Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI Highlights: Pakistan Claim a Thrilling Win by 6 Runs
Cricket returned to Rawalpindi with a bang as Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI Pakistan win by 6 Runs in the 1st ODI of the 2025 series, setting the tone for what promises to be a tightly contested battle.
Pakistan posted 299/5, powered by Salman Ali Agha’s 105 and Hussain Talat’s 62. Sri Lanka fought back, led by Wanindu Hasaranga’s all-round brilliance, but a middle-order collapse and Haris Rauf’s crucial wickets restricted them to 293/9. Pakistan held on for a thrilling 6-run win, giving them a strong start to the series.
1. The Toss and Conditions: Strategy from the Start
Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis won the toss and chose to field first, expecting dew under lights to help the chase. Rawalpindi’s pitch offered good bounce and true carry — a surface ideal for stroke play once set, but with something early for seamers.
The decision seemed justified early on as Pakistan’s top order looked tentative against Sri Lanka’s disciplined bowling. But, as often happens, one partnership changed everything.
The conditions remained balanced throughout — new-ball swing early, slow turn later, and a slight dew factor in the final overs. Pakistan’s bowlers, however, adapted better in the second innings, holding their nerve when it mattered most.
2. Pakistan’s Innings: From Early Trouble to a Commanding Total
Early Stumbles: Powerplay Woes Continue
Pakistan’s openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub once again struggled to convert their starts. The pair managed only 38 runs in the first 10 overs, with both batters dismissed soon after. Fakhar, in particular, fell to a short delivery from Dilshan Madushanka, mistiming his pull to midwicket.
At 76/3 by the 20th over, Pakistan’s innings looked vulnerable. Sri Lanka’s bowlers — led by Kasun Rajitha and Wanindu Hasaranga — controlled the tempo. The early wickets meant the hosts needed a rebuild, and that’s exactly when the game began to turn.
Late Flourish: Pakistan Cross the 290 Barrier
With 10 overs to go, Pakistan shifted gears. The duo of Mohammad Nawaz (28 not out off 18) and Agha smashed 60 runs in the final five overs. Their aggression in the death overs ensured Pakistan reached 299/5 — a total that looked just above par on a good batting wicket.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers, who had kept things under control for most of the innings, faltered in the death. Misfields and overthrows added crucial extra runs.
Score Summary – Pakistan Innings
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salman Ali Agha | 105 | 87 | 10 | 2 |
| Hussain Talat | 62 | 63 | 6 | 1 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 28* | 18 | 3 | 1 |
| Fakhar Zaman | 32 | 41 | 3 | 0 |
| Saim Ayub | 14 | 19 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 299/5 (50 overs) |
3. Sri Lanka’s Chase: A Battle of Nerves
Explosive Start: The Lankan Fireworks
Sri Lanka came out swinging. Their openers Pathum Nissanka (47 off 44) and Kamil Mishara (42 off 39) launched a blistering attack against Pakistan’s new ball bowlers.
They reached 85/0 in just 11 overs, punishing Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah for poor line and length.
Afridi, in particular, struggled to find his rhythm, conceding boundaries to both sides of the wicket.
At that stage, the visitors looked in total control, requiring just 215 more with all wickets intact. But then, as so often happens in cricket, momentum swung drastically.
Middle Overs Collapse: Haris Rauf’s Game-Changing Spell
Pakistan’s comeback began with Haris Rauf. Introduced in the 14th over, he bowled with raw pace and intent, removing Nissanka with a sharp bouncer that took the glove. His energy lifted the team.
Within six overs, Rauf dismissed Kamil Mishara and Sadeera Samarawickrama, breaking Sri Lanka’s backbone. His spell of 3 wickets for 18 runs in 5 overs completely shifted the dynamics.
From 85/0, Sri Lanka suddenly found themselves at 120/4. The middle order, including Charith Asalanka and Dhananjaya de Silva, failed to consolidate.
Pakistan’s spinners — Mohammad Nawaz and Usama Mir — tightened the screws, bowling economical spells that forced errors.
Hasaranga’s Counter-Attack: Hope Rekindled
When all seemed lost at 202/7 in the 38th over, Wanindu Hasaranga entered with fire. Displaying fearless stroke play, he smashed boundaries at will, bringing the equation down to 47 needed off 24 balls.
Hasaranga’s knock of 59 off 52 balls included 4 fours and 3 sixes — a thrilling blend of power and finesse. His aggression unsettled Pakistan’s bowlers and reignited hopes for Sri Lanka.
But Pakistan’s fielders held firm. Nawaz dropped a tough catch in the deep, but Rauf’s yorkers in the penultimate over left Sri Lanka needing 21 from 6 balls.
The Final Over Drama
With 21 required off the last over, Sri Lanka still had a slim chance. Faheem Ashraf was handed the ball — a bold call by captain Babar Azam.
Ball 1: Dot. A perfect yorker, narrowly missing the off stump.
Ball 2: Four! Hasaranga drills it through cover.
Ball 3: Single.
Ball 4: Four! A thick outside edge races past third man.
Ball 5: Dot ball – an excellent slower delivery.
Ball 6: Two runs.
Sri Lanka finished six runs short of victory, their gallant chase ending at 293/9.
4. Bowling Analysis: Pakistan’s Fightback
Haris Rauf – The Game Breaker
Rauf’s performance (4/61) was the heartbeat of Pakistan’s defense. His ability to mix pace, bounce, and yorkers under pressure turned the game when Sri Lanka were cruising.
Faheem Ashraf – Calm in Chaos
Tasked with bowling the final over, Faheem delivered under immense pressure. His variation and accuracy ensured Pakistan held on by the slimmest of margins.
Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah – Off-Color Start
Both struggled with line and rhythm early, conceding 60+ runs each. However, their comeback in the death overs added crucial dot balls that prevented a Sri Lankan finish.
Mohammad Nawaz – Containment Specialist
Nawaz bowled 10 overs for just 47 runs, keeping things tight in the middle overs. His accuracy forced mistakes and maintained scoreboard pressure.
5. Sri Lanka’s Bowling Highlights
Wanindu Hasaranga – The Lone Warrior
With figures of 3/54 and a quickfire 59, Hasaranga was easily Sri Lanka’s standout player. His variations troubled Pakistan’s batters, and his batting almost pulled off a stunning win.
Kasun Rajitha and Madushanka
Both bowled tight new-ball spells but lacked support in the death overs. Their inability to execute yorkers allowed Pakistan to cross 290.
Fielding and Catches
Sri Lanka’s ground fielding was sharp, but two dropped catches — one of Salman Agha on 78 and another of Nawaz late on — cost them dearly.
6. Turning Points of the Match
Agha–Talat Partnership (138 Runs) – Stabilized Pakistan’s innings and laid the foundation.
Haris Rauf’s Triple Strike – Dismantled Sri Lanka’s chase momentum between overs 15–25.
Hasaranga’s Late Assault – Nearly stole the match from Pakistan.
Final Over Composure by Faheem Ashraf – Sealed the game with calm execution under pressure.
7. Player of the Match – Salman Ali Agha
Agha’s 105 (87) was a defining innings, blending maturity with controlled aggression. Coming in when Pakistan were wobbling, he showed adaptability and confidence against both pace and spin.
His calculated acceleration post-30 overs transformed Pakistan’s total from modest to competitive. His performance earned him the Player of the Match award.
9. Statistical Highlights
Pakistan’s 299/5 is their highest ODI total at Rawalpindi in the last four years.
Salman Ali Agha’s century was his maiden in ODIs.
Haris Rauf now has 50 ODI wickets in 32 matches.
Wanindu Hasaranga’s all-round show (59 & 3/54) was his best ODI performance in 18 months.
Sri Lanka’s 293/9 marked their fourth-highest unsuccessful chase against Pakistan.
10. Key Lessons for Both Teams
Pakistan
Positive: Middle-order resilience and ability to defend tight totals.
Improvement: Must take wickets with the new ball and avoid leaking runs early.
Tactics: Rotation of bowlers worked, but top-order consistency remains a concern.
Sri Lanka
Positive: Aggressive opening partnership and Hasaranga’s brilliance.
Improvement: Need more contributions from middle order.
Tactics: Should reassess death bowling plans and batting depth.
11. What This Win Means for Pakistan
This win gives Pakistan a 1–0 lead in the three-match series and much-needed confidence after recent inconsistency in ODIs.
More importantly, it shows Pakistan’s growing ability to win tight games, a quality often missing in the past.
The combination of young energy and experienced heads — with Salman, Talat, Rauf, and Nawaz stepping up — gives this team balance and belief heading into the second ODI.
12. Outlook for the Series
The second ODI in Lahore will be pivotal. Sri Lanka will come out hard, desperate to level the series. Pakistan, on the other hand, will look to seal the series early and possibly experiment with their lineup.
Expect another close contest — Sri Lanka’s fearless approach combined with Pakistan’s unpredictable flair guarantees entertainment.
Conclusion
The Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI 2025 was a thriller that reminded cricket fans why ODIs still matter. It had everything — high-quality batting, bowling drama and a nail-biting finish.
As both teams regroup for the next battle, fans can expect more fireworks — because if this opening game is any indication, the rest of the series promises even greater drama and intensity.
Written By The Cricket Show
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