Salman Ali Agha made a triumphant return to the Pakistan team with his fourth ODI century as Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 37 runs in the opening match of the tri-series.
Agha top-scored with 107 off 90 balls as Pakistan were bowled out for 305 in 49.5 overs, after Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis won his fourth successive toss and elected to field.
Agha was among seven Pakistan cricketers summoned home at the end of August during a turbulent tour of England, having captained the side in the first Test.
Pakistan pacers hold firm against the dew
Pakistan’s pace bowlers overcame heavy dew and threatening half-centuries from Pavan Rathnayake (79) and Janith Liyanage (60) to dismiss Sri Lanka for 268 in 48.1 overs.
Captain Shaheen Afridi picked up 3-55, while Naseem Shah pinned down Sri Lanka’s top order with impressive swing bowling to finish on 2-43. Haris Rauf ran through the tail with 2-48, and seam all-rounder Faheem Ashraf took 2-49, including the key wicket of Rathnayake.
Avishka Fernando, making a comeback to ODIs, top-edged Shah, while Kusal Mendis struggled for 34 balls to score only 18 before he fell to Ashraf. Kamindu Mendis (44 off 50) survived two dropped catches before Afridi struck twice in his return spell, leaving Sri Lanka limping to 91-4 in the 20th over of their chase.
Rathnayake and Liyanage then revived Sri Lankan hopes with a 119-run stand, as the Pakistan pacers could not reverse swing the wet ball because of heavy dew at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
The dismissal of Rathnayake in the 38th over gave Pakistan an opening, despite Dasun Shanaka, playing his first ODI since the start of 2024, scoring 28 off 18 balls.
Agha’s recall pays off
After being summoned home, Agha was stripped of the Pakistan T20 captaincy and dropped from the side that beat Sri Lanka 2-1 in their recent three-match series. However, a prolific run of domestic form, including a triple century, earned him a recall to the ODI team.
Agha helped Pakistan recover from 118-4 in the 22nd over, building crucial partnerships with Hasan Nawaz (37) and Arafat Minhas (18), before Sri Lanka struck back in the death overs.
Eshan Malinga (4-46) and Asitha Fernando (3-59) struck repeatedly in the final five overs to deny Pakistan a strong finish. From 279-5, Pakistan lost their last five wickets for just 26 runs. Malinga claimed two wickets in a maiden over before No. 11 Haris Rauf denied him a hat-trick.
Early wickets and a rebuild
Dilshan Madushanka (2-67) removed openers Fakhar Zaman (16) and Saim Ayub (7) in his opening spell.
Babar Azam and 19-year-old debutant Saad Baig rebuilt with a 74-run third-wicket stand before Malinga removed both batters in successive overs.
Babar, who has scored just one ODI century in more than two years, fell for 45 off 57 balls, pulling a short delivery from Malinga straight to mid-wicket. Baig struck two sixes and three fours before falling to the same bowler, mistiming a pull to deep fine leg.
Agha and Nawaz seize the momentum
Agha wrested back the momentum with a 97-run partnership with Nawaz. Sri Lanka’s only specialist leg-spinner, Sachindu Colombage (0-61), struggled to contain them as Agha reached his half-century off 48 balls and Nawaz also attacked.
Fernando returned to break the stand, with Rathnayake taking an excellent catch above his head at mid-wicket to dismiss Nawaz.
Agha continued to attack in a 64-run partnership with Minhas before bringing up his century with an edged boundary.
Pakistan play England in Rawalpindi on Tuesday in the second match of the tri-series. Watch live on Sky Sports from 9am.