The first Test match of the two-match series between Sri Lanka and Pakistan went underway at the Galle International Stadium on Sunday (July 16). The Sri Lankan team ended the Day 1 of the opening Test on a positive note after some earl꧟y setbacks in the morning session.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Sri Lanka got off to a disastrous start and lost their opener Nishan Madushka early in the second over. Kusal Mendis followed soon after Madushka’s dismissal, departing in the seventh over with the team score at 22-2. Although Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne showed some resistance, he also fell quickly, adding to Islander’s early troubles at 53-3. Dinesh Chandimal‘s dismissal in the 16th over further deepened the hosts’ woes.
However, Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva steadied the innings for Sri Lanka with a crucial partnership. Mathews played a solid knock, scoring 64 runs off 109 deliveries, while de Silva remained unbeaten on 94 runs from 157 balls. The partnership between the duo helped the hosts recover from the early setbacks. Sadeera Samarawickrama contributed with a handy 34 runs from 57 deliveries, but he couldn’t bat the day out as well and was dismissed just before the stumps of Day 1, making Sri Lanka’s score 241/6 in 65.4 overs.
Pakistan’s bowlers put up a commendable effort to keep the Sri Lankan batters in check. Shaheen Afridi was the pick of the bowlers, claiming three wickets for 63 runs. Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed and Agha Salman also contributed with a wicket each.
With four wickets in hand𒆙 and De Silva still on the crease, the hosts will look to build on the 241-run total when they resume their innings on Day 2. Meanwhile, Pakistan bowlers will aim to wrap things up quickly in the morning session itself.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
A compelling first day in Galle 🏏
Sri Lanka fought back after ran through the top-order.ಌ Pakistan end the day with an important wicket to leave the hosts 6️⃣ down ☄️
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB)
– Congratulations on your 100 test wickets, just one of the many milestones to come…
Keep going strong !— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive)
Dhan⛄anjaya de Silva 🇱🇰 scored half century in his 50th international match.
Dhananjaya de Silva 🇱🇰 scored half century in his 50th Test m🌞atch.
— Thurunu Jayasiri (@ThurunuJ)
Dhananjaya de Silva remained unbeaten on 94:
— betvisa68.com (@CricketTimesHQ)
Gutsy but Classy!
Dhananjaya De "𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝘂𝗿" Silva— Indoosan (@Indooshan)
100th Test wicket for Shaheen Afridi ❤️
Congratulations for comple🐻tion of 🃏100 test wickets..𝓰— Rana B𝓡ilal Ejaz 🇵🇰🇵🇸 (@RanaBilalEjaz1)
Not a very great first day of the test. Way too many runs were leaked in the 2nd and third sessions after Pakistan dominated the first session by taking 4 wickets. Angelo Mathews & Dhananjaya de Silva are the men to give the credit to.
1/2
— Abdullah Imran (@AbdulaImran)
Again who wanted dhanaౠnjaya de silva to be removed?💀
— The Avenger 2.0 (@Mrirrelevant2_0)
Day 1 belongs to Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews and Shaheen Afridi. Fantastic 13ꦓ1-run partnership between 🍎DDS and Mathews from 54/4. Also, Congratulations to Shaheen on 100 Test wickets. @dds75official
— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket)
Dhananjaya De Silva looks to be a very organized and solid batsman. He wil෴l be a thorn in our side during this series.
— Umar Khayyam (@utggondal)
Dhananjaya𓆉 de Silva is Current most Underrated Test Cricketer. He always Perfom whenever team is in Pressure Situation on Difficult Pitch. Still Remember his match Saving maiden Century against Indian Cricket Team.
— Ayush Ranjan (@AyushRaGenius)
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