NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s spinners Noman Ali and Abrar Ahmed performed essential roles by taking three wickets every, resulting in Sri Lanka being bowled out for 279 runs within the rain-affected opening Test match in Galle, Sri Lanka.
As a end result, Pakistan was left with a goal of 131 runs to win the Test match.
Dhananjaya de Silva, who had scored a century in Sri Lanka’s first innings complete of 312 runs, top-scored with 82 runs earlier than the Pakistan bowlers joined forces to dismiss the Sri Lankan crew within the last session of the fourth day.
Left-arm spinner Noman Ali, together with spinners Abrar Ahmed and Agha Salman, who took two wickets, persistently troubled the Sri Lankan batters. Additionally, tempo bowler Shaheen Afridi contributed by cleansing up the tail.
De Silva shaped essential partnerships throughout his innings, together with a 76-run partnership with Ramesh Mendis, who scored 42 runs.
However, Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed de Silva with a rising supply after Pakistan took the second new ball. Shaheen claimed his second wicket, whereas Abrar ended the Sri Lankan innings.
Earlier, Agha Salman broke a 60-run partnership by dismissing Dinesh Chandimal for 28 runs and later dismissed wicketkeeper-batsman Sadeera Samarawickrama for 11 runs. However, de Silva remained agency and fought valiantly.
As a end result, Pakistan was left with a goal of 131 runs to win the Test match.
Dhananjaya de Silva, who had scored a century in Sri Lanka’s first innings complete of 312 runs, top-scored with 82 runs earlier than the Pakistan bowlers joined forces to dismiss the Sri Lankan crew within the last session of the fourth day.
Left-arm spinner Noman Ali, together with spinners Abrar Ahmed and Agha Salman, who took two wickets, persistently troubled the Sri Lankan batters. Additionally, tempo bowler Shaheen Afridi contributed by cleansing up the tail.
De Silva shaped essential partnerships throughout his innings, together with a 76-run partnership with Ramesh Mendis, who scored 42 runs.
However, Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed de Silva with a rising supply after Pakistan took the second new ball. Shaheen claimed his second wicket, whereas Abrar ended the Sri Lankan innings.
Earlier, Agha Salman broke a 60-run partnership by dismissing Dinesh Chandimal for 28 runs and later dismissed wicketkeeper-batsman Sadeera Samarawickrama for 11 runs. However, de Silva remained agency and fought valiantly.
Abrar made the preliminary breakthrough by dismissing Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne for 20 runs, which halted Sri Lanka’s brisk begin.
Pakistan’s middle-order batsman Saud Shakeel has been the standout performer to date within the Test match, scoring an unbeaten double century (208 runs) within the first innings, his maiden Test double century.
His marathon innings helped Pakistan safe a major first-innings lead of 149 runs as they had been bowled out for 461 runs on the third day.
With the match now set for an intriguing last day, Pakistan will purpose to chase down the goal and safe a victory, whereas Sri Lanka will search to defend their complete and safe a draw.
(With AFP inputs)
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com