RAWALPINDI: Salman Ali Agha struck a century before Pakistan’s bowlers produced a disciplined performance to secure a 37-run victory over Sri Lanka in the opening match of the ODI tri-nation series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing 306, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 268 in 48.1 overs as Pakistan, led by captain Shaheen Afridi, kept taking wickets at important stages.
Sri Lanka began with a 30-run opening stand before Avishka Fernando was dismissed for five in the sixth over. Skipper Kusal Mendis then joined Kamindu Mendis, but their 36-run partnership ended when Faheem Ashraf removed Kusal for 18, leaving Sri Lanka at 66-2.
Kamindu made 44 off 50 balls before Shaheen dismissed him and then struck again to remove Sahan Arachchige for three as Sri Lanka slipped to 91-4.
Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage revived the chase with a 119-run fifth-wicket stand, taking Sri Lanka past the 200-run mark. Rathnayake registered his maiden ODI half-century and scored 79 off 74 deliveries, hitting six fours and two sixes, before Faheem broke the partnership.
Liyanage kept Sri Lanka in the contest and completed his eighth ODI half-century, while Dasun Shanaka added quick runs. Their 43-run stand ended when Haris Rauf dismissed Liyanage for 60 off 74 balls, including five boundaries, with Sri Lanka reduced to 253-6.
Shaheen then removed Shanaka for 28 off 18 balls, including three fours and a six, further denting Sri Lanka’s chances. Naseem Shah dismissed Sachindu Colombage for one, while Eshan Malinga was run out for two after a mix-up between the batters.
Haris completed the job by dismissing Asitha Fernando for seven as Pakistan sealed the win.
Shaheen led the attack with figures of 3-55 in 10 overs, while Naseem, Haris and Faheem took two wickets each.
Earlier, after being put into bat, Pakistan made a positive start through openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, who added 23 runs. Dilshan Madushanka dismissed Saim for seven in the fourth over and struck again in the sixth to remove Fakhar for 16, leaving Pakistan at 32-2.
Babar Azam and debutant Saad Baig steadied the innings with a 74-run partnership, taking Pakistan past 100. Eshan Malinga broke the stand by dismissing Babar for 45 off 57 balls, with six fours, before removing Saad for 39 off 40 deliveries, including three boundaries and two sixes.
Salman and Hasan Nawaz then rebuilt the innings with a 97-run partnership as Pakistan crossed 200. Hasan scored 37 off 49 balls before Asitha Fernando dismissed him at 215-5.
Salman continued to lift the scoring rate and added 64 runs with Arafat Minhas, who made 18 off 15 balls, before completing his fourth ODI century. Fernando dismissed Arafat and then removed Salman, who top-scored with 107 off 90 balls, hitting 10 fours and a six.
Malinga claimed his third wicket by dismissing Faheem Ashraf for six and came close to a hat-trick when Naseem Shah fell for a duck. Haris Rauf survived the hat-trick delivery after an unsuccessful leg-before-wicket appeal.
Captain Shaheen contributed an unbeaten 13 off 12 balls as Pakistan crossed the 300-run mark, while Haris was run out on the final delivery.
For Sri Lanka, Malinga finished with 4-46 in 9.5 overs, while Fernando took three wickets and Madushanka claimed two.
