Agha Salman’s unbeaten century and Haris Rauf’s incisive four-wicket haul guided Pakistan to a tense six-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first one-day international at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, reports AFP.
Agha’s fluent 105 not out off 87 balls lifted Pakistan to a competitive 299-5, while Rauf’s 4-61 ensured Sri Lanka fell narrowly short, finishing on 293-9 in 50 overs. The win gave Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
The game proceeded despite a suicide attack in nearby Islamabad earlier in the day that killed at least 12 people. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said security for the visiting team had been further tightened following the incident.
Sent in to bat, Pakistan were reeling at 95-4 before Agha and Hussain Talat (62) staged a brilliant recovery, adding 138 runs for the fifth wicket. Talat struck a six and six fours in his maiden ODI half-century, while Agha’s second ODI hundred featured nine boundaries.
Late fireworks from Mohammad Nawaz (36 not out off 23 balls) powered Pakistan to 299, with 104 runs coming in the final 10 overs. Spinner Wanindu Hasaranga was the pick of Sri Lanka’s bowlers with 3-54.
Sri Lanka’s chase began brightly with Kamil Mishara (38) and Pathum Nissanka (29) putting on 85 for the first wicket. However, Rauf turned the match in Pakistan’s favor by removing both openers and Kusal Mendis (0) in a fiery spell.
Sadeera Samarawickrama (39) and skipper Charith Asalanka (32) briefly steadied the innings with a 57-run stand, but once Rauf broke through again, Sri Lanka’s middle order faltered.
At 210-7, Hasaranga launched a spirited counterattack, hammering 59 off 52 balls with seven fours to bring the equation down to 23 from the last two overs. His dismissal with eight balls remaining ended Sri Lanka’s hopes. Janith Liyanage contributed 28 with two sixes.
Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi praised his team’s recovery after a slow start. “Agha and Talat batted very well to take us to 299. Then Haris gave us crucial wickets,” he said.
Sri Lankan skipper Asalanka admitted his bowlers gave away too many runs. “The way Agha and Talat batted took the game away. We should have restricted them under 270,” he said.
Earlier, Asitha Fernando had trapped opener Saim Ayub leg-before for six, while Hasaranga dismissed Fakhar Zaman (32), Babar Azam (29), and Mohammad Rizwan (5) in a destructive 16-ball spell that left Pakistan wobbling before Agha’s rescue act.
The remaining ODIs will be played on Thursday and Saturday, also in Rawalpindi.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
