Salman Ali Agha struck his fourth ODI century and Shaheen Shah Afridi picked up three crucial wickets as Pakistan fought back twice to defeat Sri Lanka by 37 runs in the opening match of the tri-nation ODI series in Rawalpindi on Sunday.

Salman led Pakistan’s recovery from 118 for four to 305 all out in 49.5 overs after Sri Lanka elected to field. The visitors also recovered after slipping to 91 for four, with six wickets in hand and 96 runs required from 76 balls. However, Pakistan struck back again, taking six wickets for 58 runs to bowl Sri Lanka out for 268 in 48.1 overs.

Pakistan will face England in the second match of the series on Tuesday.

Salman’s 107 was his second century of the year. He had scored an unbeaten 105 against Sri Lanka at the same venue in November last year before making 106 against Bangladesh in Mirpur in March. He faced 90 balls and struck 10 fours and a six, reaching his half-century off 48 balls before completing his century off 82 – his fastest of the four centuries.

Salman forged two crucial partnerships after Pakistan had slipped to 118 for four.

He added 97 runs off 94 balls for the fifth wicket with Hasan Nawaz, who scored 37 off 49 balls with two fours and two sixes. Salman then shared a 64-run stand off 46 balls for the sixth wicket with Arafat Minhas, who contributed 18 off 15 balls, including two fours.

Earlier, Babar Azam scored a fluent 45 off 57 balls with six fours but failed to turn his promising start into a bigger score, falling to a short-pitched delivery. Saad Baig, making his ODI debut as Pakistan’s 262nd player in the format, impressed with 39 off 40 balls, including three fours and two sixes.

Babar and Saad added 74 runs off 83 balls for the third wicket after Pakistan lost Saim Ayub (seven) and Fakhar Zaman (16) with 32 runs on the board. Their dismissals in the space of 13 balls left Pakistan under pressure before Salman’s determined innings steadied the innings.

For Sri Lanka, the fast bowlers claimed nine wickets, with the other dismissal coming through a run-out. Eshan Malinga took four for 46, Asitha Fernando claimed three for 59, and Dilshan Madushanka finished with two for 67.

Pakistan scored 54 runs in the first 10 overs and added 67 in the final 10, losing five wickets during the latter period.

Sri Lanka’s chase was revived by a fifth-wicket partnership after they slipped to 91 for four. Following Naseem Shah’s dismissal of Avishka Fernando (five) and Faheem Ashraf’s removal of Kusal Mendis (18), Shaheen Shah Afridi struck twice to dismiss Kamindu Mendis (44) and Sahan Arachchige(three).

Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage then added 119 runs off 107 balls to bring Sri Lanka back into contention. The stand ended when Faheem returned to the attack and had Rathnayake caught by Salman at extra-cover, with Sri Lanka still needing 96 from 76 balls.

Rathnayake, 24, scored 79 off 74 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes in his 10th ODI.

Liyanage and Dasun Shanaka added another 43 runs to edge Sri Lanka closer, but the innings unravelled as Pakistan struck repeatedly. Liyanage fell to Haris Rauf, caught by Babar Azam at long-on for 60 off 74 balls, including five fours. Shanaka was dismissed in similar fashion by Shaheen after scoring 28 off 18 balls, with three fours and a six.

Shaheen led the attack with three for 55 from his 10 overs, while Naseem, Haris and Faheem took two wickets apiece.

Earlier, Pakistan left out several notable players, including world No. 2-ranked ODI spinner Abrar Ahmed, along with Mohammad Ghazi Ghori, Sufiyan Moqim, Razaullah and Shadab Khan.

Scores in brief:

Match 1 – Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 37 runs, Rawalpindi

Pakistan 305 all-out, 49.5 overs (Salman Ali Agha 107, Babar Azam 45, Saad Baig 39, Hasan Nawaz 37; Eshan Malinga 4-46, Asitha Fernando 3-59, Dilshan Madushanka 2-67)

Sri Lanka 268 all-out, 48.1 overs (Pavan Rathnayake 79, Janith Liyange 60, Kamindu Mendis 44, Dasun Shanaka 28; Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-55, Naseem Shah 2-43, Haris Rauf 2-48, Faheem Ashraf 2-49)

Player of the match – Salman Ali Agha (Pakistan)

Next match – Pakistan vs England, Tuesday, 20 October