Match Details
Date & Time:
16th Jul 2023, 10:00 AM
Match Number:
1st Test
Match Results:
PAK Won By 4 wickets
1st Test
Galle
312/10 (95.2)&279/10 (83.1)
461/10 (121.2)&133/6 (32.5)
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 4 wickets
Player of the match
Saud Shakeel - PAK
Player of the Match
312/10 (95.2 overs)
Top Batter
Top Bowler
Dhananjaya de Silva
122(214)
Angelo Mathews
64(109)
Abrar Ahmed
3-68(31.2)
Shaheen Afridi
3-86(24)
461/10 (121.2 overs)
Top Batter
Top Bowler
Saud Shakeel
208(361)
Agha Salman
83(113)
Ramesh Mendis
5-136(42.2)
Prabath Jayasuriya
3-145(35)
279/10 (83.1 overs)
Top Batter
Top Bowler
Dhananjaya de Silva
82(118)
Nishan Madushka
52(115)
Abrar Ahmed
3-68(24.1)
Nauman Ali
3-75(25)
133/6 (32.5 overs)
Top Batter
Top Bowler
Imam-ul-Haq
50(84)
Saud Shakeel
30(38)
Prabath Jayasuriya
4-56(14.5)
Ramesh Mendis
1-62(14)
All
Wickets
4s
6s
SL 1
SL 2
PAK 1
PAK 2
Right then. That's it from the coverage of this game. These two sides will meet again on 24th July for the second and the final Test match of the series. The first ball will be at 10 am IST (4.30 am GMT). But as you all know you can join us early for the build-up. Until then, take care and goodbye!
Babar Azam, the skipper of Pakistan is in for a quick word as well. He says that when you win it gives you a lot of confidence. Credits the team especially the youngsters. Adds that they lost early wickets but the partnership between Agha and Shakeel completely changed the game. Mentions that Agha showed his skills with both bat and ball while Shakeel was outstanding. Ends by saying as a skipper, he is very happy and impressed with the performance.
Dimuth Karunaratne, the captain of Sri Lanka is in for a chat. He says that they needed to see off that opening spell but lost early wickets and that hurt them a lot. Says that they bowled well in patches, but started leaking runs. Informs that their bowlers have done really well but need to step their game up as a fielding unit. States that he really enjoyed the way Dhananjaya de Silva batted and hopes the other batters could learn from this knock as well.
Saud Shakeel wins the Player of the Match award for his exceptional double-century. He thanks almighty for giving him this opportunity to score a double hundred. He says that the plan was simple and he was looking to build up a partnership at that moment. Adds that he wanted to be positive and play his sweeps and reverse-sweeps to not let the bowlers get control. Mentions that he is from Karachi so he has come across a lot of spinners but he likes to face the fast bowlers as well and he has worked hard to better his skills.
Stay tuned for the presentation...
It was a much better outing for Sri Lanka with the bat on the second go. One could say that it was a much more collective effort than the first one, where only two players stood out. Although, this time there was not a single player who could get into the three-digit score, but they did manage to extend their lead to over 100-runs which did not prove to be too much for Pakistan to chase down.
For Sri Lanka, it was Prabath Jayasuriya who picked three quick wickets early but they just couldn't build on that and lacked the sharpness in the filed as well dropping a few chances. However, once again it was their inability to get through the tail-enders cost them. Ramesh Mendis did pick up a five-wicket haul while Vishwa Fernando and Kasun Rajitha chipped in with one each, but the damage was already done by then.
In reply, Pakistan managed to get 461 runs, but were in early trouble as their top order didn't contribute much except for Shan Masood. However, it was the huge 177-run stand between Agha Salman and Saud Shakeel that took them out of a difficult situation as they were struggling at 101-5 at one point. The former missed out on his century but Shakeel was solid as ever and registered a magnificent maiden double hundred. Their lower order contributed well to as they ended up with a lead of 149 runs.
Earlier in the match, Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first. Although, it was not really a solid outing for them with the blade. It was Dhananjaya de Silva's ton and Angelo Mathews' half-century that helped the hosts to post a decent total on the board. For Pakistan it was a complete team performance. Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed took three wickets each and did most of the damage in the first inning.
All that Sri Lanka required coming into Day 5, was some luck and inspiration. Well, they found an inspiration in Prabath Jayasuriya, although the rub of the green wasn't really on their side. Prabath Jayasuriya picked up four wickets in total, but apart from him it was only Ramesh Mendis who got into the wicket's column. There was not mcuh to fight for, on the morning of Day 5, but Sri Lanka did give their best when they were out on the field.
Pakistan needed only 83 runs to get over the line at the start of Day 5, and they surely did not waste any time this morning. We all thought that the ball would do most of the talking on the final day, but the Pakistan batters came prepared, used their feet a lot so that they can deal with the deadly spin. Eventually, it was just a walk in the park for the visitors. Imam-ul-Haq made his half-century, with some ease and helped his side get over the line. Saud Shakeel's cameo really helped them to end things quickly here.
Pakistan have taken a 1-0 lead in this two Test series down in Sri Lanka. They came, they saw and they conquered. A well-fought victory by the visiting side under tough coditions. Staffs and players are exchanging hugs in the Pakistan dressing room.
133/6 (32.5)
Over 33
6
W
0
0
0
Agha Salman*
6 (1)
Imam-ul-Haq
50 (84)
Prabath Jayasuriya
4/56 (14.5)
PAK
133/6
6
32.5
Prabath Jayasuriya to Agha Salman ,SIX! BANG! Agha Salman seals the game for the visitors. It is tossed up, full and on off. Agha Salman gets under it and smokes it over the bolwer's head for a maximum.
Agha Salman comes out to the middle now.
W
32.4
Prabath Jayasuriya to Sarfaraz Ahmed ,OUT! CAUGHT! Prabath Jayasuriya picks his fourth wicket. He has certainly made the most of the bowling conditions here. It is tossed up, on off. Sarfaraz Ahmed goes for the sweep shot to find the boundary, but only manages to find the fielder in the deep, as he miscues his slog sweep. Kusal Mendis takes a sharp catch diving forward.
0
32.3
Prabath Jayasuriya to Sarfaraz Ahmed ,Around off, on a fuller length. Ahmed blocks it out.
0
32.2
Prabath Jayasuriya to Sarfaraz Ahmed ,On off, driven back to the bowler.
0
32.1
Prabath Jayasuriya to Sarfaraz Ahmed ,Fuller, on middle and leg. Ahmed goes for the sweep, but the short leg does well to make a sharp stop.
Over 32
1lb
1
0
0
0
0
Sarfaraz Ahmed*
1 (6)
Imam-ul-Haq
50 (84)
Ramesh Mendis
1/62 (14)
PAK
127/5
1lb
31.6
Ramesh Mendis to Sarfaraz Ahmed ,LEG BYE! Tossed up, outside off. It grips and turns in. Sarfaraz Ahmed comes down the track as he looks to flick it away but takes a blow on his pads. There is an appeal for lbw, which is turned down by the umpire. Sri Lanka take the review but the Ball Tracking confirms that the impact is outside.
1
31.5
Ramesh Mendis to Imam-ul-Haq ,Imam-ul-Haq now rotates the strike as he drives this full ball to mid off. He also gets to his half-century. A well-deserved knock on a tough track. He certainly stepped up for his side here.
0
31.4
Ramesh Mendis to Imam-ul-Haq ,Imam-ul-Haq uses his feet and blocks this full one.
0
31.3
Ramesh Mendis to Imam-ul-Haq ,Quicker one, attacking the stumps. Imam-ul-Haq prods and defends it out.
0
31.2
Ramesh Mendis to Imam-ul-Haq ,Around off, Imam-ul-Haq blocks it watchfully.
0
31.1
Ramesh Mendis to Imam-ul-Haq ,A bit short, turning away as well. Imam-ul-Haq defends it out solidly.
Over 31
0
0
1
0
1
1
Sarfaraz Ahmed*
1 (5)
Imam-ul-Haq
49 (79)
Prabath Jayasuriya
3/50 (14)
PAK
125/5
0
30.6
Prabath Jayasuriya to Sarfaraz Ahmed ,On off, Sarfaraz Ahmed gets back on defensive duties.
0
30.5
Prabath Jayasuriya to Sarfaraz Ahmed ,Looped up, on off. Ahmed is unable to time it well, but is fortunate enough to see the ball land before the fielder at mid on.
1
30.4
Prabath Jayasuriya to Imam-ul-Haq ,Shorter, on the pads, Imam-ul-Haq tucks it to square leg for a single.
0
30.3
Prabath Jayasuriya to Imam-ul-Haq ,Around off, defended watchfully.
1
30.2
Prabath Jayasuriya to Sarfaraz Ahmed ,Tossed up, around off. Ahmed uses his feet now and drives it to the left of mid off. One taken.
1
30.1
Prabath Jayasuriya to Imam-ul-Haq ,This is full, outside off. Imam-ul-Haq uses his feet, gets behind the line and slogs it through mid-wicket only for one.
Over 30
0
0
W
4
0
1
Sarfaraz Ahmed*
0 (2)
Imam-ul-Haq
47 (76)
Ramesh Mendis
1/61 (13)
PAK
122/5
0
29.6
Ramesh Mendis to Sarfaraz Ahmed ,Two dots in a row to end a wicket-taking over. Very full, outside off. Ahmed prods and blocks it to short leg off the inner half.
0
29.5
Ramesh Mendis to Sarfaraz Ahmed ,A low full toss, on leg. Ahmed comes down the track and flicks it into mid-wicket, only to find the fielder.
Drinks! Pakistan are on the verge of victory now as they have managed this chase really well on this difficult surface. Sri Lanka got the breakthrough but it is too little too late for them. Also, Sarfaraz Ahmed is the next man in.
W
29.4
Ramesh Mendis to Saud Shakeel ,OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Ramesh Mendis with a peach of a delivery to get rid of Saud Shakeel who was certainly taking on the Sri Lanka bowling attack. Ramesh Mendis serves a full one, around off, that comes in with the arm. The ball though turns away sharply from the bat of Saud Shakeel, only to get nicked. Sadeera Samarawickrama takes a sharp catch.
4
29.3
Ramesh Mendis to Saud Shakeel ,FOUR! Beautiful shot. Ramesh Mendis goes full, around off. Saud Shakeel uses his feet this, gets to the pitch of it, opens the face of the bat and drives it uppishly over covers for a cracking boundary,
Date & Time:
16th Jul 2023, 10:00 AM
Match Number:
1st Test
Match Results:
PAK Won By 4 wickets
Just the right stats to help you determine which team statistically has the upper hand
PAK vs SL
*Last 3 years
10
No. of Matches
5
PAK
4
SL
1
Tie
over 33
0
0
0
W
6
Runs 6
over 32
0
0
0
0
1
1
Runs 2
over 31
1
1
0
1
0
0
Runs 3
over 30
1
0
4
W
0
0
Runs 5
over 29
1
0
0
4
0
4
Runs 9
Bowling Friendly
Second Batting Friendly
Spin Friendly
337
1st Batting Average
344
Highest Score Chased
10
No. of Matches
Won by team
1st Batting
40%
2nd Batting
60%
Wicket Split
Pacer
20.51% | 64W
Spin
79.49% | 248W
The Cricket.com Weekly - Edition 40
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22 Jul 2023Pakistan skipper Azam lauds 'improved' Shakeel after Test win
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20 Jul 2023Imam anchors tricky run chase as Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by four wickets
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20 Jul 2023Shakeel's double ton puts Pakistan on top in Sri Lanka Test
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18 Jul 2023Pakistan have taken a conscious effort to score quickly in Tests: Masood
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17 Jul 2023Umpire:
Alex Wharf (ENG), Rod Tucker (AUS)
Third Umpire:
Chris Gaffaney (NZ)
Match Referee:
David Boon (AUS)