Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 1st Test, Day 5: Talking Points

Pakistan secures a thrilling 4-wicket victory to take a 1-0 lead in the 2-match series. Imam-ul-Haq leads the chase, supported by Saud Shakeel’s brilliant 208* and Agha Salman’s 83 in the first Test match against Sri Lanka. Despite a few hiccups, Pakistan showcases their superiority in all aspects of the game and claims a well-deserved win. They also earn 12 valuable World Test Championship (WTC) points to kickstart their campaign.

A brief summary of the match: Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat, posting 312 with Dhananjaya de Silva’s splendid 122 and Angelo Mathews’ 64. In response, Pakistan struggled early but recovered remarkably with Saud Shakeel’s double ton and Agha Salman’s contribution. Trailing by 149, Sri Lanka put up a fight with notable innings from Nishan Madushka and Dhananjaya de Silva, reaching 279. However, Pakistan’s bowlers, including Abrar Ahmed, Nauman Ali, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, shared the wickets effectively. Chasing 131 for victory, Pakistan was led by Imam-ul-Haq’s unbeaten half-century and Babar Azam’s quick runs to secure the win.

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The Sri Lankan bowler Prabath Jayasuriya impressed with four wickets, but his efforts were not enough to prevent Pakistan’s victory. Pakistan’s dominance in both batting and bowling proved to be decisive, making them the better team on the day. With this triumph, Pakistan earns crucial WTC points and establishes an early advantage in the series. The presentation ceremony is up next to celebrate their triumph.