By Dwayne Ferreira.
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 37 runs in the opening ODI tri-series match as Salman Agha’s century and Shaheen Afridi’s three wickets proved decisive.
RAWALPINDI – Sri Lanka began their ODI tri-nation series campaign with a disappointing 37-run defeat against Pakistan on Sunday, falling short of a challenging target of 306 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan, led by a commanding century from Salman Ali Agha, posted 305 all out in 49.5 overs before dismissing Sri Lanka for 268 in 48.1 overs to secure victory in the opening encounter of the tournament involving Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England.
Despite making a promising start with the ball and showing periods of resistance during the run chase, Sri Lanka were unable to capitalise on their opportunities, allowing Pakistan to dictate the crucial stages of the contest.
Sri Lanka Make Early Breakthroughs
Having won the toss and elected to field, Sri Lanka initially appeared to have made the right decision as left-arm fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka removed both Pakistan openers within the first six overs.
Saim Ayub departed for seven, while Fakhar Zaman managed 16, leaving Pakistan struggling at 32 for two.
However, Babar Azam and wicketkeeper Saad Baig steadied the innings with a valuable 75-run partnership for the third wicket.
Babar contributed 45 off 57 deliveries, striking six boundaries, while Baig scored 39 from 40 balls.
Eshan Malinga eventually removed both batters, giving Sri Lanka an opportunity to restrict Pakistan to a manageable total.
Salman Agha Century Changes the Match
Pakistan’s recovery was led by Salman Ali Agha, who produced an outstanding innings of 107 off 90 deliveries, including ten fours and a six.
His innings proved decisive as he rebuilt Pakistan’s position and maintained the scoring momentum despite the loss of wickets at the other end.
Hasan Nawaz provided valuable support with 37 off 49 balls, while Arafat Minhas contributed a quick 18 from 15 deliveries.
At one stage, Pakistan appeared capable of posting a considerably larger total, reaching 279 for five before Sri Lanka’s bowlers mounted a late comeback.
Eshan Malinga and Asitha Fernando combined effectively during the closing overs as Pakistan lost their final five wickets for just 26 runs.
Malinga finished with four wickets, while Fernando claimed three and Madushanka collected two.
Although Sri Lanka succeeded in dismissing the hosts before the completion of their 50 overs, Pakistan’s total of 305 proved sufficient.
Sri Lanka’s Run Chase Falls Short
Set a target of 306, Sri Lanka needed a strong opening partnership and consistent contributions throughout the batting order to challenge Pakistan’s imposing total.
The visitors managed 42 runs for the loss of one wicket during the opening powerplay, keeping themselves within reach of the required scoring rate.
Sri Lanka added 182 runs for the loss of four wickets during the middle overs, demonstrating that the chase remained achievable with partnerships and controlled aggression.
However, Pakistan gradually tightened their grip on the contest through disciplined bowling and regular breakthroughs.
The pressure increased considerably towards the closing stages as Sri Lanka struggled to maintain the required run rate while protecting their remaining wickets.
Pakistan’s fast bowlers capitalised on the situation, with Naseem Shah returning figures of two wickets for 43 runs from ten overs and Haris Rauf claiming two for 48 from 9.1 overs.
Sri Lanka’s final five wickets fell during a closing phase that produced just 44 runs, bringing the innings to an end at 268 in 48.1 overs.
Batting Consistency Remains a Concern
The defeat will raise questions about Sri Lanka’s ability to sustain partnerships and manage challenging run chases against quality international bowling attacks.
Although the visitors showed resilience during the middle overs, the failure to convert that resistance into a successful chase ultimately proved costly.
Pakistan, meanwhile, will take confidence from their ability to recover from early setbacks and successfully defend a substantial total.
For Sri Lanka, the immediate challenge will be to address the shortcomings exposed in Rawalpindi before facing England in their next tri-series fixture on October 22.
With the tournament still in its opening stages, Sri Lanka have opportunities to recover, but greater consistency with the bat will be essential if they hope to qualify for the final.
Match Summary
Result: Pakistan won by 37 runs.
Pakistan: 305 all out (49.5 overs)
Sri Lanka: 268 all out (48.1 overs)
Best batting – Pakistan
- Salman Ali Agha — 107 (90 balls)
- Babar Azam — 45 (57 balls)
- Saad Baig — 39 (40 balls)
- Hasan Nawaz — 37 (49 balls)
Best bowling – Sri Lanka
- Eshan Malinga — 4 wickets
- Asitha Fernando — 3 wickets
- Dilshan Madushanka — 2 wickets
Best bowling – Pakistan
- Naseem Shah — 2/43 (10 overs)
- Haris Rauf — 2/48 (9.1 overs)
Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan
Date: October 18, 2026
Tournament: Pakistan ODI Tri-Nation Series 2026
Sources:
ESPNcricinfo match scorecard, Pakistan Cricket Board
