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Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka in the first Test of the ongoing two-match series at Galle International Stadium on Wednesday. The visitors successfully ch✱ased down the massive target of 342 to register their second-highest successful chase in the longest format.
The tourists were 112/8 at one stage in the first innings, but skipper Babar Azam made a brilliant hundred and took them to a touching distance of Sri Lanka’s score. However, the man of the moment was Abdullah Shafique, who exhibited top-class batting during Pakistan’s chase in the second innings.
Shafique made his highest Test score of 160 and remained unbeaten as he took his side home. Pakistan did struggle in the initial phase as they lost three wickets in quick succ🔯ession, including the vital scalp of Mohammad Rizwan.
Prabath Jayasuriya was once again impressive with the ball as he bagged a four-wicket haul, but overall, Sri Lanka just couldn’t restrict the run-flow as the visiting side took a 1-0 lead with one Test to go.
“I am happy that we were able to chase. Congratulations to the entire team for this record chase. Our plan was simple. We had to go get the runs. It was difficult, but with time it was easier. Spinners with the new ball was slightly tough to play. Babar is one of the best in the world. We have learnt so much from him. I enjoyed batting with him in the middle,” said Shafique after the game.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
🇵🇰🐻️ won the firs꧃t Test by 4 wickets | Lead the 2-match series 1-0.
This is the highest sucessfu𒅌ll run chase in Galle.
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC)
Highest batting averꦯage in Test history (minimum 10 innings):
99.94 – Don Bradman 🇦🇺
80.00 – Abdullah Shafique 🇵🇰
65.72 – Stewie Dempster 🇳🇿
63.05 – Sid Barnes 🇦🇺
62.73 – Daryl Mitchell 🇳🇿— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1)
Abdullah Shafique is the 🐎first batsman in Test history to bat 500+ minutes in a successful chase. He stayed on the wicket for 524 🉐mins.
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad)
Brilliant victory for Pakistan. Surely one of their best ever wins in Test cricket after be♔ing 85 for 7 in their first innings
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket)
Openers to stay unbeaten in a successful 300+ chase in Test cricket:
Gordon Greenidge🏝️(214*) v ENG at Lord's, 1984
Abdullah Shafique🇵🇰 (160*) v SL at Galle, 2022On both occasions, ❀their teams c🙈hased a target of 342.
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats)
WTC 2021-23 points table:
1) South Africa – 71.43
2) Australia – 70
3) Pakistan – 58.33
4) India – 52.08— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
Tweet
150+ in a chase at Galle! In just his sixth test. Wow!!
Well played Abdullah Shafique👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
What a win for Pakistan!!— Mpumelelo Mbangwa (@mmbangwa)
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi)
Abdullah Shafique has now starred in one of Pakistan’s greatest rearguard efforts in a draw (Karachi, March 2022) & in one of their greatest run-chases (Galle, July 2022) in Test history, all in the space of 3 months and 6 Tests. An o𒅌ld-school future star has arrived
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07)
Abdullah Shafique when he got to his 100 yeste🌠rday vs when he hit the winning runs for Pakistan.
— Estelle Vasudevan (@Estelle_Vasude1)
Fairy-tale win for Pakistan. 300-plus chases iಌn fourtওh innings look so achievable in modern-day cricket
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73)
What a win for Pakistan. Top effort from Abdullah Shafique to hit 160* in the 4th inngs at Galle. Babar's ton in the 1st inngs was special. Pak were 85/7 in the 1st inns & reached 218. One of their finest Test wins
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang)
Defining innings from Abdullah. Calmness personified and old school batt𝐆ing.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12)
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB)
