Cricket
Pakistan began their men’s ODI tri series with a 37 run victory over Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 18. Salman Agha made 107 from 90 balls as the hosts reached 305 all out in 49.5 overs. Sri Lanka were then dismissed for 268 in 48.1 overs. ThePapare’s October 18 report confirms the completed result, which replaces the earlier preview of the tournament opener. Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis had won the toss and chosen to field.
Agha’s innings included ten fours and one six, while Eshan Malinga led Sri Lanka’s bowling with four wickets for 46 runs. Asitha Fernando took three for 59. ESPNcricinfo’s innings report explains the importance of the recovery: Pakistan had been 118 for four before Agha helped rebuild through substantial partnerships with Hasan Nawaz and Arafat Minhas. The century therefore did more than decorate an already secure total.
It gave Pakistan a defendable target after the early wickets, although Sri Lanka’s bowlers continued taking wickets late in the innings and prevented the hosts from using every delivery of their allocated fifty overs.
Sri Lanka’s reply contained a meaningful recovery of its own. Sky Sports’ scorecard records the visitors at 91 for four before Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage carried the total to 210 for five. ThePapare reports that their fifth wicket partnership contributed 119 runs from 107 deliveries. Rathnayake finished with 79 from 74 balls and Liyanage made 60 from the same number of deliveries.
Their work kept the chase competitive, but it did not become a successful pursuit of 306. Sky’s fall of wickets shows Liyanage departing at 253 for six, followed by Dasun Shanaka at 256 for seven, before the innings ended at 268. Shaheen Shah Afridi finished with three for 55, while Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf each took two wickets. The scorecard distinguishes wickets from the run out that also contributed to the total dismissals.
As cricket analysis, this was a match in which both sides recovered from four early losses, but Pakistan combined the larger individual innings with enough late wickets to protect their advantage. Sri Lanka’s middle order contribution remains significant despite the losing result.
The result starts a longer competition rather than settling the trophy. The Pakistan Cricket Board’s October 14 media advisory confirms a double round robin followed by a final, with England completing the three team field. Rawalpindi hosts the first three matches on October 18, 20 and 22. The programme then moves to Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for the remaining league games on October 25, 27 and 29 and the final on October 31.
Pakistan next face England on October 20, while Sri Lanka meet England on October 22. The board’s October 17 announcement sets match starts at 1:00 pm Pakistan time, which converts to 1:45 pm Nepal time, and tosses half an hour earlier. It describes the series as preparation for the next ODI World Cup.
That purpose should be kept separate from the preceding Pakistan versus Sri Lanka T20 series and the later Test programme, which are different competitions. For cricket followers in Nepal, the immediate takeaway is a confirmed opening win and two substantial batting recoveries to discuss before England enter the tournament.
One completed league match does not determine the finalists, and no Nepal broadcast entitlement or future team selection is established by this result.
Source publication date: 2026-08-19. Event or reporting period: 2026-10-18 opener; remaining tri series October 20 to 31.
Sources:ThePapare, Kanishka Sanjeewa, October 18 completed match report and original featured image · Sky Sports, completed Rawalpindi ODI scorecard, October 18 · ESPNcricinfo, Danyal Rasool, October 18 first innings report · PCB, official October 14 media advisory, competition structure and venues · PCB, official October 17 announcement, start times and World Cup preparation; indexed text verified
Source: GPT News Feed
