Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 37 runs in ODI tri-series opener

Pakistan began their ODI tri-series campaign with a 37-run victory over Sri Lanka after defending a target of 306 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Batting first, Pakistan were bowled out for 305 in 49.5 overs after Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to field.

Salman Ali Agha led the batting effort with an impressive 107 off 90 balls, giving Pakistan a strong platform to post a competitive total. Babar Azam contributed 45 runs, while wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig scored 39. Hasan Nawaz added 37 runs to help Pakistan build their total.

Arafat Minhas also made a useful contribution with 18 runs, while Fakhar Zaman scored 16. For Sri Lanka, Eshan Malinga took four wickets, while Asitha Fernando claimed three. Despite their efforts, Pakistan finished with 305 runs, setting the visitors a target of 306.

Salman’s century provides the key contribution

Salman’s 107 was the main highlight of Pakistan’s innings. His performance helped the hosts recover from the loss of wickets and build a total that proved difficult to chase.

The century was his fourth in ODI cricket and earned him the Player of the Match award.

Babar’s 45 and Saad’s 39 also played important roles in Pakistan’s innings. Hasan’s 37 added further runs as Pakistan looked to make the most of their time at the crease.

However, Sri Lanka’s bowlers made an impact towards the end of the innings. Eshan Malinga finished with four wickets, while Asitha Fernando took three, preventing Pakistan from batting through all 50 overs.

Pakistan were eventually dismissed for 305 with one ball remaining in their innings.

Sri Lanka fight back during the chase

Sri Lanka needed 306 runs to win but lost early wickets as Pakistan’s fast bowlers put pressure on the visitors.

Kamindu Mendis scored 44 runs, helping Sri Lanka recover after the early setbacks.

Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage then gave the visitors hope with a strong partnership for the fifth wicket.

Rathnayake scored 79, while Liyanage made 60. Their 119-run stand brought Sri Lanka back into contention and raised the possibility of a successful chase.

The pair kept the scoreboard moving and put pressure on Pakistan’s bowlers.

However, Pakistan struck at a crucial stage when Faheem Ashraf dismissed Rathnayake. The breakthrough shifted momentum, and Sri Lanka struggled to recover after losing their set batters.

Shaheen Afridi leads Pakistan’s bowling attack

Pakistan’s bowlers responded strongly as Sri Lanka’s innings began to collapse. Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi took three wickets for 55 runs, playing a key role in restricting the visitors.

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Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf each took two wickets, keeping the pressure on throughout the chase. After Rathnayake’s dismissal, Pakistan took five wickets for just 15 runs, ending Sri Lanka’s hopes of reaching the target.

The visitors were bowled out for 268 in 48.1 overs, falling 37 runs short of the target. Pakistan’s pace attack took all 10 wickets, completing a strong performance after the team had posted 305 runs in the first innings.

Match summary: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka

·         Pakistan: 305 all out in 49.5 overs

·         Sri Lanka: 268 all out in 48.1 overs

·         Result: Pakistan won by 37 runs

·         Top scorer for Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha, 107

·         Top scorer for Sri Lanka: Pavan Rathnayake, 79

·         Best bowler for Pakistan: Shaheen Shah Afridi, three wickets

·         Best bowler for Sri Lanka: Eshan Malinga, four wickets

·         Player of the Match: Salman Ali Agha

Pakistan prepare for England clash

The tri-nation ODI series features Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England. The tournament runs from October 18 to October 31, 2026, with six league matches followed by the final.

Pakistan will face England in their next match in Rawalpindi on October 20. Sri Lanka are also scheduled to play England on October 22 before the tournament moves to Lahore for the remaining fixtures.

The series allows all three teams to test their combinations and build momentum ahead of future international assignments.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has also announced that the Pakistan-England ODI scheduled for October 25 will be dedicated to breast cancer awareness. Special activities are planned as part of the Pink Ribbon campaign.