Salman Agha century celebrations returned to the Pakistan dressing room on Sunday as the all-rounder marked his comeback with 107 off 90 balls and helped the hosts post 305 in the one-day tri-series opener against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan were put in on a good-paced pitch and were eventually dismissed in 49.5 overs. The 32-year-old hit one six and ten fours, then fell in the 47th over, having steered the middle and lower order through a rebuilding phase.
Early wickets, then a recovery
Left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka struck early, removing openers Saim Ayub for seven and Fakhar Zaman for 16. Debutant Saad Baig answered with a brisk 39 from 40 balls — two sixes and three fours — and Babar Azam made 45. Their 74-run partnership steadied the innings before fast bowler Eshan Malinga dismissed both in successive overs and checked Pakistan’s progress.
That was when Agha took charge. He added 97 for the fifth wicket with Hasan Nawaz, who scored 37, and another 64 for the sixth with Arafat Minhas, who contributed 18. Two consecutive boundaries off Asitha Fernando brought up his fourth one-day international hundred. Fernando later dismissed him and finished with 3-59.
Sri Lanka’s bowling and Agha’s return
Malinga was the pick of the attack with a career-best 4-46. The Salman Agha century also closed a difficult stretch for the player: he had endured a miserable previous three months and was sent home ahead of the third Test in England in August after leading the side in the first match of that series.
England are the third team in the competition, so Sunday’s total sets an early marker in a short tournament that will also involve the visiting English side.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- August: Agha was sent home ahead of the third Test in England after captaining Pakistan in the first match of that series.
- Sunday, Rawalpindi: Sri Lanka won the toss and asked Pakistan to bat on a good-paced pitch in the tri-series opener.
- Sunday: Madushanka removed Saim Ayub (7) and Fakhar Zaman (16) to leave Pakistan wobbling at the top.
- Sunday: Saad Baig (39) and Babar Azam (45) added 74 before Malinga dismissed both in successive overs.
- Sunday: Agha completed his fourth ODI hundred with consecutive fours off Fernando, then fell in the 47th over; Pakistan were all out for 305 in 49.5 overs.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Salman Agha ne wapas aate hi century bana li hai. Pakistan ne Rawalpindi mein Sri Lanka ke khilaf 305 runs banaye. Pehle wickets giri thin, lekin Agha ne innings sambhal li. Ab ball bowling Pakistan ke bowlers par hai ke ye total defend karen.
