Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 1st ODI Match Report: Salman Agha’s Maiden Ton Powers Pakistan to 299/5 in Series Opener
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, November 11, 2025** – Salman Ali Agha’s scintillating 105 off 87 balls – his second ODI century – and a blistering late assault from Hussain Talat (62 off 63) and Mohammad Nawaz (36* off 23) propelled Pakistan to a commanding 299/5 in the first of three ODIs against Sri Lanka. On a typically flat Rawalpindi deck under floodlights, the hosts recovered from a mid-innings wobble to post their highest total against Sri Lanka since 2019, leaving Charith Asalanka’s men a stiff chase of 300.
After Shaheen Shah Afridi won the toss and elected to bat, Pakistan’s innings got off to a cautious start. Fakhar Zaman, recalled to open alongside Saim Ayub, looked in fine touch during his 32 (36 balls, 5 fours) before falling lbw to a skidding Maheesh Theekshana delivery in the 10th over. Babar Azam, returning to the venue where he has scored five of his 19 ODI hundreds, never quite found rhythm on a surface offering early movement. The former captain managed 29 off 38 before edging a sharp Asitha Fernando outswinger to slip, leaving Pakistan precariously placed at 78/3 in the 18th over.
Enter Salman Agha. Promoted to No. 5 ahead of Hussain Talat, the 32-year-old all-rounder played with immense composure. He rotated strike effortlessly against Sri Lanka’s vaunted spin trio and unleashed a range of sweeps and lofted drives when the bowlers overpitched. His fifty arrived in 56 balls; the next fifty took just 29. Nine crisp boundaries – including three exquisite straight drives off Jeffrey Vandersay – highlighted an innings of rare maturity.
Hussain Talat, playing his first ODI in over three years, provided the perfect foil. The left-hander’s 62 (63 balls, 7 fours) was a throwback to his domestic dominance, blending deft late cuts with powerful pulls. The pair added 112 for the fourth wicket at better than a run-a-ball, shifting momentum decisively.
Wanindu Hasaranga, Sri Lanka’s standout bowler, fought back valiantly with 3-54 in his ten overs – dismissing Salman (caught at long-on attempting a sixth six), Talat (brilliantly stumped by Kusal Mendis down leg), and Shaheen Afridi in the penultimate over. Yet Pakistan’s lower order refused to let the foot off the pedal. Mohammad Nawaz, promoted to No. 7, smoked 36* off just 23 balls (3 fours, 2 sixes; SR 156.52), plundering 22 off Hasaranga’s final over to push the total close to 300.
Asitha Fernando (1-42) bowled with heart but lacked support, while Theekshana (1-64) struggled for his usual control on a surface offering little turn early on.
Pakistan Innings Highlights
**Pakistan 299/5 in 50 overs** (Salman Ali Agha 105, Hussain Talat 62, Mohammad Nawaz 36*, Wanindu Hasaranga 3-54, Asitha Fernando 1-42, Maheesh Theekshana 1-64) vs **Sri Lanka**. Target: 300.
Sri Lanka’s reply will begin shortly under lights, where dew could play a significant role. With Hasaranga and Theekshana holding three wickets already, the visitors will fancy their spinners in the middle overs – but chasing 300 against Pakistan’s pace trio of Shaheen, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf on a wearing pitch is a daunting task. The series is alive, but Pakistan have seized early control in clinical fashion.
