Salman Ali Agha made a triumphant return to the Pakistan team with his fourth ODI century in a 37-run win over Sri Lanka in the cricket tri-series opener on Sunday.
Agha top-scored with 107 off 90 as Pakistan were bowled out for 305 in 49.5 overs after Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis won his fourth consecutive toss and elected to field.
The batsman was among seven Pakistani cricketers recalled home in late August during a tumultuous tour of England after leading the side in the first Test.
Pakistan’s pace bowlers overcame heavy 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 three for 55 as Naseem Shah anchored Sri Lanka’s top order with impressive swing bowling to finish at two for 43. Haris Rauf ran through the tail with two for 48 while all-seamer Faheem Ashraf grabbed two for 49, including Ranaja’s key.
Avishka Fernando, making his return to ODIs, got past Shah, while Kusal Mendis struggled for 34 balls to score just 18 before falling to Ashraf.
Kamindu Mendis (44 off 50) survived two dropped catches before Afridi struck twice in his comeback spell as Sri Lanka limped to 91-4 in the 20th over of their chase.
Rathnayake and Liyanage then revived Sri Lanka’s hopes with a 119-run stand with the Pakistani pacers unable to move back the wet ball due to heavy rain at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
But Rathnayake’s dismissal in the 38th over gave Pakistan an opening despite Dasun Shanaka, playing his first ODI since the start of 2024, scoring 28 off 18 balls.
After being called home, Agha was dropped from Pakistan’s T20 captaincy and dropped from the team that beat Sri Lanka 2-1 in their recent three-match series. However, a prolific run of domestic form, including a triple century, earned him a return to the ODI team.
Agha helped Pakistan recover from 118-4 in the 22nd over, building crucial partnerships with Hasan Nawaz (37) and Arafat Minhas (18), before Sri Lanka stormed back to victory.
Eshan Malinga (4-46) and Asitha Fernando (3-59) struck repeatedly in the last five overs to deny Pakistan a strong finish. From 279-5, Pakistan lost their last five wickets for just 26 runs. Malinga claimed two wickets in a maiden before number 11 Haris Rauf denied him a hat-trick.
Dilshan Madushanka (2-67) removed 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 stand before Malinga removed both batsmen in consecutive overs.
Pakistan won by 37 runs.
Babar, who has scored just one ODI century in more than two years, fell for 45 off 57 balls, pulling a short delivery from Malinga straight to mid-off. Baig hit two sixes and three fours before falling to the same bowler, not allowing a pull to deep leg.
Agha regained the momentum with a 97-run partnership with Nawaz. Sri Lanka’s lone specialist Sachindu Colombage (0-61) struggled to contain them as Agha reached his 48-ball half-century and Nawaz also struck.
Fernando turned to break the stand, with Rathnayake taking a brilliant catch over his head at mid-wicket to remove Nawaz.
Agha went on to strike in a 64-run partnership with Minhas before bringing up his century with a boundary.
Pakistan will play England in Rawalpindi on Tuesday in the second match of the tri-series. Watch live Sky Sports from 9 am.
