Salman Ali Agha century lifts Pakistan to 305 against Sri Lanka

Salman Ali Agha hit a fine century on Sunday as Pakistan posted 305 against Sri Lanka in the opening ODI tri-series match at Rawalpindi.

Sri Lanka sent the hosts in to bat at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, and its bowlers dismissed them in 49.5 overs. A late slide cost Pakistan, with the last five wickets falling for 26 runs after the score stood at 279-6.

Eshan Malinga and Asitha Fernando struck at steady intervals to wreck the lower order.

Salman Ali Agha rescues the innings

Pakistan’s openers, Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, started briskly with a stand of 23. Saim fell in the fourth over to Dilshan Madushanka for seven off eight balls, including a six.

Madushanka removed Fakhar two overs later for 16 off 19 balls. Early losses left the hosts struggling on 32-2.

Babar Azam and debutant Saad Baig then steadied things with a third-wicket stand of 74. The pair handled the Sri Lankan attack well and lifted the score beyond 100.

Malinga ended the partnership by dismissing Babar for 45 off 57 balls, with six boundaries. One over later, he also took Baig for 39 off 40 balls, a knock with three fours and two sixes. Pakistan were 106-3.

Hasan Nawaz then joined Salman Ali Agha, and the pair put on 97 for the fifth wicket. Along the way, Salman reached his 10th ODI half-century, and Pakistan went past 200.

Fernando broke the stand by removing Hasan for 37 off 49 balls, which included two fours and two sixes. After 37.2 overs, the score read 215-5.

Fourth ODI hundred for Salman Ali Agha

Arafat Minhas gave Salman steady support in a 64-run partnership. Together they took Pakistan past 250, and Salman reached his fourth ODI hundred.

He top-scored with 107 off 90 balls, striking 10 boundaries and a six. Fernando eventually removed him, and Arafat fell soon afterwards for a quick 18 off 15 balls.

Malinga then claimed Faheem Ashraf, who made six off six balls, for his third wicket of the innings. His next delivery removed Naseem Shah for a duck.

Haris Rauf survived the hat-trick ball, because it passed the stumps and Sri Lanka’s leg-before appeal failed.

Shaheen Afridi finishes the job

Captain Shaheen Afridi chipped in at the end with valuable runs, finishing on 13 not out off 12 balls. His effort carried Pakistan past 300.

Haris was run out in the final over, which Malinga bowled for just five runs. Sri Lanka now had to chase Pakistan’s total.

Malinga finished with 4-46 from 9.5 overs, the best return among Sri Lanka’s bowlers. Fernando took three wickets, and Madushanka added two.

Wickets fell in clusters for Pakistan: two early, then Babar and Baig within an over, and five late on. Salman has now scored four ODI hundreds, and his knock showed the value of an anchor in the middle order. Pakistan will want to learn from the collapse, since losing five wickets for 26 runs cost them a chance of a bigger total. Still, Salman Ali Agha gave them a competitive score to defend in the ODI tri-series.