Pakistan, Nov. 2 -- One swat over midwicket and Gaddafi Stadium erupted. Shaheen Shah Afridi's electric six on Saturday night completed a chase of 326 against Sri Lanka, securing Pakistan's first ODI tri-series title since 2008 with nine balls to spare. The scoreboard read 331 for seven. A packed Lahore ground had watched Pakistan stumble, recover, wobble again and finally storm home. For a team frequently undone by its own nerves, there was something delicious about the manner of victory.

Sri Lanka had given Pakistan plenty to chase. Kamindu Mendis made a superb 131 and Pavan Rathnayake 77, their 146-run stand threatening a total beyond 350. Salman Ali Agha's leaping return catch to remove Kusal Mendis offered a flash of resistance. The...