Sawt Falasteen - Agha hundred lifts Pakistan to 299-5 in 1st Sri Lanka ODI

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.

Talat was finally dismissed in the 44th over, having hit a six and six fours in his maiden ODI fifty.

Agha struck nine boundaries, helping Pakistan add 104 in the last 10 overs alongside Mohammad Nawaz who scored a brisk 23-ball 36 not out.

It was pacer Asitha Fernando who provided the tourists a breakthrough in the fifth over when he trapped opener Saim Ayub leg-before for six.

Fakhar Zaman (32) and Babar Azam (29) added 54 runs for the second wicket as Pakistan crawled to 28 in the first 10 overs and finally reached 50 in the 16th.

Hasaranga then produced a 16-ball spell of destruction, removing Zaman, Azam and Mohammad Rizwan (five).

Sri Lanka must chase down a target of 300 to take the lead in the three-match series.

A.AlHaj--SF-PST