RAWALPINDI: Salman Ali Agha struck a superb century before Pakistan’s bowlers delivered under pressure to secure a 37-run victory over Sri Lanka in the opening match of the ODI tri-nation series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Set a target of 306, Sri Lanka were dismissed for 268 in 48.1 overs, with captain Shaheen Afridi leading Pakistan’s attack through a disciplined spell.
Sri Lanka began their chase with a 30-run opening stand before Avishka Fernando departed for five in the sixth over. Kusal Mendis then joined Kamindu Mendis, but the stand was broken at 36 when Faheem Ashraf removed the Sri Lankan skipper for 18, leaving the visitors at 66-2.
Kamindu, who made 44 off 50 balls, was dismissed by Shaheen, who struck again soon after to send back Sahan Arachchige for three as Sri Lanka slipped to 91-4.
Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage then revived the innings with a fighting 119-run fifth-wicket partnership, taking Sri Lanka beyond the 200-run mark. Rathnayake recorded his maiden ODI half-century and made 79 off 74 deliveries, hitting six fours and two sixes, before Faheem ended the stand.
Liyanage kept Sri Lanka in the contest and completed his eighth ODI half-century, while Dasun Shanaka chipped in with quick runs. Their 43-run partnership was broken by Haris Rauf, who dismissed Liyanage for 60 off 74 balls with five boundaries, reducing Sri Lanka to 253-6.
Shaheen then removed Shanaka for 28 off 18 balls, an innings that included three fours and a six, to further damage Sri Lanka’s chase.
Naseem Shah dismissed Sachindu Colombage for one, while Eshan Malinga was run out for two after a mix-up between the batters. Haris completed the win by removing Asitha Fernando for seven.
Shaheen finished with figures of 3-55 in his 10 overs, while Naseem, Haris and Faheem took two wickets each.
Earlier, after being put into bat, Pakistan made a steady start before losing both openers inside the powerplay. Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub added 23 runs before Dilshan Madushanka dismissed Saim for seven in the fourth over. Madushanka struck again in the sixth over, removing Fakhar for 16 as Pakistan were reduced to 32-2.
Babar Azam and debutant Saad Baig steadied the innings with a 74-run stand and guided Pakistan past 100. Eshan Malinga broke the partnership by dismissing Babar for 45 off 57 balls, including six fours, before also removing Saad for 39 off 40 deliveries, with three fours and two sixes.
Salman and Hasan Nawaz then rebuilt Pakistan’s innings through a 97-run partnership, helping the hosts go past 200. Hasan scored 37 off 49 balls before Asitha Fernando dismissed him at 215-5.
Salman continued to lift the scoring rate and added 64 runs with Arafat Minhas, who made a brisk 18 off 15 balls. Salman went on to complete his fourth ODI century before Fernando dismissed Arafat and then removed the right-hander for a top score of 107 off 90 deliveries, featuring 10 fours and a six.
Malinga claimed his third wicket by dismissing Faheem Ashraf for six and almost completed a hat-trick when Naseem Shah fell for a duck. Haris Rauf survived the hat-trick delivery after Sri Lanka’s leg-before-wicket appeal was turned down.
Captain Shaheen Afridi remained unbeaten on 13 off 12 balls as Pakistan crossed the 300-run mark. Haris was run out on the last ball of the innings.
For Sri Lanka, Malinga was the standout bowler with 4-46 in 9.5 overs, while Fernando picked up three wickets and Madushanka claimed two.
