On a day when rain played hide and seek, Sri Lanka managed to get to 242/6 at stumps with Dhananjaya de Silva on 94 unbeaten.
Pakistan player Imam-ul-Haq took a stunning catch at short-leg in the final over of the first day’s play in the first Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at the Galle International Stadium on Sunday.
Sri Lankan keeper batter Sadeera Samarawickrama who was looking to see off the over was stunned by off-spinner Agha Salman’s delivery which took off of the surface and turned a bit. The batter stayed back in the crease and the ball took the inside edge of the bat and popped up in the air when Imam leapt and grabbed a one-handed stunner.
Samarawickrama looked shell-shocked by the delivery and was in disbelief. Till then, he along with Dhananjaya de Silva had built a 57-run valuable partnership for the sixth wicket. However, the timing of the wicket would leave a bittersweet taste in the mouths of Sri Lankans.
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On a day when rain played hide and seek, Sri Lanka managed to get to 242/6 at stumps with De Silva on 94 unbeaten. Earlier in the day, skipper Dimuth Karunaratne won the toss and opted to bat first. Shaheen Shah Afridi, making a comeback into the red-ball format, was impeccable, picking up three wickets in the rain curtailed first session.
In form batter Dinesh Chandimal walked in when his side was in trouble and was initially softened up by a quick bumper by Naseem Shah, followed by a fuller one to which Chandimal threw his hands and nicked it to Pakistan captain Babar Azam at slip. The hosts were reduced to 54/4 when De Silva and Angelo Mathews stitched a 131-run crucial stand to pull Sri Lanka back into the game.
Mathews who was dropped for Sri Lanka’s World Cup qualifying campaign looked in sublime touch as he made an effortless 64. Abrar galloped Mathews at the stroke of Tea when he tried to cut a short-pitch delivery only ending up edging the ball to wicket-keeper Sarfaraz Khan. However, De Silva continued on his merry way playing elegant shots with sheer timing. He looked a class apart throughout his innings and was untroubled by Pakistani bowlers.
First published on: 16-07-2023 at 19:31 IST
