Abdulla heroics steer Pakistan to easy win

The 22 year old Abdulla Shafique played a remarkable innings of 160 not out as Pakistan produced record run chase to beat Sri Lanka by 4 wickets in the first Test concluded at Galle International cricket stadium yesterday. The game was finished ten minutes before tea on the last day and Pakistan took an early 1-0 lead at the two Test match series.

It was a great achievement by right hander Abdullah Shafique who stroked an unbeaten 160 in 408 balls with 7 fours and a six finally earned the Man of the Match award. Prabath Jayasuriya the Sri Lankan leg spinner who finished with 4 for 135 in his Marathon spell of 56.2 overs missed to create a record of four consecutive five wickets in first four Test innings with just one wicket short to do that achievement. He took 21 wickets during his first four Test innings.

Pakistan resumed the day with 120 to win while Shafique and Mahammad Rizwan added 71 runs stand and Rizwan finally scored 40 runs in 74 balls with 2 fours, LBW to Prabath Jayasuriya. Abdullah was steady with the other end while he continued real Test innings rotated the strike while collecting singles and doubles to build up the total with more confidence. He just played only six Test matches but his innings was matured with more confidence throughout the innings, said international commentator Russel Arnold after the record chase.

Pakistan finally get there but not without a few scares. Those last 44 runs after lunch felt like they took forever to come – then there was the rain break with 11 needed. With that, Pakistan have chased down their second-highest target in Tests, and a record total at Galle. ‘What a remarkable turnaround this has been for them’, added former Sri Lankan player Arnold.

Abdullah made a winning boundary to the covers off the bowling of Prabath Jayasuriya while Kasun Rajitha dropped the easy catch of Abdullah when they required 19 runs and Sri Lankan fielding was not up to the standard especially wicket keeper Niroshan Dikwella missed few changes and those were big blows for Sri Lanka’s defeat.

Sri Lankan deputy skipper Dhananjaya de Silva said the main reason for defeat was not enough first innings total while no good supporting bowler to Prabath Jayasuriya from the other end to put pressure and they have to work out for next game. Dhananjaya de Silva also pointed out as a batter he himself was not succeed at this game while he couldn’t bowl many overs as three main spinners were in the game to bowl. “We have to come back strongly to win the second game. I don’t think we did lot of mistakes but could not forget few drop catches affected this game and should correct it for the next game,” Added Dhananjaya de Silva .

The two teams Sri Lanka and Pakistan will meet in their second and final Test match from 24 to 28 at the same venue Galle International cricket stadium.