Imam Saud steers Pakistan to 4-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Galle Test

Babar Azam lauds ‘improved’ Saud Shakeel after Test win

GALLE – Pakistan on Thursday sealed a remarkable four-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in a thrilling climax to five-day battle of first Test at Galle.

Imamul Haq’s unbeaten fifty guided the team to take 1-0 lead in the two-match series and bagged second win in 11 Test matches since the beginning of 2022.

The team green achieved the target of 131 runs in early session as the hosts bowling line except Jayasuriya, who claimed three wickets in the second innings, failed to perform.

With Babar Azam and Imamul Haq on the crease, the team green resumed the day five play on 48-3, requiring 83 runs to go 1-0 up in the two-match series.

Babar Azam was dismissed by Jayasuriya for 24 in early session. After his departure, Pakistan lost two quick wickets of Saud Shakeel and Sarfaraz Ahmed. At this point, Salman Ali Agha smashed much-need boundary to help team bag the victory.

The victory sees Pakistan join India at the top of the World Test Championship standings with a 100 percent win-percentage after one match apiece in the new cycle.

Pakistan will be looking to maintain their unbeaten record when the second Test against Sri Lanka commences in Colombo on Monday.

Babar’s side missed out on qualifying for the recent World Test Championship Final (2021-23), with Australia defeating India in the decider at The Oval last month.

On day four, Pakistan remained on course for victory in the opening test against Sri Lanka despite a top-order wobble chasing a meagre victory target of 131 at Galle on Wednesday.

With the help of Saud Shakeel’s double ton in the first innings, Babar Azam’s side had been in charge after claiming a handy first-innings lead of 149 in the first match of the two-test series.

Their spin trio of Noman Ali (3-75), Abrar Ahmed (3-68) and Agha Salman (2-39) further consolidated their position by bowling out Sri Lanka for 279 in their second innings.

For the home side, Dhananjaya de Silva followed his first-innings hundred with 82, Nishan Madushka made 52 and Ramesh Mendis contributed 42 before they were all out.

Babar was batting on six with opener Imam-ul-Haq on 25 at the other end.

Sri Lanka’s left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya dismissed Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood and then ran out nightwatchman Noman Ali to at least prevent it from being a cakewalk for Pakistan.

While,

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam said on Thursday his team’s latest Test hero Saud Shakeel had stepped up his game and showcased new shots in his match-winning unbeaten 208 against Sri Lanka.

The visitors won the first Test in Galle by four wickets after opener Imam-ul-Haq hit an unbeaten 50 to anchor a tricky chase of 131 on the final day to lead the two-match series 1-0.

But left-handed batsman Shakeel was the star after his maiden Test double century powered Pakistan to 461 all out and a handy first-innings lead of 149.

His 177-run partnership with Agha Salman, who hit 83, helped Pakistan bounce back from 101-5 in their reply to Sri Lanka’s 312.

“Saud has improved a lot. He has been working hard after the New Zealand series,” Azam said of the man of the match.

“He attended two camps in Lahore and Karachi. I spoke with him and he told me he had developed a few shots which he applied in this innings.

“As captain, I am very satisfied with his performance. When he came to bat we had lost four wickets and Saud and Salman built the partnership.”

Azam added: “When your team-mate performs well and your team wins the match it gives a lot of confidence, especially in different conditions, and youngsters like Saud, Salman and Abrar Ahmed stepped up and performed.”

Shakeel looked assured in his stroke-making in his marathon knock and then a cameo of 30 on the fifth day.

Pakistan spinners Noman Ali and Abrar took three wickets each and Salman chipped in with two from his off-spin to bowl Sri Lanka out for 279 on day four.

Dhananjaya de Silva stood out for Sri Lanka with his 122 in the first innings and then 82 in the second but the rest of the batting faltered.

Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne acknowledged their batting had flopped.

“In this match, all our main batters didn’t make runs,” Karunaratne told reporters.

“Usually two-three batters performed in the top seven, but apart from Dhananjaya’s contribution there was nothing big from the rest.”

The second Test starts in Colombo on Monday.