Pakistan beats Sri Lanka by 6 runs in ODI series opener despite Hasaranga’s efforts

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan survived Wanindu Hasaranga’s countercharge with the bat to edge out Sri Lanka by six runs Tuesday in the opener of their three-match one-day international series.

Hasaranga nearly pulled off the win with 59 off 52 balls before perishing in the penultimate over as Pakistan hung on to restrict the visitors to 293-9.

Salman Ali Agha’s unbeaten 105 off 87 balls had earlier propelled Pakistan to 299-5 after Hasaranga's three-wicket burst had left the home team struggling at 95-4 in the 24th over.

The victory extended Pakistan’s ODI momentum under new captain Shaheen Shah Afridi after a 2-1 series win over South Africa last week.

Pakistan fast bowlers found it tough to control the wet ball because of heavy dew at the Pindi Cricket Stadium as Sri Lanka openers — debutant Kamil Mishara (38) and Pathum Nissanka (29) — provided a rollicking start of 85 off 70 balls.

But fast bowler Haris Rauf (4-61) picked up three quick wickets when he had Mishara caught at mid-on and the next ball Kusal Mendis played the pacer back onto his stumps.

Sri Lanka slipped to 90-3 in Rauf’s next over when he found the outside edge of Nissanka before Sadeera Samarawickrama (39) and captain Charith Asalanka (32) put the chase back on track with a 57-run stand as Afridi kept the pacers going with the wet ball.

Rauf then returned and broke the threatening stand in the 27th over when Babar Azam plucked a superb one-handed catch in the first slip to dismiss Samarawickrama, and left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz had Asalanka stumped in the 32nd over with Sri Lanka still needing 107 for victory.

Hasaranga, who walked in the 34th over, dug in with the tailenders and completed his half-century off 45 balls before he holed out to long-on while going for a big hit against Naseem Shah in the 49th over.

With 21 needed off the final over, Maheesh Theekhsana (21) further reduced the target to nine off the final two balls when he smashed Hussain Talat for two successive boundaries, before the fast bowler hung in for the final two deliveries to deny Sri Lanka victory.

The new ball pair of Asitha Fernando and Dushmantha Chameera bowled superbly in the powerplay that saw Pakistan crawling to 28-1 with Fernando pinning Saim Ayub lbw through a successful review.

Babar Azam (29) struggled before getting off the mark of his 13th ball and Fakhar Zaman made a scratchy 32 off 55 balls before Hasaranga struck thrice in his successive overs.

Zaman smashed Hasaranga for a straight six in a bid to accelerate, but got stumped and Mohammad Rizwan (5) was trapped plumb leg before wicket on the backfoot in the leg-spinner’s next over.

Babar couldn’t force the acceleration against either pace or the spin as he was undone by Hasaranga's brilliant googly and got clean bowled.

Hasaranga should have dismissed Talat in the same over for duck, but Sri Lanka had exhausted both its reviews to their fast bowlers, as the TV replays suggested the ball could have hit the middle stump, but the umpire ruled in batter’s favor to the much disappointment of the leg-spinner.

The reprieve allowed Agha and Talat (62) to revive Pakistan with a gritty 138-run stand as Pakistan rattled 104 runs in the last 10 overs. Talat’s maiden half-century that featured six fours and a six ended in the 44th over when Theekshana had him lbw but Agha and Nawaz (36 not out) provided the late flurry.

Agha raised his second ODI hundred in 2025 off 83 balls and nine fours when he flicked Chameera for two successive boundaries and then ran a single to point as the fast bowler conceded 20 runs in the 48th over which proved decisive in the outcome of the close game.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga, center, reacts after he dismissed by Pakistan's Naseem Shah, right, during the first one day international cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Haris Rauf, right, celebrates after taking the wicket of Sri Lanka's Kusal Mnedis, left, during the first one day international cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga, left, celebrates with teammate after the dismissal of Pakistan's Babar Azam during the first one day international cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Salman Ali Agha plays a shot during the first one day international cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Salman Ali Agha celebrates after scoring century during the first one day international cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's ODI team skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi warm up before start of the first one day international cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Sri Lanka's ODI team skipper Charith Asalanka, center back, and teammates warm up before start of the first one day international cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi, left, flips the coin for toss as Sri Lanka's Charith Asalanka watches before start of the first one day international cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) — Congo scored in extra time to edge Jamaica 1-0 on Tuesday and become the 47th of 48 teams that will play at the World Cup.

Axel Tuanzebe scored following a corner kick in the 100th minute of the intercontinental playoff. The Jamaican defenders failed to clear the ball and Tuanzebe, who plays for Burnley in the English Premier League tapped it into the net.

Congo has never played in a World Cup under that name, although it participated in the 1974 edition in Germany as Zaire.

With its victory in the intercontinental playoff at the Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico, the Congolese team completes Group K at the World Cup, where it will face Colombia, Portugal, and Uzbekistan.

“We’re going to enjoy the qualification, but we’ll keep working. We know we’ll be facing top nations who play in the World Cup every four years," Congo captain Chancel Mbemba said. "We’ll stay humble, keep our feet on the ground, and continue to work. We’ll give everything to make our supporters and our people proud.”

The Jamaica team, known as the Reggae Boyz, missed out on what would have been a second World Cup appearance. They have only took part once in the world’s biggest football tournament, in 1998.

Congo had chances to take the lead twice during regulation time. Nathanael Mbuku's 4th-minute effort and Samuel Moutossamy's in the 85th were ruled out for offside.

The full list of 48 teams participating in the World Cup was set to be finalized later Tuesday in Mexico when Bolivia played Iraq at Monterrey. The winner will join Group I, which already includes France, Norway, and Senegal.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

DR Congo's players celebrate at the end of the World Cup playoff final soccer match between DR Congo and Jamaica in Guadalajara, Mexico, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

DR Congo's players celebrate at the end of the World Cup playoff final soccer match between DR Congo and Jamaica in Guadalajara, Mexico, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)