Salman Ali Agha joins elite list featuring MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh with record ODI feat | Cricket News

Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha, left, celebrates with Hasan Nawaz (AP/PTI)

Salman Ali Agha made a significant addition to Pakistan’s ODI record books with a century against Sri Lanka in the opening match of the ongoing tri-series, becoming the country’s most prolific centurion among batters who have regularly featured at No. 5 or lower.The former Pakistan T20I captain struck 107 off 90 balls, including 10 fours and a six, to help the hosts post 305 in 49.5 overs at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Pakistan went on to register a 37-run victory after Sri Lanka suffered a dramatic collapse late in their chase.The hundred was Agha’s fourth in 54 ODIs for Pakistan, with all four coming while batting at No. 5 or lower. His latest effort took him past former Pakistan batter Mohammad Yousuf, with whom he had previously shared the national record for the most ODI centuries from those positions.Yousuf scored three hundreds while batting at No. 5 or lower in ODIs. Between 1998 and 2009, he played 114 matches in those positions, establishing himself as one of Pakistan’s most accomplished batters.Agha has now moved ahead of him, with three of his four ODI centuries coming specifically at No. 5. He has achieved that feat in just 33 matches batting in the position, making him the first Pakistani to score three ODI hundreds at No. 5.Before Agha, Yousuf was the only Pakistan batter to have scored multiple ODI centuries at that position, registering two hundreds in 84 matches at No. 5.While Agha has established a new Pakistan record, the overall mark for the most ODI centuries scored at No. 5 or lower remains with England’s Jos Buttler and South Africa’s David Miller.

Most ODI 100s as a No. 5 or lower batter

Both have eight hundreds in those positions. India’s MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh finished their ODI careers with seven centuries apiece, while AB de Villiers, Andrew Symonds, Eoin Morgan and Sikandar Raza have six each.Agha’s latest achievement further underlined his growing importance to Pakistan’s middle order, with his century providing the foundation for a competitive total in the series opener.

Pakistan capitalise on Sri Lanka’s late collapse

Agha’s contribution proved decisive as Pakistan held their nerve to secure the win after Sri Lanka had mounted a strong recovery during the chase.Sri Lanka had slipped to 91/4 in the 20th over but rebuilt their innings through Janith and Pavan Rathnayake, who combined for a 119-run partnership. The increasing dew also appeared to make batting easier, allowing the pair to revive their side’s hopes.Dasun Shanaka added momentum with an attacking 25 off 14 balls. With five wickets still in hand, Sri Lanka needed just 58 runs from the final eight overs and looked well placed to complete the chase.However, the game turned sharply when Janith and Shanaka were dismissed within four deliveries. Pakistan seized the opportunity, removing Sri Lanka’s final five batters for just 15 runs to seal a 37-run victory.Sri Lanka coach Gary Kirsten was visibly frustrated by the manner in which his side surrendered its position after fighting back into contention.Earlier, Agha had also received valuable support from Pakistan’s lower order. He added 97 runs for the fifth wicket with Hasan Nawaz, who scored 37 off 49 balls, before another 64-run stand with Arafat Minhas, who contributed 18 off 15 deliveries.