Totally agree about Agha, he should not be in T20s, how terrible of PCB not to read the script, T20 captain should be leading the ODI side and vice versa.
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Pakistan (299/5) secure a narrow 6-run victory over Sri Lanka (293/9) in the series opener
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RedwoodOriginal
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Well with Pakistan you don't have to wait long. Sooner or later, everyone gets a chance to be captain. But honestly I don't see this team changing much regardless of whoever is captain. It's a team that is at a certain level, and will likely stay at that level for the forseable future.
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Salman Ali Agha’s unbeaten century and Haris Rauf’s fiery four-wicket haul powered Pakistan to a narrow six-run win over Sri Lanka in the opening ODI of the three-match series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday night. Defending a total of 299, the hosts held their nerve in a tense finish to take a 1-0 lead.
Pakistan’s pace battery, spearheaded by Haris (4-61), accounted for eight of the nine Sri Lankan wickets, with Faheem Ashraf and Naseem Shah claiming two apiece. Mohammad Nawaz chipped in with a crucial breakthrough, dismissing Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka during a pivotal phase of the chase.
Wanindu Hasaranga, batting at No.8, top-scored for Sri Lanka with a valiant 59 off 52 balls, laced with seven boundaries. Walking in at 191-6 with 109 needed from 102 balls, he kept the visitors in the hunt until the penultimate over. Hasaranga stitched together key partnerships—19 with Kamindu Mendis, 37 with Dushmantha Chameera, and 32 with Maheesh Theekshana (21* off 18)—before falling to Naseem at long-on in the 49th over.
With 21 required off the final over bowled by Hussain Talat, Theekshana raised hopes with back-to-back boundaries on the third and fourth deliveries. However, he could only manage two more runs as Sri Lanka fell agonizingly short.
Earlier, chasing 300, Sri Lanka’s openers Kamil Mishara (38 off 36) and Pathum Nissanka (29 off 39) gave their side a flying start, adding 85 runs in just 11.5 overs, including 75 in the Powerplay. Haris Rauf then turned the tide, removing Mishara and Kusal Mendis (golden duck) in successive deliveries and later dismissing Nissanka to reduce Sri Lanka to 90-3.
Sadeera Samarawickrama (39) and Asalanka (32) steadied the innings with a gritty 57-run stand, which was broken by a stunning one-handed catch from Babar Azam at slip off Haris. Nawaz then had Asalanka stumped, and Naseem bowled Janith Liyanage (28 off 24) to leave Sri Lanka reeling at 191-6.
Earlier in the day, after being asked to bat, Pakistan lost Saim Ayub early, but Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman added 54 for the second wicket. Hasaranga then ripped through the middle order, removing Fakhar (32), Rizwan, and Babar (28), reducing Pakistan to 95-4.
Salman Ali Agha (105* off 87) and Hussain Talat (62 off 63) rescued the innings with a match-defining 138-run partnership for the fifth wicket. From 96-4 at the halfway mark, Pakistan surged to 299-5, thanks to their counterattacking stand.
The duo accelerated after the 35th over, striking at least one boundary in every over except the 40th and 43rd. Hussain fell in the 44th over, but Nawaz (36* off 23) provided a late flourish, adding an unbeaten 66 with Salman.
Salman brought up his second ODI century in the 48th over, reaching the milestone in 83 balls with two consecutive fours and a single off Chameera. Pakistan plundered 22 runs in the final two overs, finishing with their fourth-highest ODI total at the venue.
Pakistan’s pace battery, spearheaded by Haris (4-61), accounted for eight of the nine Sri Lankan wickets, with Faheem Ashraf and Naseem Shah claiming two apiece. Mohammad Nawaz chipped in with a crucial breakthrough, dismissing Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka during a pivotal phase of the chase.
Wanindu Hasaranga, batting at No.8, top-scored for Sri Lanka with a valiant 59 off 52 balls, laced with seven boundaries. Walking in at 191-6 with 109 needed from 102 balls, he kept the visitors in the hunt until the penultimate over. Hasaranga stitched together key partnerships—19 with Kamindu Mendis, 37 with Dushmantha Chameera, and 32 with Maheesh Theekshana (21* off 18)—before falling to Naseem at long-on in the 49th over.
With 21 required off the final over bowled by Hussain Talat, Theekshana raised hopes with back-to-back boundaries on the third and fourth deliveries. However, he could only manage two more runs as Sri Lanka fell agonizingly short.
Earlier, chasing 300, Sri Lanka’s openers Kamil Mishara (38 off 36) and Pathum Nissanka (29 off 39) gave their side a flying start, adding 85 runs in just 11.5 overs, including 75 in the Powerplay. Haris Rauf then turned the tide, removing Mishara and Kusal Mendis (golden duck) in successive deliveries and later dismissing Nissanka to reduce Sri Lanka to 90-3.
Sadeera Samarawickrama (39) and Asalanka (32) steadied the innings with a gritty 57-run stand, which was broken by a stunning one-handed catch from Babar Azam at slip off Haris. Nawaz then had Asalanka stumped, and Naseem bowled Janith Liyanage (28 off 24) to leave Sri Lanka reeling at 191-6.
Earlier in the day, after being asked to bat, Pakistan lost Saim Ayub early, but Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman added 54 for the second wicket. Hasaranga then ripped through the middle order, removing Fakhar (32), Rizwan, and Babar (28), reducing Pakistan to 95-4.
Salman Ali Agha (105* off 87) and Hussain Talat (62 off 63) rescued the innings with a match-defining 138-run partnership for the fifth wicket. From 96-4 at the halfway mark, Pakistan surged to 299-5, thanks to their counterattacking stand.
The duo accelerated after the 35th over, striking at least one boundary in every over except the 40th and 43rd. Hussain fell in the 44th over, but Nawaz (36* off 23) provided a late flourish, adding an unbeaten 66 with Salman.
Salman brought up his second ODI century in the 48th over, reaching the milestone in 83 balls with two consecutive fours and a single off Chameera. Pakistan plundered 22 runs in the final two overs, finishing with their fourth-highest ODI total at the venue.
topspin
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Babar and Rizwan made you look foolish again
topspin
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Where were these big 100s? They were garbage as per usual.
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Shameless. Produced a match winning ton.
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Savak
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Pakistani bowlers are absolutely horrible on flat decks and when there is due. Flat decks are part and parcel of international cricket. Bowlers who have been playing for 6-7 plus years should know how to keep things tight and atleast bowl to a plan, to your field and according to the weakness of the opposition batsmen when the pitch offers very little.
Bhumrah is a master of switching things around depending on the pitch, opposition batsman and state of the game. Bhumrah, Siraj will bowl test match lines, lengths with the occasional glory ball when the wicket offers assistance. If the pitch is flat, he will pull his length back, bowl wicket to wicket and have fielders on the leg side to stop the singles and to prevent boundaries.
Pakistani bowlers do not have the same kind of bowling iq
Bhumrah is a master of switching things around depending on the pitch, opposition batsman and state of the game. Bhumrah, Siraj will bowl test match lines, lengths with the occasional glory ball when the wicket offers assistance. If the pitch is flat, he will pull his length back, bowl wicket to wicket and have fielders on the leg side to stop the singles and to prevent boundaries.
Pakistani bowlers do not have the same kind of bowling iq
sweep_shot
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Great game.
Pakistan are now looking good for a series win.
Pakistan are now looking good for a series win.
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hasaranga was in a mood to finish the game. Naseem bowled a perfect ball to him to make it happen, but... Naseem has been getting hammered in his first spell but somehow he manages to finish above par.
Good game to win though... Salman was brilliant as he is most of the times in ODIs.
Good game to win though... Salman was brilliant as he is most of the times in ODIs.
harshjoshi87
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Match was Sri Lanka's to be won until Asalanka threw it away.
Pakistan really need to fix two glaring gaps in their lineup
1) the seam bowling. Obviously SSA can’t be dropped but they need to consider runs v wickets ratio of Naseem and Rauf. Possibly Wasim or Mirza are challengers.
2) the top order batting. Obviously Saim and Rizwan can’t be dropped but fakhar and babar look a bit weak. fakhar especially. Farhan is breathing down his neck.
This is good pressure for places. I think with the tri series coming up and then more t20 cricket this will be a good opportunity to try Wasim and Farhan.
1) the seam bowling. Obviously SSA can’t be dropped but they need to consider runs v wickets ratio of Naseem and Rauf. Possibly Wasim or Mirza are challengers.
2) the top order batting. Obviously Saim and Rizwan can’t be dropped but fakhar and babar look a bit weak. fakhar especially. Farhan is breathing down his neck.
This is good pressure for places. I think with the tri series coming up and then more t20 cricket this will be a good opportunity to try Wasim and Farhan.
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