Former Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha delivered a stellar performance, smashing 107 runs off 90 balls to power his team to 305/8 against Sri Lanka. The opening match of the ODI tri-series, held in Rawalpindi on Saturday, saw Agha anchor the innings after a shaky top-order collapse.
Agha, who was recently relieved of his T20I leadership duties and replaced by Sahibzada Farhan, demonstrated remarkable resilience with the bat. His impressive knock included crucial partnerships, rescuing Pakistan from early trouble and setting a competitive target for the touring Sri Lankan side.
- Salman Ali Agha scored 107 runs from 90 deliveries against Sri Lanka.
- Pakistan posted a total of 305/8 in their allotted overs in Rawalpindi.
- This marks Agha’s fourth ODI century since the beginning of 2025.
- Eshan Malinga was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka, finishing with 4-46.
Innings Breakdown and Partnerships
Pakistan experienced a rocky start after left-arm fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka dismissed openers Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman cheaply inside the powerplay. However, debutant Saad Baig chipped in with a brisk 39, while experienced batter Babar Azam contributed 45 runs during a stabilization phase. Fast bowler Eshan Malinga struck back for Sri Lanka by removing both in quick succession to peg the hosts back.
Stepping up under pressure, Agha took control of the middle overs. He forged a vital 97-run partnership for the fifth wicket alongside Hasan Nawaz, who contributed 37 runs. Agha then added another 64 runs with lower-order batsman Arafat Minhas before eventually falling to Asitha Fernando in the 47th over after dispatching two consecutive boundaries.
Tournament Context and Outlook
This authoritative hundred serves as a major statement from Agha following a turbulent period that saw him dropped from the T20I leadership role and sent home early from a Test tour of England earlier in the year. Having also displayed solid domestic form with heavy scores in the President’s Trophy, his continued reliability in the 50-over format remains vital for Pakistan’s middle order.
With England rounding out the tri-series as the third competing nation, strong individual performances are essential as teams fine-tune their squads. Sri Lanka’s bowling attack, spearheaded by Malinga’s career-best figures and Fernando’s three-wicket haul, kept them competitive, but Agha’s masterclass ensured Pakistan set a formidable challenge.
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