RAWALPINDI: Salman Ali Agha marked his return to Pakistan’s one-day international (ODI) side with a century against Sri Lanka in the tri-series opener at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
The right-hander scored 107 off 90 balls, hitting 10 fours and a six, to help Pakistan reach 305 in 49.5 overs. It was his third ODI century, coming two months after his unexpected removal from the Test team.
However, Sri Lanka’s bowlers produced an excellent finish. They conceded just 36 runs in the final five overs while taking five wickets. Eshan Malinga led the attack with figures of 4-46, while Asitha Fernando claimed 3-59.
Babar and Saad Build a Crucial Partnership
Pakistan lost openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub early, with Dilshan Madushanka dismissing both batters.
Babar Azam and Saad Baig then steadied the innings with a 74-run partnership for the third wicket. Babar scored 45, while Saad contributed 39.
Malinga broke the stand by dismissing both batters with short-pitched deliveries. Their departures brought Salman and Hasan Nawaz together at the crease.
The pair added 97 runs, with Salman controlling the innings and Hasan providing attacking support.
Salman Accelerates After Steady Start
Salman initially focused on settling in and rotating the strike. He gradually increased the scoring rate, punishing loose deliveries and finding gaps in the field.
He reached his half-century in the 35th over with two runs off Sachindu Colombage. Hasan then lifted the tempo by hitting two sixes against the spinner, including a powerful slog sweep over cow corner.
Salman soon took charge. He pulled Dasun Shanaka through the leg side and continued to find boundaries.
His standout shot came in the 40th over. He picked Malinga’s slower delivery outside off stump and launched a lofted drive over long-off for six.
Third ODI Century Gives Pakistan a Strong Platform
Salman reached his hundred in the 45th over. He first sent a low full toss through deep midwicket before edging a full delivery past the infield to the third-man boundary.
He raised a finger to his temple as he acknowledged the crowd’s applause, completing a composed innings that had put Pakistan in a strong position.
Hasan, meanwhile, departed for 37 off 49 balls. His pull against Fernando failed to clear short midwicket, where Pavan Rathnayake took an excellent overhead catch.
Arafat Minhas added a brisk 18 off 15 deliveries. However, his attempt to hit Fernando over the off side ended with Kamindu Mendis taking a catch at backward point.
Sri Lanka Bowlers Trigger Late Collapse
Pakistan were 279-6 when Salman fell in the 47th over. He mistimed a lofted shot off Fernando, and Shanaka took the catch at long-on.
Sri Lanka capitalised on the breakthrough. Malinga struck twice in the next over, first forcing Faheem Ashraf to edge a wide delivery behind the stumps before trapping Naseem Shah lbw with a full ball.
The pacer then kept Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf under pressure with accurate yorkers and sharp short deliveries.
Shaheen managed a couple of boundaries in the closing overs, including a straight hit off Malinga. However, Pakistan failed to produce the late surge needed to push the total beyond 320.
Haris was run out for a duck in the final over after Sahan Arachchige produced a sharp throw that Malinga collected, leaving the batter short of his ground.
Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 305 in 49.5 overs. Malinga’s incisive spell ensured Sri Lanka finished strongly after Salman’s century had threatened to take the hosts well beyond 320.
Teams
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saad Baig (wicketkeeper), Hasan Nawaz, Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah.
Sri Lanka: Avishka Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis (captain and wicketkeeper), Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Sachindu Colombage, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka.
