Pakistan started their ODI tri-series campaign with a 37-run victory over Sri Lanka, defending 305 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday night.
The win was set up by a brilliant century from Salman Ali Agha and a complete performance from the pace quartet of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Faheem Ashraf and Haris Rauf, who shared all 10 wickets.
Chasing 306, Sri Lanka looked in trouble at 91-4 before a 119-run partnership between Pavan Rathnayake (79) and Janith Liyanage (60) brought them back into the contest. With 96 needed off 13 overs, Pakistan’s pacers turned the game, with Sri Lanka collapsing from 253-5 to 268 all out in 48.1 overs.
Earlier, after winning the toss and opting to bowl, Sri Lanka had Pakistan on the back foot as Dilshan Madushanka removed both openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub inside the first 6 overs.
Debutant Saad Baig (39 off 40 balls) and Babar Azam (45 off 57) then steadied the innings with a 74-run stand. During his knock, Babar became only the fifth Pakistani batter to cross 16,000 international runs, joining Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf and Javed Miandad.
Saad Baig, who became Pakistan’s 262nd ODI cap, impressed with three fours and two sixes and also took two catches behind the stumps.
Player of the Match Salman Ali Agha was the star with the bat, smashing 107 off 90 balls. He added 97 runs with Hasan Nawaz (37) for the fifth wicket to take Pakistan to a fighting total of 305. Salman reached his hundred in 82 balls – his fourth ODI century.
For Sri Lanka, Eshan Malinga was the pick of the bowlers with 4-46, while Asitha Fernando took 3-59.
For Pakistan, Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi led with 3-55, while Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf claimed two wickets each.
Pakistan will now face England on Tuesday at the same venue. The tri-series will then move to Lahore after the first three games in Rawalpindi.
