Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI: Salman Agha's Hundred and a Strong Pace Attack Seal a 37-Run Win

Pakistan ODI Tri-Nation Series 2026 | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka | 1st ODI | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

Pakistan opened their home tri-nation series with a win, beating Sri Lanka by 37 runs in Rawalpindi on Sunday, October 18. It was not a smooth one. Pakistan collapsed to 118 for 4, Sri Lanka's middle order nearly took the chase away on a night when dew made life hard for the bowlers, and the match was only settled when Sri Lanka lost their last five wickets for 15 runs.

Salman Agha, back in the side, made 107 and was named Player of the Match. It was his fourth ODI hundred.

Match at a Glance

Pakistan's Innings: A Rough Start and a Salman Agha Recovery

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl. The opening pair of Fakhar Zaman (16) and Saim Ayub (7) went early, both to Dilshan Madushanka. Babar Azam (45) and debutant Saad Baig (39 off 40 balls, with three fours and two sixes) gave the innings some shape, but Pakistan were in trouble at 118 for 4.

That was where Salman Agha took over. He added 97 with one partner and 64 with another, and he reached his hundred to steady the innings. His 107 came off 90 balls at a strike rate of about 119, which is quick without being reckless, and it kept Pakistan above 300.

The finish was not as big as Pakistan would have liked. Twenty-six runs came off the 44th and 45th overs, but Eshan Malinga (4-46) and Asitha Fernando (3-59) struck repeatedly at the death, and Pakistan were bowled out for 305 in 49.5 overs. Baig's 39, Arafat Minhas's 18 off 15 and Babar's 45 all helped, but each of them was dismissed before it turned into something bigger.

Watch complete Match Highlights

Sri Lanka's Chase: Early Damage, Then a Real Scare

Pakistan's pace bowlers did the early damage. The Sri Lankan top four was gone quickly, and Kusal Mendis was dismissed for 18 off 34. At the drinks break Sri Lanka were 154 for 4 after 29 overs, and the game looked like it was moving Pakistan's way.

Then Pavan Rathnayake (79 off 74) and Janith Liyanage (60) put on 119 for the fifth wicket. Dew had set in, the outfield was getting wet and there was no reverse swing on offer, so the bowlers struggled for grip. With seven overs left, Sri Lanka needed 55, and the pressure had shifted to the home side.

Liyanage's wicket changed everything. Sri Lanka lost their last five wickets for 15 runs. Shaheen Shah Afridi finished with 3-55, Haris Rauf took 2-48 and bowled Asitha Fernando to end the game in the 49th over, and Pakistan won by 37 runs.

Turning Points

Salman Agha's recovery. Pakistan were 118 for 4 when he came together with his partners. Without that hundred, a chase of 250 would have looked very different.

Early wickets in the chase. Skittling the top four gave Pakistan a cushion that they needed later. The 37-run margin is almost exactly the room they had when the Rathnayake and Liyanage stand broke.

The Liyanage dismissal. It sparked the collapse of five wickets for 15 runs, and it made the final margin look comfortable when the match was anything but.

Babar Azam's Milestone Inside the Win

Babar's 45 off 57 balls had a bigger story attached to it. He crossed 16,000 international runs during the innings and became the fifth Pakistani to reach that mark. We have covered it in a separate post, but it is worth noting that the milestone came in a winning cause.

What Worked for Pakistan and What Still Needs Fixing

What worked: The pace attack led by Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf did its job in difficult conditions, and the top-four wickets in the chase were the foundation of the win. Salman Agha's return to form and the quick start from debutant Saad Baig are both positives for the batting group.

What needs fixing: The batting collapsed to 118 for 4 against a side without some of its regular names, and the death-over batting fell short of what the platform deserved. On the bowling side, dew will be a factor in every day-night game on this tour, and Pakistan will want a plan for it before they meet England.

Sri Lanka's Takeaways

Sri Lanka lost, but they will not be unhappy with parts of it. Eshan Malinga's four wickets and Asitha Fernando's three gave them control of the Pakistan innings at the death, and Rathnayake and Liyanage showed that the middle order can hunt a total of 300. The real problem was the top order, which gave away too much early, and the tail, which could not close a game that had been set up for them.

The Bigger Picture: Where the Tri-Series Goes From Here

This is a double round-robin tournament between Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England, with the top two teams going through to the final on October 31 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Pakistan play England next, on October 20 in Rawalpindi, and the two sides meet again in Lahore on October 25. Pakistan and Sri Lanka play each other again on October 27.

England arrive in good form, having won their last three ODI series, so a win over Sri Lanka in the opener is a useful head start for Pakistan. There is also a larger purpose behind the series. All three teams are using it as preparation for the 2027 Cricket World Cup, so combinations, debutants and form matter as much as results.

Who Is Affected and Who Benefits

Pakistan: They start the series with a win, which gives them breathing room, and they get to use the next few games to settle their batting order.

Salman Agha: A hundred on his return to the side is a strong statement and gives him a good platform in a tournament where places will be contested.

Saad Baig: A debut innings of 39 off 40 balls is a good way to start, and it puts pressure on others for the wicketkeeping and middle-order spots.

Sri Lanka: They lose a match they could have won, but their young middle order showed some courage, and the bowling gave them a good account of itself.

England: They watch from the other side, and they now know that Pakistan's batting can wobble and that dew will matter in the evening.

Final Word

It was a win with some flaws, but it was also the kind of win that teams build on. Pakistan found a hero in Salman Agha, their pace bowlers held on when the conditions turned against them, and they leave the opening night with the points. The next test is England on October 20, and that match will tell us far more about where this team stands.

Sources

• ESPNcricinfo: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 1st Match report
• ESPN: Salman Agha ton, Eshan Malinga four-for as Pakistan notch 305
• PCB: 1st Match scorecard, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka
• Wikipedia: 2026-27 Pakistan ODI Tri-Series
• Express Tribune: England arrive in Pakistan for ODI tri-series
• ICC: Pakistan to host Sri Lanka, England for tri-series action