Pakistan launched their campaign in the Pakistan Sri Lanka Tri-Series 2026 with a commanding 37-run victory over Sri Lanka in the opening one-day international at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 18. Salman Ali Agha starred with a sublime 107 off 90 balls to rescue the hosts from a mid-innings wobble and power them to 305 all out, before captain Shaheen Shah Afridi’s pace attack held its nerve to bowl Sri Lanka out for 268.
It was a result that gave the home crowd plenty to celebrate. Put in to bat after Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl in the Pakistan Sri Lanka Tri-Series 2026 curtain-raiser, Pakistan lost openers Saim Ayub (7) and Fakhar Zaman (16) early to left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka. Babar Azam (45 off 57 balls) and debutant wicketkeeper Saad Baig (39 off 40) steadied the innings with a 74-run stand, but Eshan Malinga removed both in successive overs to halt Pakistan’s progress and leave the innings at a crossroads.
Photo: PCB / The News
Salman’s Century Rescues Pakistan
Walking in under pressure, Salman Ali Agha played one of the finest innings of his career. The 32-year-old struck 10 fours and a six in his 90-ball 107, his fourth one-day international century, mixing measured strokeplay with timely aggression as wickets fell around him. He found valuable support from Hasan Nawaz, who made 37 off 49 balls, and their fifth-wicket partnership rebuilt the innings and put Pakistan back on course for a total beyond 300.
Salman’s innings was also a personal redemption story. After what SuperSport described as a miserable last three months, including being sent home ahead of the third Test in England in August and losing the T20I captaincy, he returned to international cricket with a statement hundred. “These times come on you and I thought that I will go back in domestic cricket and make things right with my performances,” he said after the match, adding that Pakistan had batted aggressively at the death to take the team beyond 300.
For Sri Lanka, Malinga was the standout bowler with an outstanding 4 for 46 in 9.5 overs, while Asitha Fernando claimed 3 for 59 and Madushanka finished with 2 for 67. Despite their efforts, Salman’s resistance ensured Pakistan reached 305 all out in 49.5 overs on a surface offering little assistance to the bowlers.
Sri Lanka’s Chase Falls Apart in the Death Overs
Sri Lanka’s reply in the Pakistan Sri Lanka Tri-Series 2026 opener followed a familiar pattern of early setbacks, a brave recovery and a dramatic collapse. They slumped to 91 for 4 in the 20th over before Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage revived their hopes with a fighting 119-run partnership for the fifth wicket off 107 balls.
Rathnayake top-scored with 79 off 74 balls, striking six fours and two sixes, while Liyanage contributed a valuable 60 off 74 deliveries with five boundaries. The pair brought Sri Lanka back into contention, and at 253 for 5 the chase appeared very much alive. But once the partnership was broken, the innings disintegrated with startling speed: Sri Lanka lost their last five wickets for just 15 runs and were bowled out for 268 in 48.1 overs.
Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi led Pakistan’s bowling with 3 for 55 in his 10 overs, while Naseem Shah (2 for 43), Haris Rauf (2 for 48) and Faheem Ashraf (2 for 49) all struck at crucial moments. Kamindu Mendis (44 off 50) and Dasun Shanaka (28 off 18) offered resistance for Sri Lanka, but once the death-over pressure mounted, Pakistan’s pacers were ruthless. After the game, Shaheen praised his fast bowlers for adapting to the conditions and communicating with each other throughout the innings, and revealed Pakistan had planned to bat first anyway with a target of more than 300 in mind.
The win continues Pakistan’s good recent record against Sri Lanka, following the team’s success in the T20I series between the two sides (Pakistan’s T20I series win over Sri Lanka), and it adds to a strong run of cricketing news for the country after Pakistan’s silver medal at the Asian Games.
Pakistan Sri Lanka Tri-Series 2026: Series Context and What Comes Next
Salman Ali Agha was named player of the match for his match-winning century, capping a night when his composure under pressure proved the difference between the sides. The Pakistan Sri Lanka Tri-Series 2026 also features England, and the series is being viewed as important build-up for next year’s 50-over World Cup in southern Africa, giving every game added significance.
Pakistan will look to make it two wins in a row in the Pakistan Sri Lanka Tri-Series 2026 when they face England at the same Rawalpindi venue on Tuesday, wearing the special pink jerseys that have already caught fans’ attention (our preview of Pakistan’s pink-jerseyed tri-series campaign). With the batting clicking through Salman and the pace attack firing as a unit, the hosts could hardly have asked for a better start to their home series.
Sources
- The News: Salman’s ton powers Pakistan to 37-run victory over Sri Lanka
- SuperSport: Ton-up Agha helps Pakistan down Sri Lanka in tri-series opener
- The Papare: Salman Agha ton powers Pakistan to victory in tri-series opener
- Geo Super: Shaheen Afridi praises Agha, highlights teamwork after win over Sri Lanka
Umar is an engineer by profession and a passionate writer by passion. He has a deep interest in sharing good news related to Pakistan and has been working hard to promote the positive image of his homeland. Umar has written numerous articles on various topics related to Pakistan, such as technology, sports, culture, and economy.