Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 37 runs – ODI Report
Pakistan won by 37 runs in the 15th match of 24 in the Tri-Nation Series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Salman Agha delivered a commanding century – 107 off 90 balls with 10 fours and a six – to lift Pakistan to 305 all out, before Eshan Malinga‘s four-wicket haul proved insufficient as Sri Lanka fell 37 runs short in their chase.
Pakistan’s Innings – Agha Anchors the Middle Order
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl, but Pakistan’s batting lineup made them pay through a combination of aggressive strokeplay and calculated accumulation. Fakhar Zaman started brightly with 16 off 19 (2 fours, 1 six) before falling at 32/1 in the 5.5th over. Saim Ayub followed quickly for 7 at 23/2, leaving Pakistan in early trouble.
Babar Azam steadied the ship with 45 off 57 balls (6 fours) before being caught at 106/3 in the 19.4th over. Saad Baig chipped in with 39 off 40 (3 fours, 2 sixes) to push Pakistan past 100, but the real turning point came when Salman Agha took charge of the middle overs. Agha’s 107 off 90 balls at a strike rate of 119 was the centrepiece of Pakistan’s total, building crucial partnerships and accelerating in the final stages. Hasan Nawaz contributed 37 off 49 (2 fours, 2 sixes) in a 76-run stand with Agha, while Arafat Minhas (18 off 15) and Shaheen Afridi (13 off 12, not out) added late-order runs to push Pakistan to 305.
Asitha Fernando was Sri Lanka’s standout bowler with 3/59 from 10 overs, while Dilshan Madushanka took 2/67 and Eshan Malinga claimed 4/46 from 9.5 overs at an economy of 4.68. Despite the four-wicket haul, Malinga’s miserly bowling could not prevent Pakistan from posting a competitive total.
Sri Lanka’s Chase Falls Short
Kamindu Mendis opened positively with 44 off 50 (4 fours) before falling at 83/1 in the 17.5th over. Avishka Fernando (5 off 9) and Kusal Mendis (18 off 34) offered little resistance, leaving Sri Lanka at 66/3 by the 13.5th over.
Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage rebuilt the innings with a 143-run partnership. Rathnayake struck 79 off 74 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes) at a strike rate of 107, while Liyanage contributed a steady 60 off 74 (5 fours). The pair had Sri Lanka within striking distance at 210/4 in the 37.2nd over, but the loss of both batsmen in quick succession derailed the chase. Dasun Shanaka provided late fireworks with 28 off 18 (3 fours, 1 six) at a strike rate of 156, but Pakistan’s bowlers held their nerve.
Shaheen Afridi was the pick of Pakistan’s attack with 3/55 from 10 overs, while Naseem Shah took 2/43 from 10 at an economy of 4.3. Haris Rauf (2/48) and Faheem Ashraf (2/49) shared the remaining wickets as Sri Lanka limped to 268 all out in 48.1 overs.
Statz MVP: Eshan Malinga (Statz Rating: 121.84)
Eshan Malinga earns the Statz MVP award with a rating of 121.84 – the highest of the match. Despite batting at number 9 and contributing just 2 runs, Malinga’s 4/46 from 9.5 overs was a masterclass in death bowling and control. His economy rate of 4.68 in a match where runs flowed freely underscores his impact on the contest. Statz calculates impact based on match context, and Malinga’s ability to restrict Pakistan’s lower order while maintaining pressure throughout his spell was decisive.
Top 5 Statz Ratings
- Eshan Malinga (SL) – Statz Rating: 121.84 | 4/46 from 9.5 overs (economy 4.68). Exceptional death bowling in a losing effort.
- Shaheen Afridi (PAK) – Statz Rating: 116.11 | 3/55 from 10 overs plus 13 off 12 with the bat. Crucial contributions across both disciplines.
- Asitha Fernando (SL) – Statz Rating: 99.37 | 3/59 from 10 overs. Steady bowling in Pakistan’s first innings.
- Naseem Shah (PAK) – Statz Rating: 82.22 | 2/43 from 10 overs at economy 4.3. Economical bowling under pressure.
- Salman Agha (PAK) – Statz Rating: 81.67 | 107 off 90 (10 fours, 1 six, SR 119). Match-winning century in the first innings.
Turning Point
The match turned when Pavan Rathnayake was caught for 79 at 210/4 in the 37.2nd over. Rathnayake had been carrying Sri Lanka’s chase with a strike rate of 107, and his dismissal left the lower order exposed with 96 runs still required from 77 balls. Though Dasun Shanaka struck aggressively, the loss of both Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage (60 off 74) in quick succession shifted momentum decisively to Pakistan.
Match Context
This was the 15th match of 24 in the Tri-Nation Series. Pakistan’s victory keeps them in contention in the tournament, while Sri Lanka will rue a chase that came within 37 runs of success. Salman Agha was named Man of the Match for his century. See the full scorecard and head-to-head record on Statz for the complete breakdown, or explore the bet builder for this fixture.
