Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 37 runs in the opening match of the ODI tri-nation series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, with Salman Ali Agha’s century and Shaheen Afridi’s three-wicket haul leading the hosts to victory.
Chasing a target of 306, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 268 in 48.1 overs despite fighting half-centuries from Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage.
Shaheen led Pakistan’s bowling attack with figures of 3/55 in 10 overs, while Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Faheem Ashraf picked up two wickets each.
Earlier, Pakistan recovered from a difficult start to post 305, thanks to Salman’s 107 off 90 balls, which included 10 fours and a six.
Openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub put together 23 runs before Dilshan Madushanka dismissed Saim for seven in the fourth over. Madushanka struck again in the sixth over, removing Fakhar for 16 and leaving Pakistan struggling at 32-2.
Babar Azam and debutant Saad Baig steadied the innings with a 74-run partnership for the third wicket. Babar scored 45 off 57 balls, including six fours, before falling to Eshan Malinga in the 20th over.
Malinga struck again in the following over to dismiss Saad, who made 39 off 40 balls with three fours and two sixes.
Salman and Hasan Nawaz then led Pakistan’s recovery with a 97-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Salman brought up his 10th ODI half-century as the pair took Pakistan past 200.
Asitha Fernando broke the partnership by dismissing Hasan for 37 off 49 balls, including two fours and two sixes, leaving Pakistan at 215-5 after 37.2 overs.
Salman continued to score freely and added another 64 runs with Arafat Minhas, who contributed 18 off 15 balls before falling to Fernando. During the partnership, Salman completed his fourth ODI century.
Fernando later dismissed Salman for 107, while Malinga removed Faheem Ashraf for six and Naseem Shah for a duck on consecutive deliveries.
Malinga narrowly missed a hat-trick as Haris Rauf survived the next delivery following an unsuccessful leg-before-wicket appeal.
Captain Shaheen Afridi remained unbeaten on 13 off 12 balls as Pakistan crossed the 300-run mark, with Haris run out in the final over.
Malinga finished as Sri Lanka’s leading wicket-taker with 4/46 in 9.5 overs. Fernando claimed three wickets, while Madushanka took two.
In response, Sri Lanka’s openers Kamindu Mendis and Avishka Fernando added 30 runs before Naseem Shah dismissed Fernando for five in the sixth over.
Kamindu then shared a 36-run partnership with captain Kusal Mendis, who scored 18 before falling to Faheem Ashraf.
Shaheen dismissed Kamindu for 44 off 50 balls and followed it up by removing Sahan Arachchige for three, reducing Sri Lanka to 91-4 in 19.3 overs.
Rathnayake and Liyanage brought Sri Lanka back into contention with a 119-run partnership for the fifth wicket, taking the visitors past 200.
Rathnayake scored his maiden ODI half-century and went on to make 79 off 74 balls, including six fours and two sixes, before Faheem ended the partnership.
Liyanage kept Sri Lanka’s hopes alive alongside Dasun Shanaka, adding 43 runs for the sixth wicket. However, Haris dismissed Liyanage for 60 off 74 balls, including five fours, leaving Sri Lanka at 253-6 in 43.4 overs.
Shaheen then removed Shanaka, who scored a quick 28 off 18 balls with three fours and a six.
Sri Lanka’s remaining batters failed to build another partnership as Naseem dismissed Sachindu Colombage for one, while Eshan Malinga was run out for two.
Haris sealed Pakistan’s victory by dismissing Asitha Fernando for seven, ending Sri Lanka’s innings at 268 and giving the hosts a winning start to the tri-nation series.
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