Agha and Rauf shine as Pakistan eke out thrilling victory in 1st ODI

Lanka put up a spirited performance despite an early setback, but failed to get over the line and fell short by six runs. With the victory, Pakistan took a vital I-O lead in the 3-match series

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Riding on scintillating century by Salman Agha, Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by six runs in the first match of the ODI series in Rawalpindi on Tuesday.

After posting a fighting total of 299/5, Pakistan restricted Lanka to 293/9 in their allotted 50 overs. Harris Rauf was the pick of the bowlers as he took 4/61 to help Pakistan eke out a narrow win.

Lanka put up a spirited performance despite an early setback, but failed to get over the line and fell short by six runs with the victory, Pakistan took a vital lead of IO in the three-match series.

Earlier, Agha cracked a brilliant century to lead Pakistan to 299-5 in the opening one-day international.

The match went ahead despite a suicide attack just a few miles from the stadium in the twin city of Islamabad, which killed at least 12 people and left several injured.

The Pakistan Cricket Board said security around the visiting team had been increased following the attack.

Agha scored an unbeaten 105 off 87 balls for his second ODI century while Hussain Talat made 62, lifting the home team from a precarious 95-4 after they were sent in to bat.

Sri Lanka spinner Wanindu Hasaranga had jolted the home team with figures of 3-54, before Agha and Talat added 138 for the fifth wicket to revive the innings.