Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 37 runs in the opening match of the ODI tri-series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday, October 18, 2026, after Salman Ali Agha scored 107 off 90 balls. Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl. Pakistan were all out for 305 in 49.5 overs, and Sri Lanka were dismissed for 268 in 48.1 overs, according to the match scorecard and reports.

Agha, who was named Player of the Match, hit ten fours and a six for his fourth ODI century. Geo Super reported that he had already reached his 10th ODI half-century during the fifth-wicket partnership. The hundred came after a quiet stretch: he made 6, 7 and 15 in his three ODI innings against Australia, 28 runs in all. His previous century, an unbeaten 105, also came against Sri Lanka at this ground, on November 11, 2025.

Pakistan were 32-2 inside six overs

Dilshan Madushanka removed both openers, Saim Ayub (7 off 8) and Fakhar Zaman (16 off 19). Babar Azam (45 off 57) and debutant wicketkeeper Saad Baig (39 off 40) then added 74 for the third wicket. Eshan Malinga dismissed both within an over of each other, leaving Pakistan at 106-3 after 19.4 overs and soon after at 118-4.

Agha’s two big partnerships came next. He added 97 with Hasan Nawaz (37 off 49) and 64 with Arafat Minhas (18 off 15), taking Pakistan to 279-6 after 45 overs. Asitha Fernando then removed Agha, and Pakistan added only 26 more runs for their last four wickets. Malinga finished with 4-46, Fernando took 3 wickets and Madushanka 2. Malinga also came within a delivery of a hat-trick after dismissing Faheem Ashraf and Naseem Shah, but Haris Rauf survived the LBW appeal.

Rathnayake and Liyanage got Sri Lanka close, but not close enough

Pavan Rathnayake made 79 and Janith Liyanage 60, with Kamindu Mendis adding 44, according to the scorecard published by Sunday Guardian Live. Faheem Ashraf caught the Rathnayake wicket, and Shaheen Shah Afridi finished with 3-55. Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf also took wickets as the visitors fell short.

England are next, on Tuesday

The seven-match tri-series is a double round-robin, and the top two teams meet in the final at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on October 31. Pakistan play England at Rawalpindi on October 20, with the toss at 12:30pm PKT and the first ball at 1pm, the Pakistan Cricket Board said. Pakistan then play England in Lahore on October 25 and Sri Lanka in Lahore on October 27.

Pakistan’s team is due to leave for Lahore on October 21, after the England game. The PCB Live app is streaming the series in Pakistan, the United Kingdom, North America, the Caribbean, Europe and Africa. Cricketnews lists PTV Sports, Tapmad and Tamasha as the broadcast options inside Pakistan. The PCB describes the series as preparation for the ODI World Cup.