Pakistan batter Salman Ali Agha has created history in ODI cricket with a magnificent century against Sri Lanka in the opening match of the tri-series. His impressive knock not only helped Pakistan secure a 37-run victory but also saw him surpass former Pakistan batter Mohammad Yousuf in a significant batting record.
Agha scored 107 runs off 90 deliveries at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday, striking 10 fours and a six. His innings helped Pakistan post a competitive total of 305 in 49.5 overs before the hosts bowled out Sri Lanka to seal the win.
Salman Ali Agha Surpasses Mohammad Yousuf
Agha's century was his fourth in 54 ODIs, and a particularly notable feature of his record is that all four hundreds have come while batting at number five or lower.
With this achievement, he moved ahead of Mohammad Yousuf, who had previously held Pakistan's record with three ODI centuries from these batting positions.
Agha has scored three of his four ODI centuries at number five, achieving the feat in just 33 innings at that position, according to the supplied report. His latest performance further underlines his importance to Pakistan's middle order.
Joins the Elite Club Featuring Dhoni and Yuvraj
Agha's achievement places him among a distinguished group of international batters who have excelled while batting at number five or lower in ODIs.
According to the figures cited in the report, England's Jos Buttler and South Africa's David Miller lead the list with eight centuries each. India's MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh have seven centuries apiece at these positions.
Other notable names include AB de Villiers, Andrew Symonds, Eoin Morgan and Sikandar Raza, who have each scored six centuries.
For Agha, the milestone represents a significant step forward in his ODI career and highlights his ability to deliver substantial contributions under pressure.
Salman Agha's Century Powers Pakistan to 305
Batting first, Pakistan relied on Agha's century to build a strong total. His 107-run innings combined patience with attacking stroke play, helping the hosts maintain momentum through the middle overs.
The innings proved particularly valuable as Pakistan crossed the 300-run mark and put Sri Lanka under pressure during the chase.
Agha's performance also demonstrated the importance of middle-order batters who can rebuild an innings after early setbacks and accelerate when the situation demands it.
Sri Lanka Fight Back Before Losing Their Way
Sri Lanka began their chase with determination but found themselves struggling at 91 for four. A 119-run partnership between Janith Liyanage and Pavan Rathnayake revived their hopes and brought the visitors back into contention.
Dasun Shanaka added further impetus with a quickfire 25 off just 14 balls. At one stage, Sri Lanka needed 58 runs from the final eight overs with five wickets in hand, leaving the contest finely balanced.
However, Pakistan turned the match around with a crucial burst of wickets. The dismissals of Janith and Shanaka within four deliveries disrupted Sri Lanka's momentum.
Pakistan then dismissed the remaining five batters for just 15 runs, completing a 37-run victory.
A Memorable Day for Pakistan Cricket
Agha's century was the defining contribution of the match, giving Pakistan both a competitive total and a record-breaking individual performance.
His ability to score hundreds from the middle order has strengthened his reputation as a valuable ODI batter. By surpassing Mohammad Yousuf's national record and joining a group featuring Dhoni and Yuvraj, Agha has added another significant milestone to his international career.
For Pakistan, the victory provided a positive start to the tri-series. For Agha, it was a day when individual brilliance and team success came together.
