Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha reacts as he walks off the sphere after his dismissal throughout the tri-series one-day worldwide cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on October 18, 2026.
| Picture Credit score: AP
Salman Ali Agha made a triumphant return to the Pakistan staff along with his fourth ODI century in a 37-run victory over Sri Lanka within the cricket tri-series opener on Sunday (October 18, 2026).
Agha hit 107 off 90 balls, and Pakistan scored 305 all out in 49.5 overs after Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis received his fourth successive toss and selected to discipline.
Agha was amongst seven Pakistan cricketers summoned again residence on the finish of August throughout a tumultuous tour of England after Agha had led the staff within the first take a look at.
Pakistan tempo bowlers overcame heavy dew and threatening half centuries from Pavan Rathnayake (79) and Janith Liyanage (60) to dismiss Sri Lanka for 268 in 48.1 overs.
Captain Shaheen Afridi picked up 3-55 whereas Naseem Shah pinned down Sri Lanka’s top-order with spectacular swing bowling to complete with 2-43. Haris Rauf ran by way of the tail with 2-48 whereas seam all-rounder Faheem Ashraf grabbed 2-49, together with the important thing wicket of Rathnayake.
Pakistan will play England in Rawalpindi on Tuesday (October 20) within the second match of the tri-series.
Sri Lanka struggles in opposition to paceAvishka Fernando, making a comeback to ODIs, top-edged Shah whereas Kusal Mendis struggled for 34 balls to attain solely 18 earlier than he fell to Ashraf.
Kamindu Mendis (44 in 50) survived two dropped catches earlier than Afridi struck twice in his return spell as Sri Lanka limped to 91-4 within the twentieth over of its chase.
Rathnayake and Liyanage then revived Sri Lankan hopes with a 119-run stand with Pakistan pacers unable to reverse swing the moist ball on account of heavy dew at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. However the dismissal of Rathnayake within the thirty eighth over offered Pakistan a gap regardless of Dasun Shanaka, taking part in his first ODI because the begin of 2024, scoring 28 off 18 balls.
Agha revives Pakistan
After being summoned residence, Agha was later not solely eliminated as Pakistan T20 captain but additionally misplaced his place within the T20 staff that beat Sri Lanka 2-1 within the latest three-match sequence. Nevertheless, Agha scored prolifically in home cricket, together with a triple century and compelled his means again into the ODI aspect.
Agha revived Pakistan from 118-4 within the twenty second over with partnerships with Hasan Nawaz (37) and Arafat Minhas (18) earlier than Sri Lanka hit again within the loss of life overs.
Eshan Malinga (4-46) and Asitha Fernando (3-59) denied Pakistan an enormous end within the remaining 5 overs with a number of strikes as Pakistan, at 279-5, went on to lose its final 5 wickets for 26 runs. Malinga bowled a double-wicket maiden over earlier than No. 11 Haris Rauf denied him a hat trick.
Dilshan Madushanka (2-67) eliminated openers Fakhar Zaman (16) and Saim Ayub (7) in his opening spell.
Babar Azam and 19-year-old debutant Saad Baig rebuilt with a 74-run third-wicket stand earlier than Malinga eliminated each batters in successive overs.
Babar, who has scored only one ODI hundred in additional than two years, fell for 45 off 57 balls when he pulled Malinga’s quick ball to mid-wicket. Baig smashed two sixes and three fours earlier than he too was tempted to tug Malinga and holed out at deep nice leg.
Agha snatched the momentum from Sri Lanka with a 97-run stand with Nawaz. The one specialist leg-spinner Sachindu Colombage (0-61) struggled as Agha accomplished his half century off 48 balls and Nawaz additionally opened up in opposition to the leg-spinner.
Fernando returned and broke the partnership when Nawaz was effectively caught by Rathnayake over his head at mid-wicket. Agha continued to bat aggressively in a 64-run stand with Minhas earlier than elevating his hundred with an edged boundary.
Printed – October 19, 2026 02:44 am IST
