The first test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at Galle is witnessing some amazing cricketing action. Pakistan are touring the Island nation for a short 2 match test series with huge points up for grabs in the race for WTC. Pakistan ended the first innings 4 runs shy of Sri Lanka’s first innings score of 222. Babar Azam waged a lone battle when he scored 119 after Pakistan were 85 for 7, and added 133 with the last 3 wickets to score 218 in the 1st innings during Pakistan’s 1st innings.
Yasir Shah bamboozles Kusal Mendis
Sri Lanka began the day with one wicket down as Rajita and Oshada Fernando at the crease. Yasir Shah making his comeback to the Pakistan test team after a long time did something amazing. The 36 year was bowling the 1st ball of the 56th over to Kusal Mendis who was batting on 76 off 125 balls. Shah let the ball rip and it pitched on the leg stump line. The ball spun a long way and went to take out the top of off stump. This was pretty much similar to the ball of the century by Shane Warne to get rid of Mike Gatting at Manchester in 1993.
Beauty from Yasir Shah like Shane Warne's Ball to Gatting ... pic.twitter.com/EKNgpZqZl6
— Taimoor Zaman (@taimoorze) July 18, 2022
Sri Lanka ended with a lead of 341-
Armed with a lead of 4 runs, Sri Lanka saw Oshada Fernando and Kusal Mendis add 91 runs for the 3rd wicket for Sri Lanka. Yasir Shah got the wicket of Fernando when he had the batter edge the ball to slip for 64. Mendis scored 125 ball 76 with 9 fours . Chandimal was left stranded on 94 from 139 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes as Naseem Shah got Jayasuriya bowled for 4. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 337 with an overall lead of 342.
Mohammad Nawaz lead the bowling honors –
Pakistan bowler Mohammad Nawaz picked his 2nd 5 wicket haul for Pakistan in test cricket. The 28 year old is playing his 5th test match and bowled well to get rid of Karunaratne and Rajitha. He then came back to dismantle the middle order and lower order by getting rid of Mathews, Dickwella and Ramesh Mendis.