Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Match Highlights & Results

That is it from this interesting Test match. Pakistan go 1-0 up but Sri Lanka know they were very close to making an impact. They do have a chance to level the series as these two meet again here in Galle on 24th July at 10 am IST (4.30 am GMT). Do join us for the build up, well in advance. Till then, goodbye and cheers!

Babar Azam, the captain of Pakistan says their bowlers did well to put pressure on them. Adds that they were thinking of just creating partnerships and he applauds the tail-enders who built crucial stands with him in the first innings. On being asked whether the Galle wicket surprised him, Babar says that Pakistan were aware that the wicket will offer a lot of spin and the batters were accordingly prepared to graft it out. Applauds Abdullah Shafique for his innings and says, as a youngster, he has a good temperament and is showing a lot of class.

Dimuth Karunaratne, the skipper of Sri Lanka, says they should have put up a big score in the first innings, as he has been stressing for the past few days, especially in Galle. He feels the bowler's bowled well in the first innings but in the second innings, they were not able to support Prabath Jayasuriya from the other end. Adds that Pakistan were batting well and Babar Azam was well supported by the tail. As a bowling unit, they should have bowled much better. On being asked about Jayasuriya probably being in doubt for the next Test given the amount of overs he bowled in this match, Karunaratne shrugs it off, saying that Jayasuriya is experienced enough in first-class cricket, to be used to bowling a lot of overs and adds that he has done really well in Test cricket so far. On being reminded about Sri Lanka's bounceback ability and the next Test being Angelo Mathews' 100th, Dimuth marvels at the fact that it is certainly not easy to play 100 Tests and wows the veteran's contribution and perseverance. Regarding the game, he looks forward to that game to enable his team correcting the mistakes made in this Test and coming back stronger

Abdullah Shafique is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his exceptional match winning innings. He thanks God and says he is happy that he was able to contribute towards achieving the record run chase. Admits that it was difficult out there but by applying himself in this innings, he has gained good experience for the future. Says that when the spinners bowl with a new ball, there is pace for them on offer and they need to just stick around. However, once the ball gets old it gets easier to score runs. Praises Babar Azam by saying he is one of the best batters in the world and there is a lot to learn from him and he is grateful for the opportunity to play alongside him.

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Earlier, Sri Lanka got to a decent total in the first innings thanks to Dinesh Chandimal, who played really well with the tail to get them over 200. Yasir Shah picked two wickets in his comeback Test to start off on a positive note while Shaheen Afridi was the pick of the bowlers grabbing four wickets. Pakistan in reply managed to get really close to Sri Lanka's total, courtesy of their skipper Babar Azam, who seems to be racking up centuries for fun. Prabath Jayasuriya picked up his third consecutive five-fer and was at his best. The game was in the balance up until then. Sri Lanka came out strong in their second outing to set a steep target of 342 runs with the help of half-centuries from Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal. Mohammad Nawaz picked up his first five wicket haul and was ably supported by Yasir Shah who took 3 wickets. Then it was all upto the Pakistan batters to try and achieve the difficult target and they have done so in style.

Sri Lanka will be absolutely disappointed with their bowling effort. They seem to be depending too much on Prabath Jayasuriya to help them achieve victory and despite his 9-wicket haul in this game, he ends up on the losing side. There was hardly any support from the other bowlers and the fielders seemed to be adding to their woes. Two dropped catches of Abdullah Shafique may have come late in his innings but his wicket would have definitely sent some ripples in the Pakistan camp. If they have to consistently challenge at the highest level, they need to improve their fielding, catching, and wicket-keeping. They will look to pick themselves up from this defeat and make a strong comeback in the series.

Pakistan have been outstanding in this run chase. Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique got them off to an amazing start adding 87 runs for the opening stand. They laid the platform for Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to play useful cameos and make the target achievable. All the credit for this victory should be extended to the young Abdullah Shafique who played all through Pakistan’s second innings to get them beyond the finish line. He faced 408 deliveries on a difficult track to reach 160 runs. In just his sixth Test match he is proving to be mature and composed well beyond his age, and Pakistan seem to have a large pool of talent at their disposal. If he continues to play the way he has so far, we could witness the making of an outstanding cricketer.

Pakistan began the session looking to knock off the runs quickly and Hasan Ali perished early in that attempt. Mohammad Nawaz came to support Abdullah Shafique and together they kept chipping away at the target. Shafique offered a way back for Sri Lanka when he top edged a slog sweep towards deep square leg, but Kasun Rajitha made a complete mess of the catch. If that had been taken, Pakistan may have had a pretty nervy chase towards the end but that was not the case. In the end, they got there with 4 wickets to spare and made this record chase seem pretty easy.

What a game we have had here! The intriguing battle between bat and ball has ensued for five days and Pakistan have come up trumps to take a 1-0 lead in this 2-match Test series. Sri Lanka will be really disappointed as they seemed to be ahead for most of the game but in the end, found themselves on the wrong side of the result.

FOUR! Abdullah Shafique hits the winning runs! A brilliant match winning knock from the young man! Shorter and outside off. Abdullah Shafique gets on the back foot and slaps it to covers for a boundary. Pakistan win by 4 wickets and go 1-0 up in the series.

Tossed up on off, spinning away. Abdullah Shafique looks to sweep but misses.

Shorter and down the leg side, spinning into the batter. Nawaz tries to finish off the match with a big wild sweep but misses.

FOUR! Pakistan are nearly there! Fatter and around leg. Nawaz sweeps it very gently but the outfield helps the ball to race away to the fine leg fence.

Full once again outside off, Mohammad Nawaz knocks this into the cover region.

Flighted full outside off, Mohammad Nawaz fends this to the left of the bowler.

Goes full outside off, Abdullah Shafique taps this towards point and takes a run. Just 6 runs are needed now and Sri Lanka giving away some easy singles

This is a fraction short in line with the stumps, Mohammad Nawaz clips this towards square leg for a single.

Maheesh Theekshana continues having issues with his finger. He has hardly bowled in this innings and how much has that affected Sri Lanka's chances?

A single as Nawaz steers this length ball to point.

Tries to angle across a full ball, around off. Nawaz pads it away.

Slower through the air and on middle. Nawaz defends it out.

Fuller and on middle, pushed back to the bowler.

Tossed up, full and on middle. Abdullah Shafique looks to defend but outer edges it past first slip and to third man for a single.

Pakistan need 10 runs now! On middle, flicked to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Again this is down the leg side. Shafique plays with soft hands and to square leg.

Slower, flatter and down the leg side. Shafique flicks it to short leg.

The rain gods made their presence felt and have now departed to allow the game to conclude. The covers are off and the outfield is dried out. We are set to resume with Pakistan requiring just 11 more runs.

Update - 1.55 pm IST (8.25 am GMT) - We have good news! The game is set to resume at 2.30 pm IST (9 am GMT).

Update - 1.43 pm IST (8.13 am GMT) - How big that chance was for Sri Lanka! If Kasun Rajitha had taken the catch of Abdullah Shafique! Sri Lanka would have been confident right now to tackle the tail enders. Pakistan need just 11 runs and the results should be inevitable unless Sri Lanka pull a rabbit out of the hat. On the weather - THE COVERS HAVE BEEN REMOVED! The groundstaff are working hard to make the ground running. Stay tuned.

Update - 1.25 pm IST (7.55 am GMT) - There seems to be slight drizzle. Now it is coming down hard and the players have been asked to leave the field. Are we going to have a twist in the plot? Looks like the rain gods do not want to miss this exciting game! It has been generally sunny around and play should resume anytime. Stay tuned.

Flatter and outside off. Nawaz cuts it to deep point for a single.

Shorter and down the leg side, gripping in the surface. Nawaz opens his body and tries to flick but misses and gets hit on the pads.

Way down the leg side. Shafique helps it past short leg and leg slip for one more.

Tossed up, outside off. Nawaz square drives it to point for a single.

Toosed up, down the leg side. Shafique tickles it to backward square leg, straight to the fielder and calls for a single but changes his decision quickly and gets back into the crease.

Too full and outside off. Nawaz punches it to covers for a single.

Fuller and on middle. Shafique pushes it gently to long off for one more.

On a length and on middle. Shafique lunges to block it.

A loopy ball on middle. Nawaz drills it to long on for a single.

Full and on middle. Nawaz defends on the front foot.

On middle, swept to deep square leg for one.

DROPPED! Has Kasun Rajitha dropped the game? What a chance this is! Abdullah Shafique pre-meditates as he comes down the track and tries to slog this full ball towards deep square leg. There was not much pace on the ball so Abdullah Shafique had to generate the power. It goes really high towards deep square leg where Kasun Rajitha runs forward and has all the time in the world to get into position. Goes right through his hands as he fails to hold on it. Ohh, boy! What a massive chance!

Around middle and leg. Kept out.

Fuller and down the leg side. Shafique sweeps it but leg slip gets his hand to it.

Similar delivery! On the pads. Shafique defends it out.

On the pads, flicked to short leg.

Flighted, full and on leg. Shafique bunts it to square leg for a single. 7 runs off the over. Good one for Pakistan! They need 19 more runs for the victory.

Tossed up on middle. Shafique leans and blocks it.

Three runs! Mohammad Nawaz looking like he wants to get home in a hurry. Prabath Jayasuriya serves this full on the rough, Mohammad Nawaz gets a stride forward to the pitch of the delivery and strokes it through covers for three runs.

Mohammad Nawaz seems to have done some damage to himself while sliding back into the crease. Seems okay now and we are all set to resume.

Superb fielding! Full and on middle. Nawaz sweeps it hard and to deep square leg. Ramesh Mendis to his right, and dives to make a superb stop and save a couple of runs. Nawaz was struggling for the second but made it. Sri Lanka fighting for every single run.

150 up for Shafique! He raises his bat but he knows this milestone will not matter much without the victory! Shorter and outside off. Shafique slaps it to deep ppoint for a single.

Tossed up, angling across the batter. Blocked out on the front foot.

Shafique will keep the strike! Pakistan are inching closer! This is full and on the pads, it is swept behind square on the leg side for one. Shafique moves to 149 now.

Again on the pads. Shafique plays with soft hands to short leg.

Shorter and around leg. Kept out.

Leg bye! Angles a full ball on the pads. Nawaz defends the wrong line and gets hit on the pads. It rolls to square leg for a leg bye.

Gives more flight to this one and bowls it on the pads, it is flicked to square leg for a single.

Darted on the pads, staying low. Shafique dead bats it.

This is full on middle and leg, Abdullah Shafique guides this through point to take a single and retain strike.

This is full on middle and off, Abdullah Shafique fends this and gets and an outside edge towards point.

Full delivery on the pads, Abdullah Shafique clips this towards square leg with soft hands and rushes between the wickets for a couple of runs.

Goes full once again and pitches this outside leg, Abdullah Shafique taps this to short mid-wicket.

This is full and going down leg, Abdullah Shafique looks to flick this and misses.

Prabath Jayasuriya goes full and wide outside off, Mohammad Nawaz works this wide of mid off and gets off strike.

Beaten! Dhananjaya de Silva flights this full outside off, Abdullah Shafique looks to play for the spin and gets beaten by the straight delivery.

Full delivery on the pads, clipped towards mid-wicket for a brace.

This one is full and on middle, Abdullah Shafique goes back in the crease and knocks it back to the bowler.

Full and in line with the stumps, Abdullah Shafique fends this to the right of the bowler.

Tossed up on middle, solidly defended on the front foot.

Full and on the pads, Abdullah Shafique gets down the wicket and clips it over mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Huge appeal from Prabath Jayasuriya! Serves this full outside off, Mohammad Nawaz pushes forward and hits the pad, and goes to short leg. Sri Lanka do not have a review but this goes clearly off the pad.

Prabath Jayasuriya goes full once again and gets the ball to turn into the pads as Mohammad Nawaz looks to defend. Hits the pads and lobs up towards short leg.

This is full outside off, Mohammad Nawaz fends this towards short cover.

Prabath Jayasuriya serves this full outside off, Mohammad Nawaz wants to get his front foot outside off to defend. Gets an inside edge onto his body.

This one is fired full onto the pads, Mohammad Nawaz clips this to mid-wicket.

Sharp turn from the rough. Prabath Jayasuriya pulls his length back a bit outside off, Mohammad Nawaz tries to defend on the front foot. The ball hits his chest.

Dhananjaya de Silva goes full on the pads, Abdullah Shafique clips this to backward square leg.

Full delivery pitching outside leg and turning firther away to the leg side. Abdullah Shafique looks to play and then leaves it alone.

Serves this one short outside off, Mohammad Nawaz uses the crease and goes back to punch this to deep cover for a single.

Dhananjaya de Silva goes full outside off once again, Mohammad Nawaz dabs this down toward silly point.

Goes really full outside off, Mohammad Nawaz looks to sweep and plays over the ball. Goes through to the keeper.

Dhananjaya de Silva serves this full outside off, Mohammad Nawaz fends this solidly back to the right of the bowler.

Full delivery sliding down leg, Abdullah Shafique looks to sweep and misses.

Turns sharply and beats the outside edge. Prabath Jayasuriya serves this full one leg, Abdullah Shafique goes to fend on the back foot and gets squared up.

Full and in line with the stumps. Defends it to the cover region.

Full delivery on leg, Abdullah Shafique fends this back to the bowler.

Prabath Jayasuriya serves this full outside leg and gets it to pitch on the rough. Turns sharply and hits the back leg. An appeal follows but it is missing off pole clearly.

Prabath Jayasuriya tosses this full and well outside leg. Abdullah Shafique plays the turn and defends well.

Flatter and outside off, stays low. It is hit to covers.

Tossed up on off, turning away. Nawaz prods to defend but gets a thick outside edge to point.

Flighted, full and on middle. Nawaz blocks it out.

On the pads, tucked to square leg for a single.

Mohammad Nawaz walks out to the middle.

OUT! TAKEN! Another one bites the dust! Sri Lanka are still hanging there! de Silva serves a length ball, around middle and spins down the leg side. Ali hangs on the back foot and gets low to slog-sweep it over deep square leg. The intent was right but not the execution as he fails to get enough distance and Maheesh Theekshana holds onto it. Pakistan need 39 more runs to win. Sri Lanka need 4 wickets.

FOUR! Ali will always play aggressive cricket! A loopy ball, around off, turning in. Ali skips down and heaves it, not of the middle but over the mid-wicket fielder and in the gap for a boundary. 300 up for Pakistan.

Dhananjaya de Silva will share the attack from the other end.

Beauty! Fuller ball from over the wicket and landing on middle, it spins sharply across the batter. Shafique looks to defend but gets a thick outside edge and lands safely away from first slip.

Tossed up, sliding around off. Ali sweeps it to deep mid-wicket for a single.