- Pakistan quicks seal win after Salman Agha ton sets tone Rathnayake, Liyanage half-centuries in vain as Sri Lanka unravel in pursuit of 306 The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 In the first match of a tri-series that also includes England, the pair peared to have put Sri Lanka on course with a 119-run fifth wicket partnership, with the visitors well in front and requiring just 55 from the last seven overs.
- Liyanage’s wicket, however, saw the bottom fall out of the side, with Sri Lanka losing their last five wickets for 15 runs to allow Pakistan to breathe a sigh of relief.
- The win had been set up by Salman Agha , who marked his return to the Pakistan side with his fourth ODI hundred to hold off a collse and steer the hosts past 300.
Pakistan quicks seal win after Salman Agha ton sets tone Rathnayake, Liyanage half-centuries in vain as Sri Lanka unravel in pursuit of 306 The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 In the first match of a tri-series that also includes England, the pair peared to have put Sri Lanka on course with a 119-run fifth wicket partnership, with the visitors well in front and requiring just 55 from the last seven overs.
Liyanage’s wicket, however, saw the bottom fall out of the side, with Sri Lanka losing their last five wickets for 15 runs to allow Pakistan to breathe a sigh of relief. The win had been set up by Salman Agha , who marked his return to the Pakistan side with his fourth ODI hundred to hold off a collse and steer the hosts past 300. By the 22nd over, Pakistan had lost four wickets, and looked vulnerable with a relatively long tail.
However, Salman’s 90-ball 107 navigated Pakistan expertly out of danger with sizeable partnerships with Hasan Nawaz and Arafat Minhas. Sri Lanka deprived Shaheen Afridi ‘s side of a big finish, though, with Eshan Malinga and Asitha Fernando striking multiple blows in the death overs to ultimately bowl Pakistan out for 305. Those runs they had left on the table looked set to cost them dear at the climax of the context.
The dew had set in, and Rathnayake and Liyanage were beginning to reverse Pakistan’s early dominance that had seen them skittle Sri Lanka’s top four with few dents made to the chase. Afridi rotated his cast of bowlers, but aside from Naseem Shah, there peared no remedy to the free flow of runs. Haris Rauf, Minhas, Saim Ayub and Afridi himself were all worked over, particularly by Rathnayake, who was especially methodical in the way he timed his innings to dance in tune to the required rate.
Afridi was sensationally blown out of the attack with a pair of pulled sixes off the hips, in stark contrast to Pakistan’s own struggles against the short ball. A pair of tight overs from Faheem Ashraf finally induced Rathnayake into a false stroke as he spooned one to Salman at short cover, only for Dasun Shanaka to pick up the slack. But with 53 runs to go, Liyanage chipped Rauf to long-on, and Pakistan blew the house down.
Afridi prised Shanaka out the following over, and though the tail limped on briefly, it was only a matter of time. Pakistan will look back fondly at their dominance in the first 25 overs, which closely mirrored Sri Lanka’s own success in the first innings. Sri Lanka’s top order was ineffective in keeping pace with the asking rate, and Naseem bowled a tidy spell up front, which included the wicket of Avishka Fernando.
Ashraf took a sharp catch after Saad Baig dropped the skier, the allrounder showing good reflexes to scoop the ball up. It was, all told, a difficult evening behind the stumps for the debutant, and, in truth, a poor day out for Pakistan’s fielders throughout the innings. Shaheen Afridi picked off three important wickets, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Sri Lanka’s fortune with the toss had carried over to the ODI series, and they inserted Pakistan in Rawalpindi.
There was early swing on offer, but it was the extra pace from Dilshan Madushanka that accounted for both openers. Ayub and Fakhar Zaman were both undone by the short delivery, leaving Babar Azam and Baig to rebuild. The duo put on 74 and were beginning to get the asking rate ticking upwards.
However, Babar’s frustrating recent knack of giving away auspicious starts reared its familiar head once more. Malinga was Sri Lanka’s quickest bowler through the innings, and he landed one short that rushed onto Babar, who was late on the pull just five shy of a half-century. Soon after Baig, who had shown promise as well as a willingness to pull rather than back away from bouncers, miscued one himself, holing out to deep fine leg.
It was precisely the sort of situation Salman – dropped from both the Test side and T20 ctaincy in the last two months – thrives in, rebuilding during the middle overs of an ODI. He did so flawlessly, halting Sri Lanka’s momentum while staying on top of the run rate, keeping the strike ticking along, and adeptly covering for Nawaz, who had made a more sluggish start. He citalised when Sri Lanka erred by turning prematurely to Kamindu Mendis’ spin, taking 11 off the 25th over to turn momentum around.
Sri Lanka began to look more toothless with the ball through those middle overs as Salman’s comfort grew. He dominated the stand and brought up his half-century off 48 balls. Nawaz had begun to loosen his shoulders too, illustrated by a six off legspinner Sachindu Colombage, but Asitha rooted him out the following over, ending the fifth-wicket stand ay 97.
Salman played a similar shepherding role with Minhas for the sixth wicket, the pair putting on 64, with Salman once again taking on the lion’s share. Twenty-six runs came off the 44th and 45th overs, but just as Pakistan looked for a big finish, Sri Lanka’s bowlers hit back. Minhas and Salman fell trying to hit sixes, and Pakistan’s lower order soon followed, with Malinga getting rid of Ashraf and Naseem off successive balls.
A pair of lusty blows from Afridi allowed Pakistan to scratch past 300. For long stretches of Sri Lanka’s chase, it peared as if Pakistan’s unproductiveness in those death overs would cost them. Instead, on a dewy early autumn night in Rawalpindi, Pakistan’s pace attack – which shared nine wickets between them – ensured Salman’s efforts would not be wasted.
Salman Agha celebrates reaching his fourth ODI hundred, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Madushanka has sent back both openers! This one was banged in shorter, and looks to have rushed Fakhar, who is late on the pull and ends up top edging for mid-on to take a quite straightforward catch This time it’s taken! Again Madushanka goes fuller, ends up a low full-toss – another one that straightens through the air – and once more Saim has conspired to get a leading edge that, much to the surprise of mid-off, pops gently towards him for a simple catch diving forward.
Saim was looking to drive this through the onside Dilshan Madushanka struck with the new ball, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Yep! This had been on the cards for a while and the ploy finally pays off. It was all about executing it to perfection which SL has done this time.
Short and into his body and Babar is cramped for room looking to pull this one. Hands an easy catch to short midwicket. Eshan lets out a big roar as he and his teammates celebrate the big wicket.
Eshan Malinga broke the third-wicket stand, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Two wickets in two overs! A well-directed bouncer results in an easy catch for the deep fine leg fielder. Saad went for a pull but doesn’t nail the shot as it flies off the outer part of his bat.
Agha’s innings is brought to a close! This was in the slot, and the shot was on. But Agha just doesn’t get the distance he’s looking for as he looks to take on the man at long-on.
Shanaka is a very safe pair of hands and he makes no mistake Salman Agha scored an 82-ball century, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Salman Agha celebrates reaching his fourth ODI hundred, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Salman Agha and Hasan Nawaz put on 97 for the fifth wicket, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Great catch to break the stand! Asitha bowls this one short, though it doesn’t really rise that much – about waist height. Nawaz connects well enough with the pull, but the height to clear short midwicket is not quite there as Pavan Rathnayake les up and completes sharp overhead take with both hands Can’t clear the infield!
This was full outside off. Arafat looks to make room and carve it over the offside. Ends up squirting straight to Kamindu at backward point.
Some relief for Sri Lanka after the steady blitz of last few overs. This was full and wide and Faheem reaches out with a big swing. Thin edge off the bottom of the bat, and Kusal takes an easy on behind the stumps Two in two for Malinga!
Oh this looked mighty close. This was full and tailing in, caught Naseem right on the crease. Only question is was this moving too much?
Umpire thinks so. SL have reviewed . No bat involved, and this is a great review as this is shown to be clattering into leg stump.
low full toss, this time connects as long-on collects. Shaheen wants to go back and get on strike, but the throw is a good one, as Malinga collects and runs out Rauf, who is well short. Pakistan are bowled out for 305 Salman Agha scored an 82-ball century, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Salman Agha celebrates reaching his fourth ODI hundred, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Great catch to break the stand!
Asitha bowls this one short, though it doesn’t really rise that much – about waist height. Nawaz connects well enough with the pull, but the height to clear short midwicket is not quite there as Pavan Rathnayake les up and completes sharp overhead take with both hands Can’t clear the infield! This was full outside off.
Arafat looks to make room and carve it over the offside. Ends up squirting straight to Kamindu at backward point. Some relief for Sri Lanka after the steady blitz of last few overs.
Agha’s innings is brought to a close! This was in the slot, and the shot was on. But Agha just doesn’t get the distance he’s looking for as he looks to take on the man at long-on.
Shanaka is a very safe pair of hands and he makes no mistake Dilshan Madushanka struck with the new ball, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 This time it’s taken! Again Madushanka goes fuller, ends up a low full-toss – another one that straightens through the air – and once more Saim has conspired to get a leading edge that, much to the surprise of mid-off, pops gently towards him for a simple catch diving forward. Saim was looking to drive this through the onside Madushanka has sent back both openers!
This one was banged in shorter, and looks to have rushed Fakhar, who is late on the pull and ends up top edging for mid-on to take a quite straightforward catch Salman Agha and Hasan Nawaz put on 97 for the fifth wicket, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Eshan Malinga broke the third-wicket stand, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Yep! This had been on the cards for a while and the ploy finally pays off. It was all about executing it to perfection which SL has done this time.
Short and into his body and Babar is cramped for room looking to pull this one. Hands an easy catch to short midwicket. Eshan lets out a big roar as he and his teammates celebrate the big wicket.
Two wickets in two overs! A well-directed bouncer results in an easy catch for the deep fine leg fielder. Saad went for a pull but doesn’t nail the shot as it flies off the outer part of his bat.
This was full and wide and Faheem reaches out with a big swing. Thin edge off the bottom of the bat, and Kusal takes an easy on behind the stumps Two in two for Malinga! Oh this looked mighty close.
This was full and tailing in, caught Naseem right on the crease. Only question is was this moving too much? Umpire thinks so.
SL have reviewed . No bat involved, and this is a great review as this is shown to be clattering into leg stump. This time it’s taken!
Again Madushanka goes fuller, ends up a low full-toss – another one that straightens through the air – and once more Saim has conspired to get a leading edge that, much to the surprise of mid-off, pops gently towards him for a simple catch diving forward. Saim was looking to drive this through the onside Dilshan Madushanka struck with the new ball, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Madushanka has sent back both openers! This one was banged in shorter, and looks to have rushed Fakhar, who is late on the pull and ends up top edging for mid-on to take a quite straightforward catch Yep!
This had been on the cards for a while and the ploy finally pays off. It was all about executing it to perfection which SL has done this time. Short and into his body and Babar is cramped for room looking to pull this one.
Hands an easy catch to short midwicket. Eshan lets out a big roar as he and his teammates celebrate the big wicket. Eshan Malinga broke the third-wicket stand, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Two wickets in two overs!
A well-directed bouncer results in an easy catch for the deep fine leg fielder. Saad went for a pull but doesn’t nail the shot as it flies off the outer part of his bat. Great catch to break the stand!
Asitha bowls this one short, though it doesn’t really rise that much – about waist height. Nawaz connects well enough with the pull, but the height to clear short midwicket is not quite there as Pavan Rathnayake les up and completes sharp overhead take with both hands Can’t clear the infield! This was full outside off.
Arafat looks to make room and carve it over the offside. Ends up squirting straight to Kamindu at backward point. Some relief for Sri Lanka after the steady blitz of last few overs.
Agha’s innings is brought to a close! This was in the slot, and the shot was on. But Agha just doesn’t get the distance he’s looking for as he looks to take on the man at long-on.
Shanaka is a very safe pair of hands and he makes no mistake Salman Agha scored an 82-ball century, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Salman Agha celebrates reaching his fourth ODI hundred, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Salman Agha and Hasan Nawaz put on 97 for the fifth wicket, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Edged and gone! This was full and wide and Faheem reaches out with a big swing. Thin edge off the bottom of the bat, and Kusal takes an easy on behind the stumps Two in two for Malinga!
Oh this looked mighty close. This was full and tailing in, caught Naseem right on the crease. Only question is was this moving too much?
Umpire thinks so. SL have reviewed . No bat involved, and this is a great review as this is shown to be clattering into leg stump.
low full toss, this time connects as long-on collects. Shaheen wants to go back and get on strike, but the throw is a good one, as Malinga collects and runs out Rauf, who is well short. Pakistan are bowled out for 305 And now he throws it away!
Goes for the drive again, but this is not quite as full. The shot, to be fair, was on, with mid-off in the ring. But Kamindu doesn’t seem to commit fully to this lofted drive and ends up chipping a simple chance to the man in the ring In the air and it is taken by Faheem Ashraf after it bounces off Saad Baig’s gloves.
Naseem bangs it short and Fernando plays a half-hearted pull only to top-edge it. Saad has to cover the ground, running to his left to get under it. He gets there but the ball pops out of his gloves but Faheem saves the day.
Faheem Ashraf saved Saad Baig’s blushes, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Length ball on off and it is carved right into Ayub’s midriff and he takes the catch this time. Hint of movement and Mendis has seemed a bit nervy while dealing with the balls outside his off stump today. Throws his bat at this one but doesn’t find the g.
Big blow for Sri Lanka. Faheem Ashraf claimed the wicket of Kusal Mendis, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 He has offered his wicket on a platter to Pakistan here. Length ball on off and he has pushed it right into the hands of the short cover fielder.
This is a massive breakthrough for Pakistan at this stage of the game. Pavan Rathnayake passed 50 for the second time in ODIs, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 This one does take the edge though! Fantastic bowling from Shaheen!
Length ball, angled in on off and straightening down the line off the seam. Too good for Arachchige who is squared right up, he had no answer to this one And Rauf delivers! Fullish in stumps and Liyanage holes out to long on as he drives this ball uppishly.
Should have looked to heave this one down the ground, but we have a game on in Rawalpindi. Shaheen Afridi picked off three important wickets, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Janith Liyanage gets a fist bump on reaching fifty, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 And that might have just sealed the match for Pakistan! Looks to club the full ball in stumps over Babar at long on but the shot did not have enough power to take it over the ropes.
A simple catch for Babar who grabs it right under his throat. Bangs it on a length on off and curves it away from the batter, who follows the ball and ends up edging it to the keeper. Pakistan continue to get closer to the victory.
It continues to get bad to worse for SL. Pushes the length ball towards the mid on fielder and the two batters somehow find themselves in the middle of the pitch. Babar had all the time in the world to decide whether to throw it at the non-striker’s end or towards Saad at the batting end.
He opts for the latter and the keeper whips the bails after collecting the ball. Pakistan wr up the game and win the first match of the tri-nation series by 37 runs. Rauf angles the length ball from over the wicket towards the top of off and rattles the stumps as the batter misses a dab towards deep third And now he throws it away!
Goes for the drive again, but this is not quite as full. The shot, to be fair, was on, with mid-off in the ring. But Kamindu doesn’t seem to commit fully to this lofted drive and ends up chipping a simple chance to the man in the ring This one does take the edge though!
Fantastic bowling from Shaheen! Length ball, angled in on off and straightening down the line off the seam. Too good for Arachchige who is squared right up, he had no answer to this one And that might have just sealed the match for Pakistan!
Looks to club the full ball in stumps over Babar at long on but the shot did not have enough power to take it over the ropes. A simple catch for Babar who grabs it right under his throat. Faheem Ashraf saved Saad Baig’s blushes, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 In the air and it is taken by Faheem Ashraf after it bounces off Saad Baig’s gloves.
Naseem bangs it short and Fernando plays a half-hearted pull only to top-edge it. Saad has to cover the ground, running to his left to get under it. He gets there but the ball pops out of his gloves but Faheem saves the day.
Bangs it on a length on off and curves it away from the batter, who follows the ball and ends up edging it to the keeper. Pakistan continue to get closer to the victory. Shaheen Afridi picked off three important wickets, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 And Rauf delivers!
Fullish in stumps and Liyanage holes out to long on as he drives this ball uppishly. Should have looked to heave this one down the ground, but we have a game on in Rawalpindi. Pakistan wr up the game and win the first match of the tri-nation series by 37 runs.
Rauf angles the length ball from over the wicket towards the top of off and rattles the stumps as the batter misses a dab towards deep third Faheem Ashraf claimed the wicket of Kusal Mendis, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Length ball on off and it is carved right into Ayub’s midriff and he takes the catch this time. Hint of movement and Mendis has seemed a bit nervy while dealing with the balls outside his off stump today. Throws his bat at this one but doesn’t find the g.
Big blow for Sri Lanka. He has offered his wicket on a platter to Pakistan here. Length ball on off and he has pushed it right into the hands of the short cover fielder.
This is a massive breakthrough for Pakistan at this stage of the game. Pavan Rathnayake passed 50 for the second time in ODIs, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Janith Liyanage gets a fist bump on reaching fifty, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 In the air and it is taken by Faheem Ashraf after it bounces off Saad Baig’s gloves. Naseem bangs it short and Fernando plays a half-hearted pull only to top-edge it.
Saad has to cover the ground, running to his left to get under it. He gets there but the ball pops out of his gloves but Faheem saves the day. Faheem Ashraf saved Saad Baig’s blushes, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Length ball on off and it is carved right into Ayub’s midriff and he takes the catch this time.
Hint of movement and Mendis has seemed a bit nervy while dealing with the balls outside his off stump today. Throws his bat at this one but doesn’t find the g. Big blow for Sri Lanka.
Faheem Ashraf claimed the wicket of Kusal Mendis, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 And now he throws it away! Goes for the drive again, but this is not quite as full. The shot, to be fair, was on, with mid-off in the ring.
But Kamindu doesn’t seem to commit fully to this lofted drive and ends up chipping a simple chance to the man in the ring This one does take the edge though! Fantastic bowling from Shaheen! Length ball, angled in on off and straightening down the line off the seam.
Too good for Arachchige who is squared right up, he had no answer to this one He has offered his wicket on a platter to Pakistan here. Length ball on off and he has pushed it right into the hands of the short cover fielder. This is a massive breakthrough for Pakistan at this stage of the game.
Pavan Rathnayake passed 50 for the second time in ODIs, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 And Rauf delivers! Fullish in stumps and Liyanage holes out to long on as he drives this ball uppishly. Should have looked to heave this one down the ground, but we have a game on in Rawalpindi.
Shaheen Afridi picked off three important wickets, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Janith Liyanage gets a fist bump on reaching fifty, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 And that might have just sealed the match for Pakistan! Looks to club the full ball in stumps over Babar at long on but the shot did not have enough power to take it over the ropes. A simple catch for Babar who grabs it right under his throat.
Bangs it on a length on off and curves it away from the batter, who follows the ball and ends up edging it to the keeper. Pakistan continue to get closer to the victory. It continues to get bad to worse for SL.
Pushes the length ball towards the mid on fielder and the two batters somehow find themselves in the middle of the pitch. Babar had all the time in the world to decide whether to throw it at the non-striker’s end or towards Saad at the batting end. He opts for the latter and the keeper whips the bails after collecting the ball.
Pakistan wr up the game and win the first match of the tri-nation series by 37 runs. Rauf angles the length ball from over the wicket towards the top of off and rattles the stumps as the batter misses a dab towards deep third Salman Agha celebrates reaching his fourth ODI hundred, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Harry Brook, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Kusal Mendis with the series trophy, Rawalpindi, October 17, 2026 Babar Azam and Arafat Minhas offer Pakistan reasons for omism as Sri Lanka continue their search for a settled combination Arafat Minhas walks off after his debut five-wicket haul, Pakistan vs Australia, 1st ODI, Rawalpindi, May 30, 2026 Salman Agha celebrates reaching his fourth ODI hundred, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series, Rawalpindi, October 18, 2026 Babar Azam and Arafat Minhas offer Pakistan reasons for omism as Sri Lanka continue their search for a settled combination Arafat Minhas walks off after his debut five-wicket haul, Pakistan vs Australia, 1st ODI, Rawalpindi, May 30, 2026 ODI Tri-Series (PAK) 2026/27, PAK vs SL 1st Match Match Report, October 18, 2026 – Pakistan quicks seal win after Salman Agha ton sets tone ODI Tri-Series (PAK) 2026/27, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Match Report: Rathnayake, Liyanage half-centuries in vain as Sri Lanka unravel in pursuit of 306
