Pakistan Beat Sri Lanka By 37 Runs In ODI Tri-Series Opener

Pakistan opened the ODI Tri-Series with a 37-run win over Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Pakistan made 305. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 268 in 48.1 overs. Salman Ali Agha scored 107 from 90 balls, the only hundred of the match.

Sri Lanka won the toss and fielded. The decision looked sound at 118 for four. Agha and Hasan Nawaz then put on 97. Pakistan were bowled out for 305 with one ball of the innings unused. Eshan Malinga took four for 46.

Agha rebuilds from 118 for four

Agha hit 10 fours and a six. Hasan Nawaz made 37 from 49 balls alongside him. Saad Baig, on ODI debut, contributed 39. Three of Sri Lanka's seven bowlers went wicketless, and Asitha Fernando took three for 59 to finish the innings off.

The last four Pakistan wickets added little. Naseem Shah was lbw without scoring. Haris Rauf was run out for nought. Shaheen Shah Afridi was left unbeaten on 13.

Rathnayake and Liyanage keep Sri Lanka in range

Sri Lanka were 91 for four inside 20 overs. Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage then added 119 for the fifth wicket. Rathnayake made 79 from 74 balls with six fours and two sixes. Liyanage made 60 from 74. Kamindu Mendis added 44 from 50 balls. The fifth wicket fell at 210, leaving 96 still to get.

Pakistan broke the stand and the rest folded quickly. The last six Sri Lanka wickets produced 58 runs. Afridi took three for 55. Faheem Ashraf, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf took two apiece, and two batters were run out.

Babar Azam reaches 16,000 international runs

Babar Azam made 45 from 57 balls before Malinga had him caught. During the innings he passed 16,000 runs in international cricket. Several outlets, among them ANI and Daily Pakistan, reported that he became the fifth Pakistan batter to reach the mark.

Six group games before the Lahore final

The tri-series carries England as the third side. Each team plays the other two twice. The top two qualify for the final. Pakistan have two points from one game. Sri Lanka have none, and England have not yet played.

The remaining group fixtures, as listed by the organisers ahead of the opener:

• 20 October: Pakistan v England, Rawalpindi
• 22 October: Sri Lanka v England, Rawalpindi
• 25 October: Pakistan v England, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
• 27 October: Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Gaddafi Stadium
• 29 October: Sri Lanka v England, Gaddafi Stadium
• 31 October: Final, Gaddafi Stadium

Sri Lanka face England next and cannot afford a second loss. Pakistan play England on Tuesday at the same ground. Rawalpindi hosts three of the six group matches before the series moves to Lahore on 25 October. A total of 305 proved enough on Sunday. It never looked safe.