Salman Agha's fourth ODI century set up a 37-run win for Pakistan over Sri Lanka in the opening match of the three-team ODI tri-series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, with Pakistan's 305 proving too much despite half-centuries from Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage in the Sri Lankan reply.
Put in to bat first, Pakistan were given the platform they needed by their captain, who made 107 off 90 balls, striking 10 fours and a six. Agha put on a 97-run fifth-wicket stand with Hasan Nawaz, who contributed 37 off 49 deliveries, before the Pakistan innings lost its way in the closing overs — the last five wickets fell for just 26 runs as the total settled at 305 in 49.5 overs. Agha was named Player of the Match, a notable turn for a batter who had been sent home from Pakistan's England tour in August and had since lost the T20I captaincy.
Chasing 306, Sri Lanka built a response around fifties from Rathnayake and Liyanage, but the required rate crept up as Pakistan's seam attack struck in the closing stages. Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 268 in 48.1 overs, with Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf among those to make inroads in the death overs and seal the result for the hosts.
A 37-run margin in the series opener gives Pakistan the early advantage in a tournament structured as a double round-robin, with the top two sides advancing to the final. Agha's return to form with the bat — after a difficult few months out of the T20I captaincy picture — adds a layer of personal context to a result that also moves Pakistan a step closer to the final at Lahore.
Pakistan face England next, at the same Rawalpindi venue on October 20, while Sri Lanka will look to regroup before their own fixture against England. The tri-series runs through to the final at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on October 31.
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Scores and figures in this article are verified against same-day and freshly re-checked reporting as of October 19, 2026.
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