Salman Ali Agha scored a century as Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 37 runs in the opening match of the Pakistan ODI tri-series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Pakistan scored 305 in 49.5 overs after being put in to bat. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 268 in 48.1 overs while chasing a target of 306. Agha top-scored with 107 off 90 balls, including 10 fours and a six, to earn the Player of the Match award. His fourth ODI century proved decisive as Pakistan recovered from early setbacks to post a competitive total. Babar Azam scored 45 off 57 balls, while Saad Baig made 39 off 40 on his ODI debut. Hasan Nawaz added 37 off 49 balls, helping Agha build a crucial fifth-wicket partnership of 97 runs. Agha and Arafat Minhas then added 64 runs for the sixth wicket, with Minhas contributing 18 off 15 balls. Eshan Malinga was Sri Lanka’s most successful bowler, taking four wickets for 46 runs in 9.5 overs. Asitha Fernando claimed three wickets, while Dilshan Madushanka and Malinga kept Pakistan under pressure during the innings. Sri Lanka’s reply began poorly as Naseem Shah dismissed Avishka Fernando for five. Faheem Ashraf then removed captain Kusal Mendis for 18, leaving the visitors struggling at 66 for two. Kamindu Mendis scored 44 off 50 balls, but Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed him and Sahan Arachchige in quick succession to leave Sri Lanka at 91 for four. Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage revived the chase with a fifth-wicket stand of 119 runs. Rathnayake scored 79 off 74 balls, including six fours and two sixes, while Liyanage made 60 off 74 balls. Their partnership brought Sri Lanka back into contention, but Faheem Ashraf dismissed Rathnayake in the 38th over, ending a stand that had threatened to turn the match in the visitors’ favour. Dasun Shanaka added a brisk 28 off 18 balls, but Pakistan struck at key moments. Haris Rauf dismissed Liyanage for 60 in the 44th over, before Afridi removed Shanaka two balls later. Naseem Shah and Rauf then helped finish the innings, with Rauf taking the final wicket when Asitha Fernando was bowled for seven. Afridi finished with three wickets for 55 runs, while Naseem Shah and Faheem Ashraf took two wickets each. Rauf also claimed two wickets. Agha said he had focused on performing with the bat after a difficult period off the field. He said his partnership with Hasan Nawaz had been important in taking Pakistan beyond 300. Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis said his side had struggled in the powerplay and made costly mistakes after the 40th over. He praised the partnership between Rathnayake and Liyanage but said the team needed to learn from the defeat. Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said his side had aimed to score more than 300 after winning the toss. He praised Agha, Baig and Nawaz, and said Pakistan’s fast bowlers had worked together to assess the pitch and plan their approach. Pakistan will face England in the second match of the tri-series on Tuesday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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