Salman Agha's 107 powers Pakistan to 37-run win over Sri Lanka in ODI tri-series opener
Synopsis
Salman Ali Agha's 107 off 90 balls rescued Pakistan from a shaky start and set a platform of 305, before a disciplined pace attack headlined by Shaheen Afridi's three-wicket haul skittled Sri Lanka for 268. Pakistan open their tri-series campaign — which also includes England — with a composed 37-run win at Rawalpindi.
Key Takeaways
Salman Ali Agha hit 107 off 90 balls , his century anchoring Pakistan to 305 all out in 49.5 overs .
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 268 in 48.1 overs , losing by 37 runs .
Eshan Malinga took 4 for 46 for Sri Lanka; Shaheen Afridi led Pakistan's attack with 3 for 55 .
Pavan Rathnayake (79) and Janith Liyanage (60) shared a 119-run fifth-wicket stand to keep Sri Lanka's chase alive before Pakistan's seamers closed out the innings.
The tri-series, also featuring England , is hosted at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium .
Salman Ali Agha's commanding 107 off 90 balls anchored Pakistan to a 37-run victory over Sri Lanka in the opening match of the ODI tri-series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday, 18 October. Pakistan posted 305 all out in 49.5 overs and then bundled Sri Lanka out for 268 in 48.1 overs to claim the first points in a tournament that also features England.
Pakistan's Rollercoaster First Innings
Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub provided positive intent at the top with early boundaries, but the openers were dismissed within the first six overs, leaving Pakistan tottering at 32 for 2 in 5.5 overs. Babar Azam (45 off 57 balls) and Saad Baig (39 off 40 balls) steadied the innings with a 74-run third-wicket partnership, yet both fell in quick succession, threatening another batting collapse.
Salman, however, refused to let momentum slip entirely. He shared a 97-run fifth-wicket stand with Hasan Nawaz (37), taking Pakistan past the 270-mark before the lower order caved, the innings closing at 305 from a precarious 279 for 6. For Sri Lanka, Eshan Malinga was the standout bowler with 4 for 46, while Asitha Fernando (3 for 59) and Dilshan Madushanka contributed the remaining wickets between them.
Sri Lanka's Brave but Ultimately Insufficient Chase
Sri Lanka's reply had its own fluctuations. Avishka Fernando departed in the sixth over, dismissed by Naseem Shah, while Kamindu Mendis offered brief resistance with 44 off 50 balls. Captain Kusal Mendis struggled for fluency, managing only 18, and the visitors found themselves under severe pressure at 91 for 4 in 19.3 overs.
The partnership that revived Sri Lankan hopes came from Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage, who combined for a 119-run fifth-wicket stand. Rathnayake made a resolute 79 before falling to Faheem Ashraf, and Liyanage hit a solid 60 before being dismissed by Haris Rauf. Dasun Shanaka added an aggressive 28 off 18 balls, but once Shaheen Shah Afridi removed him, the tail offered little resistance.
Pakistan's Bowling Attack Seals the Deal
Shaheen was the pick of the pace attack with 3 for 55, maintaining the pressure that had been building since the middle overs. Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf each took two wickets, as did Faheem Ashraf, distributing the bowling workload evenly and underlining Pakistan's depth in pace. Sri Lanka were eventually dismissed for 268 in 48.1 overs, falling 37 short of the target.
Brief Scores and What's Next
Pakistan 305 all out in 49.5 overs (Salman Agha 107, Babar Azam 45; Eshan Malinga 4-46, Asitha Fernando 3-59) beat Sri Lanka 268 all out in 48.1 overs (Pavan Rathnayake 79, Janith Liyanage 60; Shaheen Afridi 3-55, Naseem Shah 2-43) by 37 runs. Pakistan will look to build on this momentum in their next tri-series fixture, with England entering the fray to complete the round-robin stage.
Point of View
But the more significant story is Pakistan's bowling depth — four seamers sharing wickets evenly is not a common sight in their recent ODI outings. Sri Lanka's 119-run fifth-wicket recovery showed character, yet the absence of a finisher below Liyanage and Rathnayake remains a structural vulnerability. With England still to come, Pakistan's ability to defend totals around 300 will be tested against a more combustible batting line-up. For Sri Lanka, the collapse from 210 for 4 to 268 all out is a blueprint their opponents will study closely.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka ODI tri-series opener?
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 37 runs in the ODI tri-series opener at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 18 October. Pakistan posted 305 all out and bowled Sri Lanka out for 268 in 48.1 overs.
How did Salman Ali Agha perform in the match?
Salman Ali Agha scored 107 off 90 balls, his century forming the backbone of Pakistan's total of 305. He shared a 97-run fifth-wicket partnership with Hasan Nawaz (37) to push Pakistan beyond a competitive total.
Who were the top wicket-takers in the match?
For Sri Lanka, Eshan Malinga took 4 for 46 while Asitha Fernando claimed 3 for 59. For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi led with 3 for 55, supported by two wickets each from Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Faheem Ashraf.
Which teams are participating in the ODI tri-series?
The tri-series features Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and England, and is being hosted at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Pakistan beat Sri Lanka in the opening match of the tournament.
How close did Sri Lanka come to winning the chase?
Sri Lanka mounted a strong recovery through a 119-run fifth-wicket partnership between Pavan Rathnayake (79) and Janith Liyanage (60), but once both fell, the lower order could not sustain the chase and they finished 37 runs short at 268 all out.
