PAK VS SL 1ST ODI

Right then, that’s all from this entertaining contest. Pakistan take a 1-0 lead in the series and will look to wrap it up in the next game, while Sri Lanka will be eager to bounce back and take it to a decider. The action resumes here in Rawalpindi for the 2nd ODI on 13th November, Thursday, starting at 9.30 am GMT. Do join us early for all the build-up and pre-match excitement. Until then, take care and goodbye!

Shaheen Afridi, the victorious skipper of Pakistan, says that he is happy with the performance of his team. He continues by praising the partnership between Salman Agha and Hussain Talat. He adds that it's because of them that they were able to put a target of 300 on the board. Mentions that they should minimise the dot ball percentage in the Powerplay in their batting inning. Also credits Haris Rauf and reckons that Rauf is a natural wicket-taker for their side. Ends up saying that it was an awesome catch by Babar Azam at the slips.

Charith Asalanka, the captain of Sri Lanka, says that they bowled really well in the first 20 overs or so. Adds that after that, they were a bit inconsistent but credits Salman and Talat for the way they batted. Mentions that they conceded a few too many, as he thought they could have restricted Pakistan to 260-270, as this was not a 300 wicket. Says that, including him, a few of the batters made some bad decisions, and they lost a lot of wickets in the middle, but Rauf also bowled very well at the same time. Ends by saying that Wanindu Hasaranga is a key player for him and he has been contributing with both bat and ball, and hopes that he continues to do so for the team.

Salman Agha is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his superb hundred. He says that he played one ball at a time, and that is the reason he succeeded in scoring big runs. He also reckons that his partnership with him and Hussain Talat was important for his team. He also adds that running between the wickets was the main highlight of their partnership, as they kept on with their singles and doubles to keep the scoreboard ticking. Ends up saying that he knew that they could score 100 runs in the last 10 overs, as they have finishers like Mohammad Nawaz, so they just tried to take the game deep, and it worked.

Presentation Time...

Pakistan’s new-ball duo, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, struggled to find their rhythm early on, conceding plenty of runs and extras that made life easy for the batters. It was also the fourth straight game where they failed to take a wicket in the first Powerplay. However, Haris Rauf turned things around brilliantly, striking three times in back-to-back overs to bring Pakistan right back into the contest. He later broke a threatening stand as well, aided by a superb catch from Babar Azam. Naseem Shah had a rough outing but finished strongly with a couple of key wickets, including the big one of Hasaranga, while Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Nawaz chipped in with crucial strikes to help Pakistan just edge over the line. Still, there are a few areas they’ll want to tidy up before the next match.

Earlier in the game, Pakistan put up an impressive total, though it wasn’t all smooth going early on. The top order struggled to get going, but Salman Agha once again stood tall with a superb unbeaten 107 off 87 balls. He found a reliable partner in Hussain Talat, who notched up his maiden ODI fifty, and the pair added a vital 138-run stand to steady the innings. Mohammad Nawaz then provided the late flourish to take the score close to 300. For Sri Lanka, Wanindu Hasaranga was the standout with three wickets, while Maheesh Theekshana and Asitha Fernando took one each, but they’ll rue the missed LBW on Talat at 95 for 4 - a moment that proved decisive once their reviews were gone.

Skipper Charith Asalanka, after surviving an early chance, combined well with Sadeera Samarawickrama to steady the innings with a solid 57-run stand, but Babar Azam produced a stunning catch at first slip to swing the momentum back Pakistan’s way. Asalanka and Janith Liyanage kept the chase alive with smart rotation and timely boundaries, but a rush of blood saw the skipper throw his wicket away, leaving the visitors under pressure. Liyanage soon fell to a peach from Naseem Shah, and with Kamindu Mendis failing to make an impact, it looked doomed for the Lankans. However, Wanindu Hasaranga was not going to go down without a fight and batted superbly to keep them alive in the chase, scoring an excellent fifty, but he fell for 59 at the wrong time with them still needing 21 runs. Maheesh Theekshana's couple of lusty blows got them within touching distance, but they ultimately fell short by just 6 runs.

Sri Lanka got off to a flying start, capitalizing on some erratic bowling from Pakistan and positive intent from Pathum Nissanka and debutant Kamil Mishara, who looked in fine touch. The pair added 85 runs for the opening stand, putting the visitors in control early on. However, once the field restrictions were lifted, things quickly unraveled - both openers fell soon after, and with Kusal Mendis departing for a golden duck, Sri Lanka suddenly slipped from 85 for 0 to 90 for 3, finding themselves needing to rebuild all over again.

A thriller to kick off the ODI series in Pindi! Pakistan draw first blood, but they had to fight hard to cross the finish line. In a game that swung both ways, the hosts just held their nerve better in the crunch moments. Cricket can be cruel at times - Wanindu Hasaranga’s all-round brilliance nearly pulled off a famous win for Sri Lanka, but in the end, it was a case of so close, yet so far.

Not the ending Sri Lanka hoped to get, but kudos to the lower middle order to stay in the game! A slower delivery to end the inning, on middle. Maheesh Theekshana punches it hard just toward the right of the bowler. Talat looks to hop and take the catch but fails to get any hands on it. The ball rolls toward long on and the batter gets a brace. Pakistan win the encounter by 6 runs and take the 1-0 lead to the series.

Excellent bowling from Hussain Talat! He bowls it fuller, just outside off. Maheesh Theekshana shuffles across the stump to scoop it away but misses to have any connection on his blade and thumps his pad.

FOUR! 9 required off the last two deliveries! Two boundaries and we will go into a super over! Full-length delivery outside off. Maheesh Theekshana swings his willow and gets the outer edge. The ball zips between the gap of the backward point and the short third fielders for another boundary.

FOUR! 13 needed of three balls with the boundary! Good-length delivery, on off and middle. Maheesh Theekshana opens his stance and muscles it toward the right of the diving long on fielder to get four more runs.

WiIDE! Similar delivery! Pitched up and outside off, not inside the guideline. Maheesh Theekshana moves across again but misses it. Wided again. Talat is not happy with the call. 17 needed in 4 balls!

WIDE! Goes fuller but way, way outside off, Maheesh Theekshana steps across to slog it but fails to reach it. Called a wide.

Slower short of a length, well wide outside off. Maheesh Theekshana looks to go big but misses.

On a length on off and middle. Maheesh Theekshana mistimes his heave across the line toward to square leg.