Abdullah, Babar power Pakistan to record-breaking win against Sri Lanka

By Muhammad JuniadPublished On 04 Jan 2023

Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam starred as Pakistan chased a record 342-run target against Sri Lanka to take 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Needing 120 on the final day of the Galle Test, Abdullah scored his career-best 158 not out to earn a memorable victory for Pakistan. The previous highest successful fourth-innings chase at venue was 268 by Sri Lanka against New Zealand in 2019.

Sri Lanka only managed to pick three wickets in the day.

Earlier, Shafique and skipper Babar Azam, who made 55, put together 101 runs for the third wicket but spinner Prabath Jayasuriya broke through just a few overs before the close of play on day four.

Left-arm spinner Jayasuriya bowled talisman Azam around the batsman’s legs with a delivery that spun sharply from outside leg to rattle the stumps of the right-hander, who looked visibly shocked.

Still in the game

Azam, who hit a defiant 119 in Pakistan’s first innings total of 218, then joined Shafique as the two rebuilt the innings on a turning pitch.

Azam reached his fifty and two balls later Shafique got his second Test hundred with a single off Maheesh Theekshana, raising his bat to a standing ovation from the dressing room.

“All of a sudden the wicket went flat… still we kept them under three runs and we did a marvellous job on that track,” Sri Lanka’s spin coach Piyal Wijetunga told reporters.

“We are still in the game. If we grab two wickets in the morning session we have a great chance of winning this game.”

Azam, who crossed 10,000 international runs on day two and averages over 45, went past 3,000 Test runs during another stubborn knock in which he hit Jayasuriya for a few boundaries and one six.

Shafique also hit his only six against Jayasuriya and said things went to plan.

“We have just one plan in mind and that is to go after Jayasuriya,” said Shafique.

“He has done well in the first innings and if we figure him out well here then we have a pretty good chance of batting well against them.”

Sri Lanka took the second new ball in the 81st over but the spinners kept up the attack in the tense final overs of the day.

In the morning, Sri Lanka resumed the day on 329-9 in their second innings. Dinesh Chandimal was stranded on 94 when they were all out for 337.