Babar's century drought ends and Pakistan wins the Sri Lanka ODI series

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) — Babar Azam's first international century in more than two years anchored Pakistan's comfortable chase of 289 against scratchy Sri Lanka in their series-clinching one-day international on Friday.

Pakistan won by eight wickets, cruising to 289-2 in 48.2 overs on Babar's fluent unbeaten 102 off 119 balls. They have an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, which ends on Sunday.

Sri Lanka was restricted to 288-8 on a perfect batting pitch after six of the top seven batters couldn’t convert good starts.

The series was in doubt after Sri Lanka players wanted to leave the country when a suicide bomber killed 12 people outside a court in Islamabad on Tuesday, hours before the first ODI in nearby Rawalpindi.

However, Sri Lanka Cricket directed the team to finish the series after it was reassured about security by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Babar came into Friday’s game without an international century in 83 innings across the formats, more than 800 days since a hundred against Nepal in the Asia Cup at Multan in August 2023.

“I had been waiting for this (century) like the fans,” Babar said. “I kept the belief up. I got starts in a few games against South Africa too (in the last ODI series) but you only get what you wished when God wants you to. I was trying to spend as much time at the crease.”

He dug in well against the spin threat of Wanindu Hasaranga, who finished wicketless with 0-35, but the Sri Lanka seamers couldn’t control the wet ball because of dew and consistently missed their lengths.

Babar raised his half-century off 68 balls with only three fours and grew in confidence. He pulled Pramod Madushan to midwicket for a single to complete his much-awaited century off 115 balls with eight fours.

The crowd erupted and chanted “Babar, Babar” to celebrate the end of the drought by Pakistan's premier batter. His 20th ODI century equaled Saeed Anwar’s Pakistan ODI record.

The opening pair of Fakhar Zaman (78) and Saim Ayub (33) provided a rollicking start of 77 off 58 balls.

Zaman was dropped twice in the 20s and a third time at fine leg just before his dismissal, a brilliant catch by Janith Liyanage at short midwicket. But by then he'd put on 100 runs with Babar to take the game away from Sri Lanka.

Mohammad Rizwan, unbeaten on 51 off 54 balls, and Babar shared a 112-run stand to the win.

“It’s a complete batting performance from us,” stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha said. “We had three very good partnerships. It was a 320-330 wicket for us so I was very happy to keep them to 290.”

Kamil Mishara (27) in his second ODI and Pathum Nissanka (24) made a decent start of 51 runs for Sri Lanka inside the batting powerplay before Nissanka was run out against the run of play when he tried to go for a third run.

Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, who recovered from illness, pegged back the visitors with three wickets. He dismissed Mishara, Kusal Mendis and captain Charith Asalanka and dropped the visitors to 98-4 in the 22nd over.

Sadeera Samarawickrama (42) and Liyanage (54) revived the innings with a 61-run stand until Haris Rauf knocked back the off stump of Samarawickrama in his return spell.

Rauf followed his four-wicket haul in the first ODI with 3-66 including the vital wicket of Kamindu Mendis (44) in the death overs.

Hasaranga's late flurry of 37 off 26 balls helped to set a total that was thought to be about 30-40 runs short of par.

Asalanka rued a ton of missed opportunities, including good starts by batters and dropped catches in the field.

“A lot of wides and extras in the first two overs,” he said. “It’s really hard to come back on these wickets. After 10-15 overs dew came and things got harder.”

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Pakistan's Haris Rauf appeals successful LBW out of Sri Lanka's Dushmantha Chameera during the second one day international cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Babar Azam plays a shot during the second one day international cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Babar Azam celebrates after his century during the second one day international cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Babar Azam reacts after his century during the second one day international cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Salman Ali Agha, left, shakes hand with Sri Lanka's Charith Asalanka after coin toss before the start of the second one day international cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Salman Ali Agha, left, chats with Sri Lanka's Charith Asalanka as they wait for coin toss before the start of the second one day international cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Alabama and Miami are in, Notre Dame is out and Indiana is No. 1 in the College Football Playoff’s 12-team bracket released Sunday.

The undefeated Hoosiers vaulted to the top spot based on their history-making win in the Big Ten title game against Ohio State, which fell one spot after its 13-10 loss. SEC champion Georgia was third and and Big 12 champ Texas Tech fourth. All four get first-round byes.

Most of the drama surrounded the bubble teams, and it was Alabama at No. 9 and Miami at No. 10 making the field by leapfrogging Notre Dame, which lost to the Hurricanes during opening week.

American Conference champion Tulane got the 11th spot and Sun Belt champion James Madison got the last spot over Duke, the champion of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The rest of the field: No. 5 Oregon, No. 6 Ole Miss, No. 7 Texas A&M and No. 8 Oklahoma.

The playoffs start Dec. 19-20 with first round games: James Madison at Oregon; Tulane at Misssissippi; Miami at Texas A&M; and Alabama at Oklahoma.

The final is set for Jan. 19 outside of Miami.

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Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch (1) celebrates his touchdown against Alabama during the second half of a Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Ohio State's Lorenzo Styles Jr. breaks up a pass intended for Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr. during the first half of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game in Indianapolis, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)