Pakistan grabbed a six-run victory over Sri Lanka following Salman Ali Agha’s century and Haris Rauf’s four-wicket haul in the first ODI match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Chasing a daunting 300-run target, Sri Lanka could accumulate 293/9 in their allotted 50 overs despite Wanindu Hasaranga’s gutsy half-century.
Hasaranga remained the top-scorer for the touring side with a valiant 59 off 52 deliveries until falling victim to Naseem Shah in the penultimate over when Sri Lanka needed 21 runs in nine balls.
Besides the all-rounder, middle-order batter Sadeera Samarawickrama (39), debutant opener Kamil Mishara (38) and captain Charith Asalanka (32) made significant contributions, but their efforts eventually proved insufficient to lead Sri Lanka to glory.
Haris led the bowling charge for Pakistan with figures of 4/49 in his 10 overs, followed by Faheem Ashraf and Naseem Shah with two each, while Mohammad Nawaz chipped in with one.
Put into bat first, the Green Shirts accumulated 299/5 in their allotted 50 overs, courtesy of a vital fifth-wicket partnership between Agha and Talat.
The home side got off to a shaky start to their innings as in-form opener Saim Ayub (six) fell victim to Asitha Fernando in the fifth over with just 18 runs on the board.
Following the early stutter, star batter Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman added valuable runs to the total by putting together 54 runs for the second wicket.