Salman Agha Shines as Pakistan Beat Sri Lanka by 6 Runs in Thrilling 1st ODI
Salman Agha’s 105 and Hussain Talat’s 62 help Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 6 runs in Rawalpindi ODI.
In a nail-biting opener to their three-match ODI series on November 11, 2025, Pakistan edged out Sri Lanka by six runs at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, courtesy of Salman Ali Agha's masterful unbeaten century and a match-turning spell from Haris Rauf, despite a valiant counterattack led by Wanindu Hasaranga's explosive half-century.
Opting to bat first after losing the toss, Pakistan recovered from a precarious 95/4 to post a formidable 299/5 in 50 overs, with Agha (105* off 87 balls) anchoring a crucial 138-run stand for the fifth wicket alongside Hussain Talat's maiden ODI fifty (62 off 63). Mohammad Nawaz's unbeaten 36 provided the late impetus, as the hosts plundered 104 runs in the final 10 overs, setting a challenging target on a batsman-friendly pitch. Hasaranga starred with the ball for Sri Lanka, claiming 3/54, but costly fielding errors and a missed review on Talat proved pivotal.
Pakistan's innings began shakily, with openers Saim Ayub (12) and Fakhar Zaman (42) falling early to Asitha Fernando and Maheesh Theekshana, respectively, before Babar Azam (21) and Mohammad Rizwan (16) departed in quick succession to Hasaranga's spin wizardry, leaving the hosts reeling at 76/3. Agha's composed knock, blending calculated aggression with sharp running between wickets, rescued the innings; his second ODI tonne was sealed with a deft dab past point off Dushmantha Chameera. Talat, promoted up the order, complemented with fluent strokeplay, including multiple boundaries, before holing out to long-on off Pramod Madushan. Nawaz's late flourish, featuring innovative ramps and sweeps, capitalised on Sri Lanka's fatigue, though the visitors' bowlers restricted the damage with disciplined lines. This total marked Pakistan's highest ODI score at Rawalpindi since 2022, underscoring their depth in the middle order under new captain Shaheen Afridi.
Sri Lanka's chase ignited with an explosive 85-run opening stand in just 70 balls between Pathum Nissanka (41) and debutant Kamil Mishara (38), who unfurled elegant drives and lofts to exploit Pakistan's wayward new-ball bowling—26 wides across the innings highlighting the hosts' early rust. However, Haris Rauf's fiery intervention shattered the platform, snaring three wickets in two overs: Mishara lbw for a golden duck on debut, Kusal Mendis (0) caught behind, and Nissanka nicking a seaming beauty to Rizwan for 90/3. Sadeera Samarawickrama (39) and Charith Asalanka (25) rebuilt cautiously, but Faheem Ashraf and Abrar Ahmed's spin duo triggered a middle-order collapse, reducing Sri Lanka to 191/6. Naseem Shah's return with the old ball added pressure, as dropped catches at crucial junctures—two off Rauf—allowed brief respites, yet the required rate climbed to 11 by the 45th over.
Hasaranga's blistering 59 off 45 balls, laced with audacious sixes and slogs against Abrar and Nawaz, nearly engineered an improbable heist, his 68-run stand with Dushmantha Chameera (22) injecting late momentum and lifting Sri Lanka to 247/8 by the 45th. The all-rounder's heroics, including a pulled six off Shaheen, evoked memories of his 2023 World Cup exploits, but Rauf returned to claim his fourth scalp, castling Hasaranga with a yorker at 279/9 in the 49th. In the tense finale, Maheesh Theekshana's two boundaries off Shaheen raised hopes, but Hussain Talat, bowling his part-time medium-pacers, conceded just four singles to defend the last six runs, stranding Theekshana (10*) and Asitha Fernando (0). Rauf's 4/61, despite the economy, earned him Player of the Match honours in a game defined by fine margins and individual brilliance.
Post-match, Shaheen Afridi lauded his team's resilience, crediting Agha's partnership with Talat for the "300-plus total" and Rauf's "natural wicket-taking ability", while urging sharper powerplay batting. Sri Lanka skipper Asalanka rued bowling inconsistencies after the 20th over and middle-order "bad decisions", though he hailed Hasaranga as a "key player" for his dual contributions. Salman Agha, named Player of the Match, emphasised playing "one ball at a time" and sharp running in his stand with Talat, confident in Pakistan's finishers like Nawaz for the late surge. This thriller, the first bilateral ODI between the sides since 2019, sets up a decider in Rawalpindi on November 13, with Pakistan eyeing a series sweep and Sri Lanka desperate for redemption in a format where both seek World Cup momentum.
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