Pakistan opened the three-match ODI series with a gripping six-run victory over Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi, surviving a dramatic chase marked by momentum swings, dropped chances, and a late surge from Wanindu Hasaranga. Salman Agha’s unbeaten century laid the foundation for Pakistan’s competitive total, while Haris Rauf’s explosive spells repeatedly dismantled Sri Lanka’s progress. In a contest shaped by composure under pressure, Pakistan held their nerve to seize a hard-fought lead in the series.
Winning start to the series for Pakistan! 💪
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 11, 2025
An impactful spell from @HarisRauf14 and a crucial penultimate over by @iNaseemShah seal a six-run win 🇵🇰#PAKvSL | #JeetKaScene | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/WZhQwaCsdl
Agha’s Commanding 105* Anchors Pakistan’s Total of 299/5
Asked to bat first, Pakistan endured a difficult beginning as Sri Lanka controlled the early exchanges with disciplined bowling and tight fields. The powerplay yielded only 28 runs, and the innings lost rhythm when Saim Ayub fell early. Fakhar Zaman attempted to counterattack, lofting a six off Wanindu Hasaranga, but the spinner’s drift and accuracy soon beat him, sending Zaman back for a 32 off 55 that never fully threatened to break the shackles.
The pressure escalated when Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam also succumbed to Hasaranga, both beaten by variations in pace and flight. At 95/4 in the 24th over, Pakistan risked slipping into irrecoverable territory. It was here that Salman Agha and Hussain Talat rewrote the script with a composed and intelligent partnership. Their stand was built on patience early, absorbing pressure, rotating strike, and seizing opportunities against the loose deliveries that arrived only sporadically.
Talat’s maiden ODI fifty provided a major turning point. As he grew more assured, the boundaries increased, and the required acceleration slowly materialized. Their partnership crossed the 100-run mark with elegant placement and clever running. When Talat was eventually trapped lbw by Maheesh Theekshana for 62, Pakistan had finally built a platform large enough to attack the death overs.
The closing stages of the innings belonged entirely to Salman Agha and Mohammad Nawaz. In the final three overs, Pakistan exploded with 42 runs, a burst powered by Agha’s calculated precision and Nawaz’s fearless stroke-making. Dushmantha Chameera suffered the most punishment, beaten repeatedly through the off side and straight down the ground. Nawaz struck two fours and a towering six, while Agha reached his second ODI century with a shot that summed up his innings: controlled, powerful, and technically assured. Their combined work elevated Pakistan to 299/5, a total well above what the scoreboard had threatened earlier.
Sri Lanka’s Rapid Start, Pakistan’s Missed Chances, and Rauf’s Breakthrough
Sri Lanka launched their chase with confidence and intent. Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara played with fluency, punishing anything loose and unsettling the Pakistani seamers. Within 14 overs they had compiled a rapid 89-run opening stand that shifted the psychological weight of the match. Pakistan contributed to their own problems with missed chances: Nissanka was dropped by Salman Agha off Shaheen Afridi, and Rauf failed to hold a tough chance off Mishara in his own follow-through.
But just when Sri Lanka appeared in full control, Haris Rauf turned the contest abruptly. First Mishara miscued a lifting delivery to mid-off. Off the very next ball, Kusal Mendis had his stumps rattled by raw pace. A few deliveries later, Nissanka edged behind. Within minutes, Sri Lanka’s bright beginning was dismantled, slipping from 89/0 to 90/3. The sudden collapse ignited the crowd and returned belief to Pakistan’s fielders.
Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka attempted consolidation, crafting a steady partnership that slowed the bleeding. Samarawickrama looked composed, timing the ball sweetly and threading gaps through cover and midwicket. Yet Rauf returned again to break the partnership, finding movement outside off and forcing Samarawickrama’s edge to slip.
The anchor role shifted to Janith Liyanage, who counterattacked with crisp shot-making. Asalanka, initially tentative, began to release pressure with sweeps and drives that restored momentum. Their half-century stand pushed Sri Lanka past 150 and revived the chase with clarity and purpose. But just as the chase regained life, the wickets resumed. Nawaz drew Asalanka out of his crease and Rizwan completed an alert stumping. Liyanage launched Naseem Shah for a brilliant six but was bowled soon after by a deceptive full delivery. When Sri Lanka slipped to 191/6, Pakistan sensed the finish line.
Hasaranga’s Fighting Fifty Brings Sri Lanka to the Brink
With the top order gone and overs dwindling, Wanindu Hasaranga stepped in with determination and fearless intent. Known for habitually rescuing his side in high-pressure situations, he displayed intuitive game awareness: farming strike when needed, attacking specific bowlers, and refusing to allow the required rate to inflate beyond reach.
Hasaranga pierced gaps with finesse, then shifted gears with powerful strokes when Pakistan erred in length. Even as partners departed around him, his belief intensified. In the 47th over, he hammered Faheem Ashraf for two crucial boundaries. The chase, once slipping, now pulsed again with possibility.
Heading into the final 12 balls, Sri Lanka needed 23. It was a scenario engineered perfectly for a steal. Rawalpindi went quiet. Pakistan’s bowlers grew visibly tense. But Naseem Shah delivered the breakthrough Pakistan desperately needed, removing Hasaranga when he tried to send a full toss beyond long-on. The timing faltered, the catch held, and Sri Lanka’s greatest hope walked back for a brave 59 off 52 balls.
Still, the contest remained alive. Theekshana battled with straight bat and sharp running, chipping away at the difference until Sri Lanka required only 9 off 2 deliveries. One strike could have flipped the match again. However, Pakistan stayed composed: a dot ball suffocated the attempt, and a final scrambled couple sealed the win by the narrowest of margins.
Why Pakistan’s Victory Matters
This was a win fashioned not by dominance but by resilience. The hosts overcame a sluggish start with the bat, survived dropped chances in the field, and absorbed a late counterattack. Agha’s marathon innings under pressure, coupled with Rauf’s decisive strike power, reflected a side capable of winning tight matches—an asset crucial in major tournaments.
Sri Lanka, despite defeat, displayed courage and competitive character. Their top-order aggression, Liyanage’s poise, and Hasaranga’s refusal to surrender illustrated a team capable of punching back. With two matches still ahead, neither side holds control. Sri Lanka will view this match as an opportunity missed, while Pakistan will take confidence in their ability to defend totals under duress.
Final Score Summary
Pakistan: 299/5 in 50 overs
Salman Agha 105*, Hussain Talat 62, Mohammad Nawaz 36*
Wanindu Hasaranga 3-54
Sri Lanka: 293/9 in 50 overs
Wanindu Hasaranga 59, Sadeera Samarawickrama 39
Haris Rauf 4-61
Result: Pakistan won by 6 runs
Series: Pakistan lead 1–0
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.@SalmanAliAgha1 is the player of the match for his heroic ton 💫#PAKvSL | #JeetKaScene | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/iLVOlBwD2Z
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 11, 2025
Conclusion
If the opener is any indication, this ODI series promises tension, momentum shifts, and late-over drama. Pakistan’s bowlers will aim for greater discipline in the early overs, Sri Lanka’s middle order will seek consistency, and both teams know the margins are thin. The next fixture holds the potential for another thriller—and neither side will take a backward step.
Intensity, ambition, and unpredictability are already shaping this contest. With Pakistan ahead by the slimmest of margins, Sri Lanka’s response will define whether this becomes a comeback story or a home-side sweep.
