Salman Ali Agha celebrated his return to the Pakistan side after his unceremonious axing from the Test team two months ago with his third One-day International century in the tri-series opener against Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Salman’s 107 off 90 balls, which included 10 fours and a six, helped Pakistan put up 305 on the board. The hosts could have done better had it not been for excellent death bowling from the Sri Lankan pacers, who conceded only 36 runs in the last five overs while taking as many wickets in the period, as Eshan Malinga stood out with figures of 4-46.
Malinga opened his account by bouncing out Babar Azam (45) and Saad Baig (39), who had looked good in their 74-run partnership for the third wicket following the early dismissals of openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, both off Dilshan Madushanka.
Babar and Saad’s departure brought Salman and Hasan Nawaz together, with the pair combining for 97 before the latter was removed by pacer Asitha Fernando (3-59).
It was Salman, however, who stood out during that partnership.
The right-hander initially played himself in before gradually increasing the tempo, rotating the strike effectively and punishing loose deliveries. He brought up his half-century with a couple of runs off Sachindu Colombage in the 35th over, before Hasan provided impetus with two sixes against Colombage, including a powerful slog sweep over cow corner.
Salman then took charge, pulling Dasun Shanaka through the leg side and repeatedly finding gaps in the field. His most emphatic stroke came in the 40th over when he picked Malinga’s slower delivery outside off and launched a spectacular lofted drive over long-off for six.
The hundred arrived in the 45th over, with Salman first placing a low full toss through deep midwicket before edging a full delivery past the infield to the third-man boundary. He raised his finger to his temple as he acknowledged the applause, capping a composed innings that gave Pakistan a strong platform.
Hasan, meanwhile, fell for 37 off 49 balls when his pull against Fernando failed to clear short midwicket, where Pavan Rathnayake took an excellent overhead catch. Arafat Minhas added a brisk 18 off 15 balls, but his attempt to carve Fernando over the off side ended with a catch to Kamindu Mendis at backward point.
Pakistan were 279-6 when Salman departed in the 47th over, mistiming a lofted shot off Fernando to Dasun Shanaka at long-on. His dismissal triggered a collapse that Sri Lanka’s bowlers exploited ruthlessly.
Malinga struck twice in the next over, first inducing Faheem Ashraf to edge a wide delivery behind the stumps before trapping Naseem Shah lbw with a full ball that struck the leg stump. The pacer then kept Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf tied down with accurate yorkers and sharp short deliveries.
Shaheen managed a couple of boundaries in the closing overs, including a straight hit off Malinga, but Pakistan could not find the late surge they needed. Haris was run out for a duck in the final over after a sharp throw from Sahan Arachchige was collected by Malinga, leaving the batter short of his ground.
Pakistan were bowled out for 305 in 49.5 overs, with Malinga’s incisive spell ensuring Sri Lanka finished the innings strongly after Salman had threatened to take the total well beyond 320.
Teams
PAKISTAN: Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saad Baig (wicket-keeper), Hasan Nawaz, Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas, Faheem Ashraf 9 Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah
SRI LANKA: Avishka Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis (captain/wicket-keeper), Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Sachindu Colombage, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka