RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s talented middle-order batter Salman Ali Agha opened up about his remarkable unbeaten century that guided Pakistan to a thrilling six-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first ODI.
Batting first, Pakistan posted an impressive 299/5 in their allotted 50 overs. In reply, Sri Lanka showed great resilience but eventually fell short, finishing at 293/9, handing Pakistan a narrow yet vital win.
The turning point of the match came through a sensational 138-run partnership between Salman Ali Agha and Hussain Talat for the fifth wicket. Their stand revived Pakistan after an early wobble and set up a strong total.
Salman played a commanding knock, scoring an unbeaten 105 off just 87 balls, laced with nine boundaries. His partner, Hussain Talat, contributed a valuable 62 off 63 deliveries, which included six fours and a towering six.
For Sri Lanka, Wanindu Hasaranga was the pick of the bowlers, claiming three wickets, while Asitha Fernando and Maheesh Theekshana took one each.
Speaking after the match, Salman Ali Agha praised his partnership with Hussain Talat and shared insights into their approach under pressure.
“I just wanted to stay present and play each ball on its merit. The partnership with Hussain really set the tone for us. We were under pressure, but our focus was on taking the game forward,” said Salman.
He further explained how the duo balanced aggression with smart running between the wickets:
“It wasn’t easy against the new ball, but we focused on rotating strike and picking up singles and twos. That running was the real strength of our partnership.”
The centurion also shed light on the team’s strategy for the final phase of the innings, emphasizing Pakistan’s deep batting lineup:
“After 35 overs, Hussain and I were well set. We planned to accelerate, aiming for 7-8 runs per over till the 40th. With Nawaz and Faheem to follow, we knew we could reach around 100 in the last ten overs.”
With this victory, Pakistan took a 1-0 lead in the ODI series. The second ODI between the two teams will be played on November 13 at the same venue in Rawalpindi.
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