Pakistan won the first ODI of the three-match series against Sri Lanka by 6 runs at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, taking a 1-0 lead early in the series.
Haris Rauf starred with the ball for Pakistan, taking 4 wickets for 61 runs in his 10 overs.
Faheem Ashraf claimed 2 for 49, while Naseem Shah and Mohammad Nawaz took two and one wicket each.
Wanindu Hasaranga top-scored for Sri Lanka with 59 runs, including seven fours.
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Chasing 300, Sri Lanka started their innings strongly, reaching 75 without loss in the powerplay.
Opener Pathum Nissanka scored 29, while debutant Kamil Mishara contributed 38.
By 11.3 overs, Sri Lanka were 85 without loss and looked well ahead in the game.
Haris Rauf then changed the course of the match with a fiery spell, taking three quick wickets of Mishara (38), Kusal Mendis (0), and Nissanka (29), restricting Sri Lanka to 90 for 3.
Rauf struck again to dismiss Sadeera Samarawickrama for 39, courtesy of a stunning catch by Babar Azam.
READ: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka ODI Series: H2H, Squads & Where to Watch
Skipper Charith Asalanka (32) and Janith Liyanage (28) tried to stabilize the innings but were dismissed by Mohammad Nawaz and Naseem Shah.
After their dismissals, Sri Lanka tried to fight back, with Chameera scoring 7, Maheesh Theekshana unbeaten on 21, and Asitha Fernando unbeaten on 0.
Wanindu Hasaranga’s quick 59 kept them in contention, but they ultimately fell short of victory.
Earlier, after being put into bat, Pakistan scored 299/5 in 50 overs, largely due to a crucial 138-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Salman Ali Agha and Hussain Talat.
The innings had started shakily, with opener Saim Ayub falling early for six, dismissed by Asitha Fernando, leaving Pakistan at 14/1.
Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman added 54 runs for the second wicket to stabilize the innings, taking Pakistan to 68/1 in 17.4 overs.
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Spinner Wanindu Hasaranga then triggered a collapse, taking three wickets in quick succession.
Fakhar (32), Rizwan (5), and Babar (29) fell as Pakistan slipped to 95/4 in 23.2 overs.
At this stage, Agha and Talat took charge.
Their composed partnership brought Pakistan back into control, with both reaching half-centuries.
Talat was dismissed for 62 off 63 balls, including six fours and a six, trapped LBW by Maheesh Theekshana in the 44th over.
Agha remained unbeaten on 105 from 87 balls with nine boundaries, while Mohammad Nawaz supported with a quick 36 not out from 23 deliveries, hitting five fours and a six.
Sri Lanka’s Hasaranga was their most successful bowler, taking 3/54 in 10 overs, with Theekshana and Fernando claiming one wicket each.
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Pakistan secures victory
Pakistan secures thrilling win against Sri Lanka by 6 runs.
11:20 pm -
Sri Lanka need 21 off 6
Sri lanka need 21 off 6 balls.
Naseem Shah removes Hasaranga, leaving Sri Lanka nine down and Pakistan firmly in control.
11:16 pm -
Sri Lanka need 23 from 12
Hasaranga continues to anchor the chase with 57 off 48, while Theekshana supports with 9 off 12.
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Hasaranga reaches his fifty
Wanindu Hasaranga completes fifty with a boundary off Faheem Ashraf.
Sri Lanka now require 31 runs from the last three overs.
11:05 pm -
Faheem Ashraf takes his third
Chameera miscues a pull against Faheem Ashraf, giving the bowler a simple caught-and-bowled.
10:50 pm -
Faheem Ashraf strikes again
Kamindu Mendis falls to Faheem Ashraf’s clever slower delivery, leaving Sri Lanka seven down for 210.
10:20 pm -
Naseem Shah cleans up Janith Liyanage
Naseem Shah uproots Janith Liyanage with sharp movement, putting Pakistan firmly in control.
Sri Lanka 191-6 in 33 overs, needing 109 to win.
9:56 pm -
Asalanka departs
Nawaz removes Asalanka with a sharp stumping from Rizwan, breaking a key partnership and putting Sri Lanka under pressure.
9:50 pm -
Sri Lanka rebuilds
Sri Lanka rebuilds with a quick partnership as Asalanka and Liyanage keep the scoreboard ticking.
9:40 pm -
Babar Azam takes a stunning catch
Samarawickrama falls for 39 as Babar’s brilliant one-handed catch swings the match back in Pakistan’s favor.
9:25 pm -
Sri Lanka begins building partnership
Samarawickrama and Asalanka start settling in, looking to stabilize the innings as Sri Lanka reaches 126 for 3 after 23 overs.
9:00 pm -
Fakhar Zaman dropped Asalanka
Faheem Ashraf induced a miscued shot from Asalanka, but the chance went down as Zaman failed to take the catch. Could prove costly for Pakistan.
8:35 pm -
Pakistan maintains pressure
Pakistan bowls tightly, keeping Sri Lanka under pressure in their innings. The visitors struggle to score freely.
8:30 pm -
Haris Rauf continues his fiery spell
Haris Rauf claims his third wicket as Rizwan takes a sharp catch off Nissanka’s outside edge, putting Sri Lanka under pressure.
8:14 pm -
Haris Rauf strikes again
Haris Rauf is on a hat-trick as Kusal Mendis chops one back onto his stumps for a golden duck, leaving Sri Lanka in early trouble.
8:05 pm -
Haris Rauf strikes
Haris Rauf ends the growing partnership as Kamil Mishara mistimes one, offering a catch to Shaheen Afridi at mid-off after scoring a fluent 38 off 36 balls.
8:04 pm -
Mishara survives a scare
Kamil Mishara mistimed a pull shot off a sharp short ball from Haris Rauf, getting a top edge that narrowly evaded the bowler’s outstretched hands.
7:55 pm -
Sri Lanka off to a strong start in the powerplay
Openers Kamil Mishara and Pathum Nissanka provide a solid foundation, keeping Pakistan’s bowlers under pressure early on.
7:40 pm -
Early chance goes down
Salman Agha drops a straightforward catch at wide slip off Shaheen Afridi, giving Nissanka a lifeline early in the innings.
7:25 pm -
Pakistan posts a competitive total
Salman Ali Agha’s explosive century and Nawaz’s late hitting take Pakistan to 299 in 50 overs.
6:36 pm -
Salman Ali Agha brings up his century
Salman Ali Agha continues his rich vein of form, reaching his second ODI hundred off a blazing 83 balls.
6:22 pm -
Hussain Talat reaches maiden ODI fifty
Hussain Talat keeps Pakistan in the hunt with a composed fifty off 53 balls, building momentum for the innings.
5:40 pm -
Salman Ali Agha reaches another fifty
Salman Ali Agha scores his third fifty in his last four innings, continuing his excellent form and anchoring Pakistan’s innings with confident strokeplay.
5:24 pm -
Partnership strengthens Pakistan’s innings
Salman Agha and Hussain Talat add quick runs, keeping the scoreboard ticking.
5:20 pm -
Pakistan rebuilds
Salman Agha and Hussain Talat steady Pakistan’s innings with a composed partnership.
4:55 pm -
Hasaranga castles Babar
Babar Azam was bowled by a brilliant googly from Hasaranga that spun sharply to hit the top of off-stump, leaving Pakistan in trouble.
4:24 pm -
Rizwan trapped lbw
Rizwan misread a googly and was struck plumb in front, giving Hasaranga his second wicket.
4:10 pm -
Fakhar Zaman falls
Trying to repeat a big hit, Fakhar steps out and misses, allowing Mendis to stump him off Hasaranga’s delivery.
4:00 pm -
Babar and Fakhar steady
The duo builds a cautious second-wicket stand, reaching 46 for 1 at drinks, needing to accelerate the scoring rate.
3:45 pm -
Pakistan starts cautiously
After losing Saim Ayub early, Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman begin carefully, reaching 18 for 1 in the first eight overs.
3:18 pm -
Saim Ayub departs
Saim Ayub was trapped LBW by a toe-crushing yorker from Asitha Fernando, hitting him on the shoe with impact in line. The review confirmed the dismissal.
3:00 pm -
National Anthem
A proud moment as Pakistan players line up for the national anthem before the opening delivery, with the crowd on its feet in full voice.
2:30 pm -
Head to Head in Pakistan
In Pakistan, the two sides have played 30 ODIs, with Pakistan leading 18-12.
The last bilateral ODI series in Pakistan was in 2019, which Pakistan won 2-0.
2:25 pm -
Pitch Report
The former Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis says the surface looks great for batting, with dew likely to play a major role in the second innings.
2:20 pm -
Playing XI
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (c), Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah
2:05 pm -
Toss Update
Sri Lanka chose to bowl first, captain Charith Asalanka cites possible dew as the reason behind bowling first, confirming Hasaranga’s return and Kamil Mishara’s ODI debut.
2:00 pm -
Asalanka praises Pakistan’s hospitality
Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka appreciates the warm welcome and excellent hospitality his team has received in Pakistan.
8:00 pm -
Shaheen backs Babar
Pakistan ODI skipper Shaheen Afridi expresses faith that Babar Azam is close to ending his century drought.
7:00 pm -
Shaheen Afridi on captaincy discussions with Rizwan
Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi reveals he first spoke to Mohammad Rizwan about taking over the leadership role.
6:57 pm -
Trophy Unveiled
The trophy for the Pakistan and Sri Lanka ODI series 2025 was unveiled ahead of the opening match in Rawalpindi.
6:40 pm -
Shaheen Afridi on Hasan Nawaz's exclusion
Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi explains the reasons behind Hasan Nawaz’s exclusion from the Sri Lanka ODI series and the T20 tri-series.
6:35 pm -
Shaheen calls for collective effort
Pakistan’s ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi emphasized unity and accountability, urging every player to contribute equally instead of relying on senior names.
6:10 pm -
Tanveer urges Shaheen to stick with stable ODI lineup
Tanveer Ahmed advised ODI captain Shaheen Afridi to stop constant team changes and focus on forming a consistent, winning combination ahead of Sri Lanka series.
6:00 pm -
Head to Head in ODIs
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have faced each other in 157 ODI matches to date.
Pakistan hold an impressive lead, having won 93 matches, their best record in ODIs, while Sri Lanka have emerged victorious in 59 encounters.
However, four matches ended with no result and one was tied.
3:35 pm -
Welcome to live coverage of Pakistan vs Sri Lanka first ODI
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Pakistan vs Sri Lanka first ODI.
After ending the South Africa series on a high note by leveling the Test series 1-1, Pakistan went on to win the T20I series 2-1 and clinched the ODI series 2-1.
Pakistan is now set to face Sri Lanka in the ODI series opener at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
3:30 pm
