Pakistan cruised to a four-wicket triumph against Sri Lanka in the first Test at the Galle International Stadium on Thursday, led by Imam ul Haq’s unbeaten half-century. The visitors, who resumed on 48 for 3, chased down the 131-run goal in the morning session of the final day to record their first Test win in a year and six games.
Pakistan got off to a fast start on the last day, needing 82 runs to win. Babar hit the first ball of the day for a boundary, a half-tracker by Ramesh Mendis. Three balls later, he tucked the offspinner for another boundary into the fine leg zone.
While Imam was cautious at first, Babar went on the offensive against both Mendis and Prabath Jayasuriya. His stay was cut short, however, by the latter, whose arm-ball broke Babar’s defense and trapped him legfirst.
Despite the crushing defeat, Pakistan did not go on the defense. Imam walked out in the next over and smoked Mendis for a six over far off. Saud Shakeel, the next hitter, kept on the backfoot and sliced the spinner for a boundary three balls later. After a few overs, he stepped out against Jayasuriya and smashed a boundary to break the tie. Nonetheless, his easy 38-ball 30-run knock was cut short by Sadeera Samarawickrama’s superb catch at forward short leg after Shakeel’s defensive prod against Mendis backfired and took the inside edge of the bat.
Even though defeat was looming, Sri Lanka struck again when Sarfraz Ahmad’s slog sweep wound up in the palms of Kusal Mendis at backward square leg. The dismissal occurred just after Imam had reached his half-century with a single to mid-off. Agha Salman ended the run chase by stepping out and hitting a six down the ground against Jayasuriya.
Sri Lanka 312 & 279 (Dhananjaya de Silva 82, Nishan Madushka 52; Abrar Ahmed 3-68, Noman Ali 3-75) lost by 3 wickets to Pakistan 461 & 133/6 (Imam-ul-Haq 50*, Saud Shakeel 30; Prabath Jayasuriya 4-56)
