Pakistan Holds Off Sri Lanka for Dramatic ODI Victory

Rawalpindi, Pakistan – In a thrilling opening match of the ODI series, Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by six runs at Rawalpindi on November 11, 2025. With this victory, Pakistan takes a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Pakistan set a challenging target of 300 runs, largely thanks to Agha Salman’s exceptional unbeaten century of 105 runs and a solid 62 from Talat Hussain. Despite a promising start from Sri Lanka, who reached 85 runs without losing a wicket, they fell short with 293 runs on the board.

Pakistan’s innings saw them recover from an early collapse, reaching 299 for 5 in 50 overs. Agha and Talat’s critical partnership of 138 runs steered Pakistan to a competitive total after being at a precarious 95 for 4.

In the chase, Sri Lanka held their ground with significant contributions from Wanindu Hasaranga, who scored 59, and Sadeera Samarawickrama, who added 39. However, Sri Lanka stumbled in the middle overs, losing wickets in clusters and ultimately finishing at 293 for 9.

Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi was instrumental for Pakistan, taking 4 wickets for 61 runs, including crucial dismissals that thwarted Sri Lanka’s momentum. Despite some sloppy fielding, with 26 wides and two dropped catches, Pakistan secured the win.

The match’s excitement peaked in the final over when Sri Lanka required 21 runs to win. Two boundaries from Maheesh Theekshana raised hopes, but he fell to Afridi, sealing Pakistan’s victory.

Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, praised his team’s performance, especially Agha’s splendid century, which laid the foundation for their innings. ‘We knew we had to set a big target to put pressure on Sri Lanka, and Agha’s innings was crucial,’ Azam said.

Despite the loss, Sri Lanka’s captain, Dasun Shanaka, commended his team’s fighting spirit but acknowledged the missed chances. ‘We had opportunities, but losing wickets in critical moments cost us dearly,’ Shanaka stated.

The match ended with a tense yet exhilarating atmosphere as both teams showcased their strengths, setting the stage for an exciting series ahead.