Imam-ul-Haq and Saud Shakeel guide Pakistan to win in first Sri Lanka Test

20.07.2023 - 07:51 thenationalnews.com

Pakistan made heavy weather of a modest chase before eventually getting over the finish line in a four-wicket win in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on Thursday.

Pakistan kept losing wickets at regular intervals but opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq scored an unbeaten half-century – his eighth in Test cricket – to see the tourists home before lunch on the fifth day.

Imam's 50 helped the visitors chase down a tricky target of 131. Pakistan started the final day on 48-3 and lost three more wickets, including skipper Babar Azam for 24 off Prabath Jayasuriya, before they achieved their target in the first session.

Imam started the day on 25 and remained calm with Azam and then left-handed partner Saud Shakeel, who made a brisk 30 after his unbeaten 208 in Pakistan's first innings.

cricket bowling Pakistan Cricket Sri Lanka Cricket track cover win Test Babar Azam Sri Lanka Pakistan

Babar Azam is currently taking part in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023 in Sri Lanka and he has been a top performer for his side Colombo Strikers. The Pakistan cricket team skipper earlier revealed that he plans to get ready for the Asia Cup by playing in Sri Lankan conditions and his showing has been quite impressive till now. Babar scored a brilliant century and stitched together a 111-run partnership with Niroshan Pathum Nissanka to guide his team to victory. However, it was his act after the match that has gone viral on social media. In a video, he can be seen asking the organisers to quickly conduct the interviews as he was getting late for his prayers.

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