Agha’s Rescue Act, Shaheen’s Three Wickets Give Pakistan Winning Start

Pakistan began their ODI tri-series campaign with a 37-run victory over Sri Lanka on Sunday, riding on Salman Ali Agha’s fourth ODI century and a decisive performance from their pace attack.

Agha struck 107 off 90 balls to rescue Pakistan from 118/4 and help them reach 305. Sri Lanka fought back through half-centuries from Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage, but Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf kept taking wickets to dismiss the visitors for 268 in 48.1 overs.

Shaheen finished with 3/55, while Naseem returned 2/43 and Rauf took 2/48. Agha was named Player of the Match.

A HUNDRED AFTER THE LEAN RETURNS

For Agha, the innings marked a sharp improvement on his previous ODI series. Against Australia, he had managed six, seven and 15, contributing just 28 runs across three innings.

His last 10 ODI innings, including Sunday’s hundred, have produced 526 runs, with three centuries and a half-century. From oldest to latest, those scores read: five not out against South Africa; 105 not out and six against Sri Lanka; five, 64 and 106 against Bangladesh; six, seven and 15 against Australia; and 107 against Sri Lanka. He did not bat in the second ODI against Sri Lanka last November.

The sequence captures both his value and his inconsistency: substantial innings capable of shaping matches, interrupted by several low scores.

Sunday’s century also came less than a fortnight after Pakistan replaced him as T20I captain and left him out of the squad for the Sri Lanka series. Retained in the ODI setup, Agha delivered an immediate reminder of his importance to the middle order.

REBUILDING FROM 118/4

Asked to bat first, Pakistan lost four wickets for 118 and needed a partnership to prevent Sri Lanka from taking control.

Babar Azam made 45 off 57 balls, hitting six boundaries, but his dismissal and the departure of Saad Baig left the middle order with considerable work.

Agha found a partner in Hasan Nawaz, who contributed 37 off 49 deliveries, including two fours and two sixes. Their 97-run fifth-wicket stand carried Pakistan to 215 and restored the innings.

Agha’s recovery came at pace. His 10 fours and a six helped him score at a strike rate of 118.89, allowing Pakistan to rebuild while keeping a total above 300 within reach.

Sri Lanka struck back towards the end, bowling the hosts out in 49.5 overs. Eshan Malinga led their attack with 4/46, while Asitha Fernando claimed 3/59.

RATHNAYAKE AND LIYANAGE KEEP THE CHASE ALIVE

Pakistan’s bowlers initially appeared to have put the target beyond Sri Lanka, reducing them to 91/4 in the 20th over.

Avishka Fernando fell for five, Kusal Mendis for 18 and Sahan Arachchige for three. Kamindu Mendis offered resistance with 44 off 50 balls, including four boundaries, but Sri Lanka needed a substantial recovery.

Rathnayake and Liyanage provided it.

Their 119-run fifth-wicket partnership revived the chase and forced Pakistan to work for their breakthrough. Rathnayake struck 79 off 74 deliveries, with six fours and two sixes, while Liyanage made 60 off 74 balls, hitting five boundaries.

Dasun Shanaka added 28, but Pakistan’s pacers regained control in the closing stages. With wickets falling, Sri Lanka could not sustain the pursuit and finished 37 runs short.

Agha had repaired Pakistan’s innings when it threatened to unravel. The fast bowlers completed the job when Sri Lanka threatened a recovery of their own.

With inputs from ANI