Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 37 runs in the opening ODI of the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 18 Oct 2026. Sri Lanka chose to bowl first and were bowled out for 268 in 48.1 overs, replying to Pakistan's 305 all out in 49.5 overs.
Salman Agha anchored the Pakistan innings with 107 from 90 balls, hitting 10 fours and 1 six before he was caught by Shanaka off Asitha Fernando. Babar Azam made 45 from 57 balls and Saad Baig added 39 from 40. Eshan Malinga was Sri Lanka's leading bowler with 4 for 46 from 9.5 overs, including Naseem Shah lbw at 293/9. Asitha Fernando took 3 for 59 from 10 overs. The innings closed at 305/10 when Haris Rauf was run out.
Sri Lanka lost Avishka Fernando to Naseem Shah with the score on 30/1, and were 91/4 after Shaheen Shah Afridi removed Kamindu Mendis for 44 and Sahan Arachchige for 3. Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage then rebuilt the chase until Rathnayake fell for 79 from 74 balls, caught by Salman Agha off Faheem Ashraf at 210/5.
Liyanage made 60 from 74 balls before Haris Rauf had him caught by Babar Azam at 253/6. Dasun Shanaka struck 28 from 18 balls, but Sri Lanka slipped from 253/6 to 260/9, and Haris Rauf bowled Asitha Fernando to end the match at 268/10.
Shaheen Shah Afridi finished with 3 for 55 from 10 overs and Naseem Shah took 2 for 43 from 10. Faheem Ashraf accounted for Kusal Mendis and Rathnayake, and also held two catches.
