Salman Ali Agha's Century! Pakistan Beat Sri Lanka by 37 Runs in 1st ODI 🏏
Pakistan began the 2026 ODI tri-series with a hard-fought 37-run victory over Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 18. Salman Ali Agha produced the standout innings, scoring 107 off 90 balls to help Pakistan post 305 all out.
Sri Lanka fought back with the ball late in Pakistan's innings and then threatened through Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage. However, Pakistan's bowlers kept taking wickets, dismissing the visitors for 268 in 48.1 overs.
Salman Ali Agha Leads Pakistan with 107
Pakistan lost both openers early after Sri Lanka elected to field, leaving the hosts at 32/2. Babar Azam and debutant Saad Baig steadied the innings, but Pakistan needed a substantial contribution from the middle order to build a competitive total.
Salman Ali Agha supplied it. His 107 from 90 deliveries, featuring 10 fours and a six, anchored the innings and helped Pakistan recover from early setbacks. Hasan Nawaz added 37, while Babar scored 45 and Saad Baig contributed 39.
Pakistan looked set for an even bigger score before Sri Lanka struck repeatedly at the end. The hosts lost their last five wickets for just 26 runs and were dismissed for 305 in 49.5 overs.
Pakistan Batting: Key Performances
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salman Ali Agha | 107 | 90 | 10 | 1 |
| Babar Azam | 45 | 57 | 6 | 0 |
| Saad Baig | 39 | 40 | 3 | 2 |
| Hasan Nawaz | 37 | 49 | 2 | 2 |
| Arafat Minhas | 18 | 15 | 2 | 0 |
Sri Lanka Bowling: Eshan Malinga Takes Four
Eshan Malinga was Sri Lanka's most successful bowler, finishing with 4/46 in 9.5 overs. He removed key batters during the innings and helped trigger Pakistan's late collapse.
Asitha Fernando claimed three wickets for 59 runs, while Dilshan Madushanka took two. Their combined effort prevented Pakistan from converting a promising platform into a total well beyond 300.
Sri Lanka Bowling: Key Performances
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eshan Malinga | 9.5 | 46 | 4 | 4.67 |
| Asitha Fernando | 10 | 59 | 3 | 5.90 |
| Dilshan Madushanka | 10 | 67 | 2 | 6.70 |
| Dasun Shanaka | 7 | 41 | 0 | 5.86 |
| Sachindu Colombage | 10 | 61 | 0 | 6.10 |
Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage Fight Back
Sri Lanka's chase began with early pressure, but the middle order gave the visitors a chance to fight their way back into the contest. Pavan Rathnayake scored 79 off 74 balls, while Janith Liyanage made 60 off 74.
Their contributions helped Sri Lanka remain in the chase, but Pakistan continued to find breakthroughs. The required rate climbed as wickets fell, and Sri Lanka were eventually dismissed for 268 in 48.1 overs.
Sri Lanka Batting: Key Performances
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pavan Rathnayake | 79 | 74 | Top score |
| Janith Liyanage | 60 | 74 | Important middle-order innings |
The table highlights Sri Lanka's leading individual contributions.
Pakistan Bowling: Shaheen Leads the Attack
Pakistan's bowling attack held its nerve after the visitors threatened to build momentum. Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi took three wickets, while Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf claimed two each.
The wickets prevented Sri Lanka from turning their promising middle-order partnership into a match-winning stand. Pakistan closed out the innings in 48.1 overs to secure the opening-match victory.
Pakistan Bowling: Key Performances
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 10 | 55 | 3 |
| Naseem Shah | 10 | 43 | 2 |
| Haris Rauf | 9.1 | 48 | 2 |
| Faheem Ashraf | 8 | 49 | 2 |
What the Result Means for the Tri-Series
The win gives Pakistan an encouraging start to the three-team ODI competition, which also features England. Pakistan will next face England at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 20, while Sri Lanka will meet England on October 22.
For Pakistan, the key positives were Salman's century and the bowling unit's ability to defend 305 despite Sri Lanka's resistance. Sri Lanka can take encouragement from their bowling recovery, but their chase ultimately fell 38 runs short of the target?