable. Home conditions at Rawalpindi clearly suit their style: the top order's aggression in chases has been consistent.
Sri Lanka's run coming into this match was harder to ignore. Four defeats in five ODIs, with wins only against Hong Kong, suggested a side under structural pressure. Losses to Pakistan, India, Pakistan again, and Bangladesh across 2025 raise questions about their ability to compete with full-strength opposition. Their 288 here at least showed batting capability, but the inability to defend it continues a concerning pattern.