Rawalpindi: Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 6 runs in the first match of the 3-match ODI series to take a 0-1 lead in the series. In the first ODI match of the series, Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to field against Pakistan. Pakistan scored 299 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in the stipulated 50 overs. Salman Agha played an unbeaten innings of 105 runs.
The national team’s innings was started by opening batsman Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, however, Saim Ayub returned to the pavilion after scoring 6 runs on the first ball of the fourth over. After which, in the 18th over, Fakhar Zaman also got out after scoring 32 runs off 55 balls. The third wicket of the Green Shirts fell for 76 runs. Mohammad Rizwan returned to the pavilion after scoring 5 runs while Babar Azam also left the team after scoring 29 runs.
In these circumstances, Hussain Talat and Salman Ali Agha took the team’s score to 233 runs. Then Hussain Talat was dismissed after scoring 62 runs. On the other hand, Salman Ali Agha remained steadfast and scored a magnificent century. He played an unbeaten innings of 105 runs off 87 balls.
Apart from this, Mohammad Nawaz also batted brilliantly in the closing overs, scoring 36 runs off 23 balls and remaining unbeaten. Winandu Hasaranga got 3 wickets for Sri Lanka.
In response to Pakistan’s target of 300 runs, the Sri Lankan team could score 293 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the allotted 50 overs. Hisaranga scored 59 runs and Samara Wickrama scored 39 runs for Sri Lanka. For Pakistan, Haris Rauf bowled brilliantly and got 4 wickets. Naseem Shah and Faheem Ashraf got 2 wickets each.
