Two moments of madness cost Sri Lanka as Pakistan win tri-series opener after Salman Ali Agha century

Sri Lanka were cruising. Only 53 runs stood between them and a flying start in the One-day International tri-series opener against Pakistan after Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage’s 119-run stand. The dew that made the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium outfield relentlessly slick on Sunday night had also deprived Pakistan’s pacers of the chance to extract reverse swing from the old ball. Then came two moments of madness. Liyanage, who had looked composed throughout his innings, chipped Haris Rauf casually to Babar Azam at long-on before Dasun Shanaka, who had threatened to take the game away from Pakistan, heaved Shaheen Shah Afridi to the same fielder in the same position. In the space of four balls, Sri Lanka unravelled.

Naseem Shah then had Sachindu Colombage caught behind, Eshan Malinga was run out after a mix-up, and Haris cleaned up Asitha Fernando to seal a 37-run win for Pakistan, who had earlier posted 305 thanks to Salman Ali Agha’s third ODI century. Salman celebrated his return to the Pakistan side after his unceremonious axing from the Test team two months ago with a composed 107 off 90 balls, including 10 fours and a six. Pakistan’s innings, however, finished with a flourish from Sri Lanka’s bowlers, who conceded only 36 runs while taking five wickets in the last five overs. Eshan Malinga led the charge with figures of 4-46. After openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub fell to Dilshan Madushanka, Babar Azam and Saad Baig steadied the innings with a 74-run partnership for the third wicket. Malinga broke through by bouncing out Babar for 45 and Saad for 39, bringing Salman and Hasan Nawaz together. The pair added 97, with Salman gradually increasing the tempo after initially settling in. He brought up his half-century in the 35th over, rotating the strike and…