Pakistan Beat Sri Lanka by 37 Runs: Agha Century, Babar 16000 Runs

Pakistan kicked off their 2026 ODI tri-series campaign in style, defeating Sri Lanka by 37 runs in a thrilling series opener at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday, October 18. In front of a passionate home crowd, the Green Shirts rode a magnificent century from Salman Ali Agha and a clinical pace attack to defend a total of 305 and seal a famous win — and on a night full of milestones, captain Babar Azam also crossed the landmark of 16,000 international runs.

Agha's Magnificent Hundred Anchors Pakistan's 305

Sent in to bat after Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl first, Pakistan posted a competitive 305 all out in 49.5 overs on a good-paced Rawalpindi surface. The innings belonged to one man: Salman Ali Agha, who returned to international cricket with a statement hundred, stroking a superb 107 off just 90 balls with ten fours and a six.

It was Agha's fourth one-day international hundred, and the timing could not have been sweeter. After a difficult few months — he was sent home ahead of the third Test in England in August — the 32-year-old showed exactly why the team management keeps faith in him. He brought up his century with two consecutive boundaries off pacer Asitha Fernando, anchoring Pakistan's innings through the middle overs with calm, controlled strokeplay.

Pakistan's start was not entirely smooth. Left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka jolted the hosts early, removing openers Saim Ayub for seven and Fakhar Zaman for 16. But ODI debutant Saad Baig, in his first international outing, announced himself with a brisk 40-ball 39 featuring two sixes and three fours, and together with Babar Azam's 45, the pair put on a 74-run stand that steadied the ship.

Fast bowler Eshan Malinga then struck in successive overs to remove both set batters and halt Pakistan's progress — but Agha took charge. He added a vital 97-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Hasan Nawaz, who contributed 37, and another 64 for the sixth with Arafat Minhas. Malinga finished with career-best figures of 4 for 46, while Fernando took 3 for 59, but Pakistan had done enough to pass the 300 mark — exactly what captain Shaheen Afridi had targeted.

Babar Azam Enters the 16,000-Run Club

Alongside the century celebrations, Sunday evening brought another milestone for Pakistani cricket. Babar Azam, Pakistan's celebrated captain and batting mainstay, breached the formidable 16,000-run barrier in international cricket during the innings, becoming only the seventh active player in world cricket to enter this exclusive club.

The 32-year-old right-hander needed just seven runs before the match, standing on 15,993 international runs — comprising 4,771 in Tests, 6,626 in ODIs and 4,596 in T20Is — and duly passed the landmark. He is now Pakistan's fifth cricketer to complete 16,000 international runs, joining a global sextet that includes Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Rohit Sharma, Kane Williamson, David Warner and Steve Smith.

It has been quite a week for Pakistan's modern-day greats: Sahibzada Farhan set a T20I world record earlier in the series, and now Babar's consistency since his 2015 debut has been rewarded with another entry into cricket's elite circles. His 45 off 57 balls, studded with six boundaries, was a typically elegant knock that helped Pakistan through the tricky early phase.

Sri Lanka's Brave Chase Falls 37 Runs Short

Chasing 306 for victory, Sri Lanka were always up against it. The chase never truly found its rhythm after Avishka Fernando fell for five in the sixth over, with the score at 30. Skipper Kusal Mendis managed 18 before Faheem Ashraf removed him, and Kamindu Mendis' 44 off 50 balls ended when Shaheen Afridi struck, with Sahan Arachchige departing for three in the same spell to leave Sri Lanka reeling at 91 for 4.

Just when the match seemed over, Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage produced the partnership of the match. The pair revived the innings with a crucial 119-run stand for the fifth wicket, taking Sri Lanka past 200 and giving the visitors genuine hope. Rathnayake registered his maiden ODI half-century and went on to make 79 off 74 deliveries with six fours and two sixes, while Liyanage struck a measured 60 off 74 balls — his eighth ODI fifty.

Faheem Ashraf broke the stand by dismissing Rathnayake, and although Liyanage and Dasun Shanaka added a fighting 43 runs together, Haris Rauf dismissed Liyanage for 60, Shaheen removed Shanaka for a rapid 28 off 18, and the tail folded. Naseem Shah dismissed Sachindu Colombage, Eshan Malinga was run out in a mix-up, and Haris wrapped up the innings by bowling Asitha Fernando for seven. Sri Lanka were all out for 268 in 48.1 overs, falling 37 runs short.

Shaheen's Pacers Deliver When It Matters

Pakistan's fast bowlers were the difference between a tight finish and a comfortable win. Shaheen Afridi led the attack with 3 for 55 in his ten overs, while Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf claimed two wickets each, striking at key moments every time Sri Lanka threatened to take the game away.

Speaking after the match, captain Shaheen praised both the century and the bowling unit's communication. Pakistan had planned to bat first and post more than 300 — "Agha batted well. I was happy to see how Saad Baig batted, and Hasan Nawaz stitched together a partnership with Agha," he said. On the bowlers, he added: "All the fast bowlers were talking to each other about how the pitch was behaving and making plans accordingly."

Salman Agha was named Player of the Match for his match-winning 107 — a knock that set the tone for Pakistan's series and reminded everyone of his class in the 50-over format.

What This Win Means for the Tri-Series

The result gives Pakistan a flying start in a tournament that features England as the third team. Each side plays the other twice before the top two meet in the final on October 31 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Pakistan's next assignment is a blockbuster: England arrive in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, October 20 for the second match of the series, starting at 1:00 PM PKT.

For Sri Lanka, the defeat is far from fatal with five league games still to come, but they will likely need to beat England at least once — probably twice — to reach the final. After the tri-series, they stay in Pakistan for two Tests, beginning with a warm-up in Islamabad from November 4.

For Pakistan, there is plenty to be encouraged about. A debutant scoring 39, the middle order firing through Agha and Hasan Nawaz, the pace attack hunting as a pack, and a captain joining cricket's most elite statistical club — all in front of a buzzing Rawalpindi crowd. If this opener is any indication, the 2026 ODI tri-series is going to be a memorable one, and the fans will be watching every ball.

Stay tuned to Cric Sports Daily for ball-by-ball coverage and analysis of every match in the ODI tri-series 2026.

Sources: The News (thenews.pk), Geo Super (geosuper.tv), Sportradar scorecard, CricketDaily match hub.