Agha blasts century to guide Pakiatan to a solid victory

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Salman Ali Agha slammed a solid century while Shaheen Afridi bowled extremely well as Pakistan took a golden start when they defeated Sri Lanka by 37 runs in their opener of ODI tri-series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Agha struck 107 to guide Pakistan to 305 all out in the allotted 50 overs.
Shaheen (3-55) then bowled well alongside his other pacers to fold Sri Lanka for 268 in 48.1 overs.
Set to chase a seemingly stiff target, Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage did a glorious job with the bat to keep Sri Lanka alive.
After losing four wickets for 91 in the 20thover the due shared an incredible 119-run partnership for the fifth wicket to put pressure on the hosts.
Faheem Ashraf broke the vital stand when he got rid of Rathnayake, held by Salman Ali Agha to bring Pakistan back into the game.
Rathnayake, who brought in his fifty off 54 balls, smashed two sixes and six fours in his 74-ball knock.
When Sri Lanka were needed 53 off 38 balls Haris Rauf gave a much-needed breakthrough when he had Janith Liyanage, held in the deep by Babar Azam. Liyanage, who completed his fifty off 62 balls, struck five fours in his 74-ball 60.
In the next over Shaheen removed Dasun Shanaka (28) to keep Pakistan’s hopes alive. Shanaka hit three fours and one six from 18 balls and Sri Lanka now were 256-7 in the 45th over.
Naseem Shah then removed Sachindu Colombage (1) and Eshan Malinga (2) got run out to leave the visitors at 260-9. Haris then had Asitha Fernando (7) to end Sri Lanka innings.
Earlier opener Kamindu Mendis played a composed innings of 50-ball 44 to provide a good base to the visitors. He hit four fours in his nice knock before being dismissed by Shaheen Afridi.
Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf ably backed their skipper with two wickets each.
Earlier Salman Ali Agha struck his fourth one-day international century to propel Pakistan to 305 all out.
Agha scored 107 off 90 balls, hitting ten fours and a six, to anchor Pakistan’s innings after Sri Lanka elected to field at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan lost both openers early, with Fakhar Zaman making 16 and Saim Ayub scoring seven, before Babar Azam and debutant Saad Baig steadied the innings.
Babar made 45 off 57 balls, striking six fours, while Baig contributed 39 from 40 deliveries, including three fours and two sixes. The pair added 74 runs for the third wicket before Babar fell to Eshan Malinga.
Baig followed soon after, dismissed by Malinga, leaving Pakistan needing a substantial partnership to build a competitive total.
Agha and Hasan Nawaz provided the foundation, adding 97 runs for the fifth wicket. Hasan scored 37 off 49 balls, hitting two fours and two sixes, before falling to Asitha Fernando.
Agha continued to accelerate, reaching his century off 82 balls with ten fours and a six. He survived a Sri Lanka review, with the appeal against him unsuccessful.
Arafat Minhas added 18 off 15 balls, including two fours, in a sixth-wicket stand that helped Pakistan push towards 300. Agha was eventually dismissed by Fernando for 107 in the 47th over.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers struck regularly at the death to prevent Pakistan from batting out their full quota. Malinga finished with 4-46 runs, while Fernando claimed 3-59. Dilshan Madushanka took 2-67 in his ten overs.
Pakistan now will meet England in their second show at the same venue on Tuesday.