Eshan Malinga Bowled Spell Stuns Babar Azam as PAK Struggles at 106/3 in 20 overs

RAWALPINDI: A disciplined bowling performance from Sri Lanka has left the hosts on the back foot early in the opening match of the highly anticipated PAK vs SL ODI Tri-series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. 

Opting to bowl first on a surface offering decent assistance to the seamers, the Sri Lankan attack justified their captain’s decision by making regular inroads. Consequently, PAK struggles at 106/ in 20 overs, leaving the middle order with a steep mountain to climb to rescue the innings.

The home side's innings began on a shaky note under overcast skies. Young opener Saim Ayub was the first to depart, falling early to the left-arm swing of Dilshan Madushanka for just 7 runs. Fakhar Zaman threatened to break the shackles with a couple of boundaries, but his stay was cut short on 16 when he mistimed a delivery straight to mid-on.

The early wickets forced talisman Babar Azam to play a cautious anchoring role. Babar looked elegant, crafting a steady 45 runs off 57 balls, and appeared set for a trademark half-century. However, just as Pakistan seemed to be consolidating, the introduction of youngster Ehsan Malinga turned the tide.

Malinga, bowling with great hostility and probing lengths, consistently troubled the Pakistani batters with his extra pace. He broke the crucial partnership by extracting an edge from Babar Azam, a massive breakthrough that sent shockwaves through the Rawalpindi crowd.

Following the big dismissal, wicketkeeper-batsman Saad Baig joined the experienced Salman Ali Agha at the crease. Facing an uphill task, the duo tried to repair the damage. Baig showed immense composure on his debut, hitting a few boundaries to push Pakistan past the 100-run milestone.

Despite a late flurry of runs in the 19th and 20th overs, Sri Lanka remained firmly in control. The discipline maintained by the visitors ensured that the hosts could not exploit the powerplay or the subsequent field restrictions effectively.

As the first block of 20 overs concluded, the scoreboard painted a clear picture of Sri Lankan dominance. With Pakistan sitting uncomfortably at 106/3, the onus now falls entirely on the middle order to rebuild and post a competitive total in this crucial tournament opener.