Rawalpindi: Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 37 runs in the opening match of the ODI tri series, which also features England, at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Batting first after Sri Lanka elected to field, Pakistan were bowled out for 305 in 50 overs. Salman Agha led the innings with 107 off 90 balls, registering his fourth one day international century.

Pakistan lost four wickets by the 22nd over, leaving the middle order to rebuild. Babar Azam scored 45 before falling to Eshan Malinga, while Saad Baig joined Babar in a 74 run partnership before being dismissed.

Salman steadied the innings through partnerships with Hasan Nawaz and Arafat Minhas. He shared 97 runs with Nawaz for the fifth wicket and added 64 with Minhas for the sixth.

Sri Lanka's bowlers restricted Pakistan's progress in the closing overs. Malinga finished with four wickets for 46 runs, while Asitha Fernando took three for 59. Pakistan's lower order lost wickets in quick succession before Shaheen Shah Afridi's late contribution helped the hosts pass 300.

Sri Lanka began their chase by losing four wickets as Pakistan's bowlers maintained pressure during the opening overs. Naseem Shah dismissed Avishka Fernando, while Afridi claimed three wickets, finishing with figures of 3 for 55.

Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage then put Sri Lanka back in contention with a 119 run fifth wicket partnership. Rathnayake scored 79, while Liyanage made 60, bringing the required total down to 55 runs from the final seven overs.

Pakistan regained control when Haris Rauf dismissed Liyanage. Afridi removed Dasun Shanaka in the following over, and Sri Lanka lost their final five wickets for 15 runs.

The visitors were bowled out for 268, handing Pakistan a 37 run victory. The result gives the hosts an opening win in the three team competition.

Pakistan will next seek to build on the result as the tri series continues, with England also competing in the tournament.