Sri Lanka throw away a match they should have won

Monday, 19 October 2026 03:09 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Pakistan kick-start ODI Tri-Series with 37-run win

RAWALPINDI: Sri Lanka threw away a golden chance of starting the ODI Tri-Series with a win against host Pakistan when they flung in the towel in a mad 30 minutes or so before the game finished to lose by 37 runs at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Sri Lanka were cruising to victory at one point, having made a brilliant recovery from 91-4 through a 119-run stand off 107 balls by Pavan Rathnayake (79 off 74 balls, 6 fours, 2 sixes) and Janith Liyanage (60 off 74 balls, 5 fours). They needed 82 off 60 balls and then the equation came down to 58 off 48 balls. With Sri Lanka needing seven an over with five wickets in hand, it was easily gettable, but the shot selections of Rathnayake, Liyanage, and Dasun Shanaka and the way they threw away their wickets in crunch moments, were simply unbearable. The frustration signal by Head Coach Gary Kirsten said it all. Sri Lanka were eventually all out for 268 in the 49th over chasing Pakistan’s total of 305.

Pakistan looked like getting 330 and beyond, but Sri Lanka executed their death bowling pretty well – just 26 runs given away in the final five overs and picking up five wickets in that same period. Salman Agha couldn’t stretch much beyond his well-crafted 107 off 90 balls (10 fours, 1 six), during which he put on stands of 97 off 93 balls and 64 off 46 balls with Hasan Nawaz (37) and Arafat Minhas (18). Agha really paced his innings well and ensured that Sri Lanka never got a grip in the middle overs. But once Agha fell close to the death, the wheels came off for Pakistan as Eshan Malinga in particular showcased his death bowling prowess to end with figures of 4/46.

Player of the Match Agha’s knock was pivotal in helping Pakistan revive a flagging innings after they lost Babar Azam and debutant Saad Baig in quick succession, following a promising third-wicket stand of 74 off 83 balls. On a good batting track, Sri Lanka’s bowlers did well to not let Pakistan’s batters run free, even if they were punished at times for the lack of a genuine fifth bowling option.