Highlights:
- In the first Test at Galle, Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by a margin of four wickets.
- Imam-ul-Haq’s fifty in the second innings was a key contribution.
- In the first game of the series, Shaheen Shah Afridi reached 100 Test wickets.
Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by four wickets in the opening Test match played at the Galle International Stadium on Thursday, July 20. It was a thrilling display of cricket. The series is part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023–2025.
The previous time Pakistan won a Test match was on July 20, 2022, also in Galle; this victory is their first in precisely one year. This victory is a big step forward for the team, putting an end to the drought and giving the new WTC cycle off to a terrific start. Sri Lanka and Pakistan’s opening Test of the year included some standout performances from both teams.
With seven wickets in hand on the fourth day of the Test, Pakistan just needed 83 runs to win. Pakistan kept their cool and steadily increased their total after losing three early wickets. With a superb half-century in the midst of the top-order chaos, Imam-ul-Haq was a key player in this victory. He played with calm and composure, which significantly contributed to Pakistan’s relatively drama-free chase.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka had a difficult beginning and was reduced to 54-4 in the first innings. On the first day, they made a comeback and reached 242-6 at stumps. The hosts were forced to leave for 312 despite their best efforts. By taking his 100th Test wicket on Day 1, Shaheen Shah Afridi, who is returning to the test series, marked an important milestone. He finished with a total of five wickets in the first Test match against Sri Lanka. His performance made a big difference in Pakistan winning.
Saud Shakeel’s unbeaten score of 208 gave Pakistan’s first innings a big lift and significantly increased their total. Ramesh Mendis of Sri Lanka claimed five wickets in the first innings, but Ramesh Mendis couldn’t prevent Pakistan from maintaining their lead. Imam-ul-Haq contributed to Pakistan’s position by hitting an unbeaten fifty in the second innings. In the second innings, Prabath Jayasuriya’s four-wicket haul was insufficient for Sri Lanka.
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