RAWALPINDI (Nazrana Times): Salman Ali Agha scored a century on his return to international cricket as Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 37 runs in the opening match of their home ODI tri-series on Sunday.

Agha struck 107 from 90 balls, including ten fours and a six, to help Pakistan reach 305 all out in 49.5 overs after Sri Lanka elected to field at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Sri Lanka were dismissed for 268 in 48.1 overs. Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi led the bowling with 3-55, while Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf took two wickets each.

Agha rebuilds Pakistan’s innings

Pakistan lost Saim Ayub with the score at 23-1 and were four wickets down by the 22nd over. Agha steadied the innings through a 97-run fifth-wicket partnership with Hasan Nawaz, who scored 37.

He then added 64 for the sixth wicket with Arafat Minhas. Agha reached his fourth ODI century with consecutive boundaries off Asitha Fernando before falling to the same bowler in the 47th over.

Debutant Saad Baig contributed 39 from 40 balls and shared a 74-run partnership with Babar Azam, who made 45.

Eshan Malinga returned career-best figures of 4-46 for Sri Lanka, while Fernando finished with 3-59.

Century follows difficult spell for Agha

The innings marked an important return for the 32-year-old, who had been sent home before the third Test in England in August after captaining Pakistan in the first match. He had also been relieved of the T20I captaincy.

Speaking after the match, Agha said he had focused on domestic cricket and improving his performances during that period. He explained that his approach was to find gaps, rotate the strike and help Pakistan move beyond 300 before accelerating late in the innings.

Rathnayake and Liyanage lead Sri Lanka’s recovery

Chasing 306, Sri Lanka slipped to 91-4 against Pakistan’s pace attack. Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage revived the chase with a 119-run fifth-wicket partnership.

Rathnayake scored 79, hitting six fours and two sixes. Liyanage made 60 from 74 balls, including five boundaries, before Rauf had him caught by Babar Azam at long-on.

His dismissal shifted the momentum towards Pakistan. Sri Lanka lost their final five wickets for 15 runs as the chase unravelled.

Opener Kamindu Mendis contributed 44, while Dasun Shanaka offered late resistance with 28 from 18 balls before falling to Afridi.

Pakistan face England next

Pakistan will play England in the second match of the tri-series on Tuesday at the same venue. The tournament serves as preparation for next year’s 50-over World Cup in southern Africa.