Salman Ali Agha made a triumphant return to the Pakistan crew along with his fourth ODI century in a 37-run victory over Sri Lanka within the cricket tri-series opener on Sunday.
Agha top-scored with 107 off 90 balls as Pakistan had been bowled out for 305 in 49.5 overs after Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis received his fourth successive toss and elected to discipline.
The batsman was amongst seven Pakistan cricketers summoned residence on the finish of August throughout a turbulent tour of England, having captained the aspect within the first Take a look at.
Pakistan tempo bowlers overcame heavy dew 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 up three for 55 whereas Naseem Shah pinned down Sri Lanka’s top-order with spectacular swing bowling to complete on two for 43. Haris Rauf ran by way of the tail with two for 48 whereas seam all-rounder Faheem Ashraf grabbed two for 49, together with the important thing wicket of Rathnayake.
Avishka Fernando, making a comeback to ODIs, top-edged Shah whereas Kusal Mendis struggled for 34 balls to attain solely 18 earlier than he fell to Ashraf.
Kamindu Mendis (44 in 50) survived two dropped catches earlier than Afridi struck twice in his return spell as Sri Lanka limped to 91-4 within the twentieth over of its chase.
Rathnayake and Liyanage then revived Sri Lankan hopes with a 119-run stand with Pakistan pacers unable to reverse swing the moist ball because of heavy dew at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
However the dismissal of Rathnayake within the thirty eighth over supplied Pakistan a gap regardless of Dasun Shanaka, enjoying his first ODI because the begin of 2024, scoring 28 off 18 balls.
After being summoned residence, Agha was stripped of the Pakistan T20 captaincy and dropped from the aspect that beat Sri Lanka 2-1 of their current three-match sequence. Nevertheless, a prolific run of home kind, together with a triple century, earned him a recall to the ODI crew.
Agha helped Pakistan get well from 118-4 within the twenty second over, constructing essential partnerships with Hasan Nawaz (37) and Arafat Minhas (18), earlier than Sri Lanka struck again within the dying overs.
Eshan Malinga (4-46) and Asitha Fernando (3-59) struck repeatedly within the closing 5 overs to disclaim Pakistan a robust end. From 279-5, Pakistan misplaced its final 5 wickets for simply 26 runs. Malinga claimed two wickets in a maiden over earlier than No. 11 Haris Rauf denied him a hat-trick.
Dilshan Madushanka (2-67) eliminated 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-wicket stand earlier than Malinga eliminated each batters in successive overs.
Pakistan received by 37 runs.
Babar, who has scored only one ODI century in additional than two years, fell for 45 off 57 balls, pulling a brief supply from Malinga straight to mid-wicket. Baig struck two sixes and three fours earlier than falling to the identical bowler, mistiming a pull to deep tremendous leg.
Agha wrested again the momentum with a 97-run partnership with Nawaz. Sri Lanka’s solely specialist leg-spinner, Sachindu Colombage (0-61), struggled to comprise them as Agha reached his half-century off 48 balls and Nawaz additionally attacked.
Fernando returned to interrupt the stand, with Rathnayake taking a superb catch above his head at mid-wicket to dismiss Nawaz.
Agha continued to assault in a 64-run partnership with Minhas earlier than citing his century with an edged boundary.
Pakistan will play England in Rawalpindi on Tuesday within the second match of the tri-series. Watch stay on Sky Sports activities from 9am.
