Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 37 runs in the ODI Tri-series opener at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing a decent 306-run target for victory, Sri Lanka kept losing wickets at crucial stages and were bundled out for 268 in 48.1 overs.
Batting first, Pakistan posted a decent total of 305 runs, with Salman top-scoring with 107 off 90 balls, including 10 fours and a six. He shared a 97-run partnership with Hasan Nawaz, who made 37, before adding 64 runs with Arafat Minhas, who contributed 18 off 15 deliveries.
Babar Azam scored 45, while debutant Saad Baig added 39. Sri Lanka’s Eshan Malinga led the bowling attack with four wickets for 46 runs, while Asitha Fernando claimed three.
In reply, Sri Lanka were reduced to 91-4 before Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage revived the innings with a 119-run partnership. Rathnayake scored 79 off 74 balls, while Liyanage made 60 off 74 deliveries.
However, Pakistan’s bowlers restricted Sri Lanka’s progress, with Shaheen taking 3-55 and Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf claiming two wickets each to secure the victory.
Pakistan Playing XI: 1 Saim Ayub, 2 Fakhar Zaman, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Saad Baig (wk), 5 Hasan Nawaz, 6 Salman Ali Agha, 7 Arafat Minhas, 8 Faheem Ashraf, 9 Shaheen Afridi (capt.), 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Naseem Shah
Sri Lanka Playing XI: 1 Avishka Fernando, 2 Kamindu Mendis 3 Kusal Mendis (capt, wk), 4 Pavan Rathnayake, 5 Sahan Arachchige, 6 Janith Liyanage, 7 Dasun Shanaka, 8 Sachindu Colombage, 9 Eshan Malinga, 10 Asitha Fernando, 11 Dilshan Madushanka
