Sri Lanka pacer Dilshan Madushanka picked up a fifer against Pakistan.

England have been eliminated with Sri Lanka's thumping win in the 5th match of ODI Tri-Series 2026.

Sri Lanka produced a commanding all-round performance to defeat Pakistan by eight wickets in the fifth match of the ODI Tri-Series 2026 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Tuesday, October 27. The emphatic victory secured Sri Lanka’s place in the final and eliminated England from contention for the title clash.

Dilshan Madushanka destroys Pakistan’s batting line-up

Pakistan’s innings never gained momentum after Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl. The hosts struggled against disciplined bowling and lost wickets at regular intervals, leaving their middle order with too much work to do.

Dilshan Madushanka led the attack brilliantly, finishing with figures of 5/34 in 8.3 overs. His accuracy and ability to exploit Pakistan’s weaknesses helped Sri Lanka take control of the contest early.

The left-arm pacer received useful support from the rest of the bowling unit. Sahan Arachchige claimed two wickets, while Asitha Fernando, Eshan Malinga and Dunith Wellalage picked up one each.

Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 110 in 25.3 overs, a total that left their bowlers with very little margin for error.

Pakistan collapse after put in to bat first

Babar Azam was Pakistan’s leading run-scorer, making 29 off 33 deliveries, including five boundaries. However, he struggled to build a substantial partnership as wickets continued to fall around him.

Hasan Nawaz contributed 17 from 31 balls, while Shaheen Afridi added 15 off 13 deliveries. Neither contribution was enough to prevent Pakistan from being dismissed for a below-par total.

Fakhar Zaman managed only five runs, while Maaz Sadaqat scored eight. Salman Ali Agha and Shadab Khan also failed to make significant contributions, leaving Pakistan unable to recover from their early setbacks.

The hosts’ batting collapse highlighted the importance of building partnerships in ODI cricket. After losing wickets in clusters, Pakistan could not establish the platform needed for a competitive score.

For Sri Lanka, the disciplined bowling performance ensured that the target remained comfortably within reach.

Kamindu Mendis leads Sri Lanka’s comfortable chase

Chasing 111 for victory, Sri Lanka made a positive start despite losing Avishka Fernando for 16 and captain Kusal Mendis for eight.

Kamindu Mendis took responsibility for guiding the innings, remaining unbeaten on 62 from 60 deliveries. His knock included eight fours and two sixes, combining sensible strike rotation with well-timed attacking strokes.

Pavan Rathnayake provided valuable support, finishing unbeaten on 23 off 26 balls. The pair added an unbroken 52-run partnership to take Sri Lanka across the finish line without further damage.

Sri Lanka reached 114/2 in 18.1 overs, completing the chase with eight wickets in hand and nearly 32 overs to spare. Kamindu’s composed innings ensured there was no late drama after the early wickets.

Sri Lanka have chased down the target with nearly 32 overs to spare 💯#PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/6hn64ILsoR

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) October 28, 2026

Madushanka’s bowling effort earned him the Player of the Match award, capping an outstanding performance for the visitors.

England eliminated as Sri Lanka book final spot

Sri Lanka’s victory made major changes in the tri-series standings. Sri Lanka reached the final, while England were eliminated from contention before their final league match against the Islanders.

Pakistan were previously unbeaten in the competition, but their heavy defeat exposed weaknesses in the batting order ahead of the title clash.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will take confidence from their ability to dominate both with the ball and during the chase. Their fast bowlers delivered early breakthroughs, and their batters completed the job efficiently against the home team.

The result has now set up another meeting between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the final on October 31 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.