Sri Lanka's last 5 wickets collapse within 15 runs
Sri Lanka CricketNews article
Hosts Pakistan managed a winning start to the tri-nation one-day international series featuring Sri Lanka, England and Pakistan last night (18). Beating Sri Lanka by 37 runs at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan owed their victory to a superb century from Salman Agha and the skill of their bowlers in the closing stages.
Chasing a target of 306, Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 268 in 48.1 overs. Middle-order batters Pawan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage fought hard in pursuit of victory, but the loss of the last five wickets within 15 runs was the decisive factor that cost Sri Lanka the match.
Sri Lankan captain Kusal Mendis won the toss and invited Pakistan to bat first, and the Sri Lankan bowlers initially justified that decision. Pakistan lost their first two wickets with the score on 32, but Babar Azam and 19-year-old Saad Baig, playing his maiden ODI, added 74 for the third wicket to begin rebuilding the innings.
Babar Azam was dismissed for 45, while Saad Baig made 39 with three fours and two sixes. Salman Agha then shouldered the Pakistan innings, scoring 107 off 90 balls with 10 fours and a six to register his fourth ODI century.
Salman Agha added 97 for the fifth wicket with Hasan Nawaz and then built a further partnership of 64 for the sixth wicket with Arafat Minhas. Hasan Nawaz made 37 and Arafat Minhas 18. Pakistan's innings thus ended on 305 in 49.5 overs.
Eshan Malinga was the standout bowler for Sri Lanka, taking 4 wickets for 46 runs — the best bowling figures of his ODI career. Asitha Fernando claimed 3 for 59, while Dilshan Madushanka took two wickets.
Sri Lanka could not get a good start in reply, losing four wickets with the score on 91. Pawan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage then came together to build a fifth-wicket partnership of 119 off 107 balls, raising Sri Lankan hopes of victory.
Pawan Rathnayake made 79 off 74 balls with six fours and two sixes, while Janith Liyanage scored 60 off 74 balls — his seventh ODI half-century. Dasun Shanaka also tried to lift the run rate with 28 off 18 balls.
But after Pawan and Janith were dismissed, the Sri Lankan batting line-up collapsed quickly. Shaheen Shah Afridi led the Pakistan bowling with 3 for 55, while Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf took two wickets each. Salman Agha was named Player of the Match.
Pakistan – 305 (49.5 overs) – Salman Agha 107, Babar Azam 45, Saad Baig 39, Hasan Nawaz 37, Eshan Malinga 46/4, Asitha Fernando 59/3, Dilshan Madushanka 67/2.
Sri Lanka – 268 (48.1 overs) – Pawan Rathnayake 79, Janith Liyanage 60, Kamindu Mendis 44, Dasun Shanaka 28, Shaheen Shah Afridi 55/3, Naseem Shah 43/2, Haris Rauf 48/2, Faheem Ashraf 49/2.
Based on Sri Lanka Cricket reporting