Pakistan completed at 331 for seven in 48.3 overs, with 9 balls to spare. It was a particular victory for the hosts, who additionally equalled India's well-known report for the very best profitable chase in an ODI closing.
Talking after profitable the Participant of the Match award, Zaman defined how he dealt together with his lack of runs within the earlier 4 matches and why he by no means modified his method.
'I used to be simply ready for that second'
Zaman admitted that he was not at his greatest firstly of the ultimate. Nonetheless, he continued to belief his preparation and believed {that a} large rating would come when he discovered his rhythm.
"No, look, I've performed sufficient cricket now to know that when it's my day and the ball begins coming properly off my bat, I'll rating large. So I used to be simply ready for that second. I didn't do something notably completely different from the best way I had approached the earlier 4 matches. I ready for this recreation in precisely the identical method. However that's the factor: whenever you rating runs, we begin speaking about how mentally prepared you had been, how your health was and all of that. I ready for this match in the identical method I had ready for the opposite video games. Fortunately, the runs got here right now," Zaman stated.
The left-hander additionally spoke about his struggles in the beginning of the innings and the way vital the century was for him.
"Look, the best way my first 4 matches had gone, I felt an excellent efficiency was due, and I used to be placing within the effort. However cricket is such a recreation that typically you're in actually good contact, however the runs simply don't come. Even right now, I used to be struggling a bit of firstly, however fortunately the runs got here, and that's an excellent factor for me. At any time when there’s a closing, I appear to attain runs," he stated.
Pakistan had been in hassle early within the chase after Dilshan Madushanka dismissed Babar Azam for a five-ball duck. The Sri Lankan pacer additionally picked up one other wicket within the powerplay.
Zaman then joined Saad Baig, and the 2 rebuilt the innings with a 149-run partnership.
Baig scored 74 off 75 balls, registering his maiden ODI half-century. Zaman stated his younger teammate's method allowed him to take his time on the different finish.
"I've performed home cricket with him as effectively, and he's a really proficient participant. Even right now, once I was struggling at that stage, he got here in and scored fairly rapidly. That allowed me to chill out and take my time. If he had additionally performed slowly like me, maybe I’d have tried to take a couple of extra possibilities, and in the event you take these possibilities, you may find yourself dropping your wicket. So the credit score goes to him for the best way he began and the best way he constructed his innings. For my part, his was the most effective innings of the match," Zaman stated.
Pakistan match India's well-known 2002 Lord's report
Zaman's century helped Pakistan full the joint-highest profitable chase in an ODI closing. Pakistan's chase of 326 was degree with India's well-known run chase in opposition to England within the 2002 NatWest Collection closing at Lord's.
India had additionally chased down 326 to win by two wickets. Mohammad Kaif scored an unbeaten 87, whereas Yuvraj Singh contributed 69. The 2 performed a serious function in taking India out of hassle earlier than Kaif and Zaheer Khan accomplished the job in an exciting end.
Greater than 20 years later, Pakistan matched that achievement with their very own memorable chase.
Minhas and Nawaz take Pakistan dwelling
Zaman's dismissal for 127 and Salman Agha's departure for 17 left Pakistan at 230 for 5. Nonetheless, Arafat Minhas and Hasan Nawaz put collectively a 94-run partnership to take the hosts near victory.
Minhas scored a beneficial half-century and helped Pakistan cross the end line with 9 balls remaining.
Earlier, Sri Lanka had posted 325 for eight, due to Kamindu Mendis' 131 off 128 balls and Pavan Rathnayake's 77. The pair added 146 runs for the third wicket.
Pakistan's bowlers fought again within the closing overs, with Shaheen Shah Afridi taking two wickets for 50 runs.
'The happiness is even larger'
For Zaman, scoring runs in a closing and serving to his crew elevate the trophy made the event much more particular.
"Completely. Look, no matter performances you set in all through the match, you do them with the intention of profitable the trophy. And whenever you rating runs within the closing, the happiness is even larger. I contemplate myself fortunate that I managed to attain runs within the closing right now," he stated.
The victory gave Pakistan their first ODI tri-series title since 2008, after they defeated India within the Kitply Cup closing in Bangladesh. It additionally helped them make amends for his or her defeat to New Zealand within the closing of the house tri-series in 2025.