Deadly suicide attack near Rawalpindi, but Pakistan has the courage to beat Sri Lanka in thriller | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: Pakistan rode on an unbeaten century from Salman Agha and a four-wicket burst from Haris Rauf to clinch a six-run victory over Sri Lanka in the opening ODI on Tuesday, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.Agha’s fluent 105, not out from 87 balls, propelled Pakistan to 299/5, before Rauf’s 4/61 helped restrict Sri Lanka to 293/9 in a tense finale.The match took place under tight security after a suicide attack earlier in the day in the neighboring city of Islamabad, which claimed the lives of at least 12 people. The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed that security around the Sri Lankan team had been further increased following the incident.Put into bat, Pakistan were in trouble at 95/4 before Agha and Hussain Talat (62) staged a brilliant comeback with a 138-run fifth-wicket partnership. Talat’s maiden ODI fifty featured a six and six fours, while Agha’s knock included nine boundaries, steering the hosts to a strong finish alongside Mohammad Nawaz (36 off 23)* – with the duo adding 104 runs in the last 10 overs.Earlier, Wanindu Hasaranga (3/54) shook Pakistan’s top order, removing Fakhar Zaman (32), Babar Azam (29) and Mohammad Rizwan (5) in a fiery spell. Asitha Fernando struck early, trapping Saim Ayub for six runs.In response, Sri Lanka got off to a good start thanks to Kamil Mishara (38) and Pathum Nissanka (29), who shared an opening stand of 85 runs. But Rauf turned the situation around with a decisive spell, dismissing the two openers and Kusal Mendis (0) in quick succession.Sadeera Samarawickrama (39) and Charith Asalanka (32) briefly revived the chase, but Rauf’s fourth wicket – Samarawickrama, brilliantly caught by Babar Azam at slip – brought the momentum back to Pakistan.Until 210/7, Sri Lanka’s hopes rested on Hasaranga, who fought valiantly with a 52-ball 59 with seven fours. His late charge brought the target to 21 off eight balls before he finished off, ending the visitors’ resistance. Janith Liyanage contributed 28 with two sixes and as many fours.Pakistan skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi praised his team’s fightback:“Agha and Talat batted very well to take us to 299. A target of 300 was good, and Haris gave us some crucial breakthroughs,” Shaheen said.Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka admitted his bowlers leaked runs at key times:“The way Agha and Talat batted took the game away. We gave away too many runs – it should have been less than 270,” he said.The remaining ODIs will also be played in Rawalpindi on Thursday and Saturday.
