RAWALPINDI: Pakistan beat Sri Lanka in the Opening match of the 3 ODI series at Rawalpindi with a narrow margin of just six runs.
Chasing a target of 300 runs , Sri Lanka could manage 293 for 9 in the allotted 50 overs.
The Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka won the toss and chose to bowl first.
Pakistan had to suffer an early loss when the opener Saim Ayub was dismissed after scoring just six runs.
Fakhar Zaman build up a partnership of 52 runs for the second wicket but he too was out after making a struggling 32 runs knock on 55 balls.
Mohammad Rizwan too got dismissed for just 5 runs to his name.
Babar Azam was the next man to dismissed after scoring 29 runs off 51 balls.
Pakistan were struggling at one stage when they had lost 4 wickets with just 95 runs on the board.
But then Salman Ali Agha and Hussian Talat took the charge at the crease and built up a 137 runs partnership.
Hussain got out after a well-made 63 ball-62 runs. Salman Ali Agha went on to make his second in the ODI.
He accelerated the score with Mohammad Nawaz and the pair another 66 runs to the total with both remaining unbeaten.
Salman scored 105 runs off just 87 balls and Nawaz too made quick fired 36 runs off just 23 balls.
Pakistan finished at 299/5 in their allotted 50 overs.
Sri Lanka got of to a great start and their opener made 85 runs opening stand.
Mishara scored 38 and 29 runs respectively. Samarawickrama and Nissanka scored 39 and 32 runs knock.
At one stage , things looked comfortable when Sri Lanka had lost 7 wickets with just 210 runs on the board.
However, the Hassaranga played a fine knock of 59 runs and gave his side a hope of a runs-chase.
Theekshana also scored a not out 21 runs innings, In the end, Sri Lanka feel just 6 runs shot of Pakistan’s total and allowed the hosts to run away with a 6 runs win.
Haris Rauf bowled a terrific spell once again and secured 4 wickets. Naseem Shah and Faheem Ashraf picked up two wickets each.
Pakistan now lead the series 1-0.
