LAHORE: Pakistan’s batting unit is operating at only “about 70 per cent” of its potential, batting coach Mike Smith conceded on Tuesday after the hosts suffered a crushing eight-wicket defeat by Sri Lanka that exposed their top-order frailties ahead of the One-day International tri-series final.
Smith, while acknowledging the shortcomings, insisted the defeat would have no bearing on Saturday’s title clash against the same opponents, saying Pakistan had already demonstrated their ability to recover from difficult positions and win matches.
“We’ve probably, even though we’ve got to the final, done really well, but we’re probably batting as a collective at about 70 per cent of where we need to be,” he said after Pakistan were bowled out for 110 in 25.3 overs at the Gaddafi Stadium.
The batting coach described the collapse as a combination of “a couple of soft shots” and good bowling, adding that Pakistan failed to build any momentum. He said the team would review its shortcomings and hold discussions with the batting group before the final.
Smith refused to blame the Lahore pitch, saying teams needed to adapt to different conditions. Nor did he express concern over Babar Azam’s inability to turn promising starts into substantial scores, backing the senior batter to deliver when it mattered.
“The hardest part of cricket is getting yourself in and Babar’s doing that incredibly easily at times,” Smith said. “The fact that he hasn’t got one big score, I think if he had turned one of those starts into a big score, no one’s saying a thing.”
He also backed out-of-form opener Fakhar Zaman, describing him as a “world-class player” who could still produce a decisive innings in the final.
Pakistan’s defeat, however, was emphatic. Sri Lanka’s left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka claimed a career-best five for 34 before Kamindu Mendis struck an unbeaten 62 to steer the visitors to 114-2 in just 18.1 overs. The eight-wicket win secured Sri Lanka’s place in Saturday’s final and eliminated England, whose remaining match against Sri Lanka on Thursday became a dead rubber.
Sri Lanka’s fast-bowling coach Ryan van Niekerk said his side had responded positively after conceding 430 runs in their previous match against England, which Sri Lanka won in a record-breaking chase.
“We had to bounce back,” he said. “A lot of reflection, but bowling with a different intentionality — a mentality around taking wickets and looking to be really positive and aggressive around our bowling.”
Van Niekerk said the bowlers had focused on executing their plans more consistently, with the wickets helping them build momentum. Madushanka, he added, had developed the ability to use his short-pitched deliveries to make his fuller balls more threatening.
“He has all the skill sets. He swings the ball, he’s got a great bouncer,” the coach said. “When he bowls his bouncer really, really well, it makes his front foot really dangerous.”
The approach worked from the outset after Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis elected to field. Madushanka dismissed Fakhar for five in the fourth over, setting the tone for a Pakistan innings that never recovered. Maaz Sadaqat made eight before being trapped leg-before by Asitha Fernando, while Saad Baig fell for five, caught at short cover off Madushanka.
Babar offered brief resistance with 29 off 33 balls, striking five fours, but his dismissal leg-before to Eshan Malinga left Pakistan at 61-5. Salman Ali Agha had made nine before edging Sahan Arachchige behind, and the collapse accelerated as Arachchige removed Shadab Khan for two and Dunith Wellalage dismissed Hasan Nawaz for 17.
Pakistan slipped to 91-8 before Madushanka returned to finish off the tail. Arafat Minhas made 10, while captain Shaheen Shah Afridi struck two sixes in a 13-ball 15 before being caught by Wellalage. Madushanka’s previous best figures were five for 80 against India at the 2023 World Cup.
Arachchige supported the pacer with two for 24, while Asitha, Malinga and Wellalage claimed one wicket each.
Sri Lanka’s reply was swift and authoritative. Kamindu and Avishka Fernando put on 50 for the first wicket in 6.5 overs before Avishka fell for 16, pulling Shaheen to Fakhar at short midwicket. Kusal Mendis made eight before Arafat Minhas bowled him in an unusual dismissal, the ball ricocheting off the batter’s bat into the stumps.
Kamindu continued to dominate, reaching his fifth ODI half-century with a six off Shaheen. He finished unbeaten on 62 from 60 balls, including eight fours and two sixes, while Pavan Rathnayake made 23 not out to complete the chase with a boundary.
Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis praised the bowling performance, saying the team had executed its plans well.
“We executed our plans well and Dilshan bowled superbly; everyone is happy at the team’s progress,” he said.
For Pakistan, the immediate task is to address the batting concerns before the final. Shaheen sought to move on quickly from the defeat, saying: “We must forget this match and get ready for the final. We will come back in the final and bat stronger.”
Smith likewise insisted the result would not define the title clash, arguing that finals were decided by how teams handled pressure. But after another top-order collapse, Pakistan will need more than confidence if they are to prevent Sri Lanka’s disciplined attack from dictating the contest again.
SCOREBOARD
PAKISTAN:
Fakhar Zaman c Rathnayake b Madushanka5
Maaz Sadaqat lbw b A.M Fernando8
Babar Azam lbw b Malinga29
Saad Baig c Liyanage b Madushanka5
Salman Ali Agha c K. Mendis b Arachchige9
Hasan Nawaz c Arachchige b Wellalage17
Shadab Khan c K. Mendis b Arachchige2
Arafat Minhas c K. Mendis b Madushanka10
Shaheen Shah Afridi c Wellalage b Madushanka15
Haris Rauf c K.D. Mendis b Madushanka1
Naseem Shah not out2
EXTRAS (LB-6, W-1)7
TOTAL (all out, 25.3 overs)110
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-11 (Fakhar), 2-23 (Maaz), 3-46 (Saad), 4-61 (Salman), 5-61 (Babar), 6-64 (Shadab), 7-91 (Arafat), 8-91 (Hasan), 9-92 (Haris)
BOWLING: A. Fernando 6-0-34-1 (1w), Madushanka 8.3-1-34-5, Arachchige 5-0-24-2, Malinga 4-1-8-1, Wellalage 2-0-4-1
SRI LANKA:
K.D. Mendis not out62
A. Fernando c Fakhar b Shaheen16
K. Mendis b Arafat8
P. Rathnayake not out23
EXTRAS (B-1, LB-1, W-3)5
TOTAL (for two wickets, 18.1 overs)114
DID NOT BAT: S. Arachchige, J. Liyanage, D. Shanaka, D. Wellalage, E. Malinga, A.M. Fernando, D. Madushanka
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-50 (A. Fernando), 2-62 (K. Mendis)
BOWLING: Shaheen 6-0-29-1 (2w), Naseem 4-0-29-0 (1w), Haris 3-0-27-0, Arafat 5-0-23-1, Maaz 0.1-0-4-0
RESULT: Sri Lanka won by eight wickets.
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Dilshan Madushanka
Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2026
