Stunning Partnership and Historic Record: Pakistan’s Remarkable Turnaround in 1st Test vs. Sri Lanka
The second day of the 1st Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka witnessed an enthralling battle between bat and ball. Sri Lanka, after winning the toss and opting to bat, posted a total of 312 runs in their first innings.
Dhananjaya De Silva emerged as the star performer for Sri Lanka, smashing a blistering century, scoring 122 runs off 214 deliveries.
Pakistan’s bowling trio of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Abrar Ahmed impressed, taking three wickets each to restrict the Sri Lankan innings.
In response,
Pakistan’s batting line-up displayed a positive mindset and played with an aggressive approach, despite losing wickets at regular intervals.
Shan Masood set the tone with a quickfire 39 runs off just 30 balls. However, Pakistan found themselves in a precarious position at 101/5.
It was then that Salman Ali Agha and Saud Shakeel came to the rescue. The duo showcased excellent batting skills and forged a crucial partnership of 120 runs off 148 deliveries.
Saud Shakeel played a composed innings, reaching 69 runs off 88 balls, while Salman Ali Agha contributed a well-made 61 runs off 84 deliveries.
An additional milestone was achieved in this match, as Sarfaraz Ahmed became the first wicketkeeper for Pakistan to score over 3000 runs in Test matches. His career statistics are as follows:
- Matches: 52
- Runs: 3009
- Average: 39
- 50s: 21
- 100s: 4
So, the first two days of the 1st Test have provided exciting cricketing action. Sri Lanka put up a challenging total in their first innings, led by Dhananjaya De Silva’s superb century. Pakistan’s batting line-up showcased a positive mindset, with Salman Ali Agha and Saud Shakeel rescuing their team from a precarious situation. Sarfaraz Ahmed’s milestone as the first wicketkeeper to score over 3000 runs added further significance to the match. With the game finely poised, fans eagerly anticipate the remaining days of this captivating Test match.
