Salman Agha was the star with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 105 off 83 balls, while Hussain Talat contributed a steady 58. Their crucial 138-run partnership for the fifth wicket stabilized Pakistan’s innings after an early collapse. Opener Saim Ayub fell for 6, followed by Fakhar Zaman (32) and Babar Azam (29), who were unable to convert their starts into significant scores. Mohammad Nawaz provided a strong finish, remaining 36 not out off 23 balls, helping Pakistan accelerate in the last 10 overs.
For Sri Lanka, Wanindu Hasaranga took three wickets for 54 runs, while Asitha Fernando and Maheesh Theekshana claimed one each.
Haris Rauf emerged as Pakistan’s hero with the ball, claiming four key wickets in 10 overs, including the crucial dismissals of Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Mendis in quick succession. Sri Lanka, chasing 300, had begun strongly with an 80-run opening stand between Pathum Nissanka and Mendis. However, Pakistan’s disciplined bowling and sharp fielding turned the tide, with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Nawaz, and Faheem Ashraf contributing with one wicket each.
Despite a fighting 59 from Hasaranga, Sri Lanka fell short by six runs. Babar Azam’s alert catch and Afridi’s incisive bowling in the final overs ensured Pakistan held their nerve to clinch a memorable win.
With the first ODI concluded, Pakistan now leads the series 1-0, setting the stage for a highly competitive second ODI, where Sri Lanka will look to bounce back and level the series.
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