Rawalpindi, October 18,2026: Salman Ali Agha marked his return to Pakistan’s side with a commanding century, scoring 107 off 90 balls to help the hosts post 305 in 49.5 overs against Sri Lanka in the opening match of the tri-series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Salman struck 10 fours and a six for his third One-day International century after being dropped from Pakistan’s Test team two months ago. However, Sri Lanka’s bowlers produced an impressive finish, claiming five wickets for just 36 runs in the final five overs to bowl Pakistan out.
Eshan Malinga led the attack with figures of 4-46, while Asitha Fernando took three wickets for 59 runs.
Pakistan suffered an early setback when openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub fell to Dilshan Madushanka. Babar Azam and Saad Baig then steadied the innings with a 74-run partnership for the third wicket.
Babar scored 45 before Malinga dismissed him with a short delivery, while Saad contributed 39. Their departures brought Salman and Hasan Nawaz together, and the pair added 97 runs to rebuild the innings.
Salman initially focused on settling in, rotating the strike and capitalising on loose deliveries before gradually accelerating. He reached his half-century with a couple of runs off Sachindu Colombage in the 35th over.
Hasan provided momentum with two sixes against Colombage, including a powerful slog sweep over cow corner, but Salman soon took charge of the scoring.
He pulled Dasun Shanaka through the leg side and continued to find gaps in the field. His standout stroke came in the 40th over when he launched Malinga’s slower delivery over long-off for six.
Salman reached his century in the 45th over, first steering a low full toss through deep midwicket before edging a full delivery past the infield to the third-man boundary. He acknowledged the applause by raising a finger to his temple.
Hasan fell for 37 off 49 balls when his pull against Fernando was caught by Pavan Rathnayake at short midwicket. Arafat Minhas added a brisk 18 off 15 deliveries before mistiming an attempted shot off Fernando, with Kamindu Mendis taking the catch at backward point.
Pakistan were 279-6 when Salman departed in the 47th over, mistiming a lofted shot off Fernando to Shanaka at long-on.
His dismissal triggered a late collapse. Malinga struck twice in the following over, having Faheem Ashraf caught behind before trapping Naseem Shah lbw with a full delivery.
The Sri Lankan pacer then restricted Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf with accurate yorkers and short-pitched deliveries. Shaheen managed a couple of boundaries, including a straight hit off Malinga, but Pakistan failed to produce a substantial late surge.
Haris was run out for a duck in the final over after a sharp throw from Sahan Arachchige was collected by Malinga, leaving the batter short of his ground.
Pakistan were eventually dismissed for 305 in 49.5 overs, with Malinga’s late strikes limiting the hosts after Salman’s innings had put them in a position to push beyond 320.
Teams
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saad Baig (wicketkeeper), Hasan Nawaz, Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah.
Sri Lanka: Avishka Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis (captain/wicketkeeper), Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Sachindu Colombage, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka.
