cricket update

 

Pakistan 461 (Shakeel 208*, Salman 83, Ramesh 5-136, Jayasuriya 3-145) and 133 for 6 (Imam 50*, Jayasuriya 4-56) beat Sri Lanka 312 (Dhananjaya 122, Mathews 64, Abrar 3-68, Afridi 3-86) and 279 (Dhananjaya 82, Madushka 52, Abrar 3-68, Noman 3-75) by four wickets
It took a little over an hour for Pakistan to wrap things up, as they hunted down the remaining 83 runs in very un-Pakistan fashion - without fuss and little drama. Sure they lost three wickets, but from the very first ball - which was pulled for four - that they'd get there in the end was in little to no doubt. The result means Pakistan take a 1-0 lead against Sri Lanka in this two-match series, and get them off to the ideal start in this new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. It also gives them a first Test win in exactly a year - the last also coming in Galle.
It took a little over an hour for Pakistan to wrap things up, as they hunted down the remaining 83 runs in very un-Pakistan fashion - without fuss and little drama. Sure they lost three wickets, but from the very first ball - which was pulled for four - that they'd get there in the end was in little to no doubt. The result means Pakistan take a 1-0 lead against Sri Lanka in this two-match series, and get them off to the ideal start in this new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. It also gives them a first Test win in exactly a year - the last also coming in Galle.

Imam-ul-Haq was unbeaten on 50 with Agha Salman for company when the winning runs - a sumptuous loft over long-off for six - were scored. Prabath Jayasuriya ended with figures of 4 for 56 to increase his ever-growing collection of scalps at Galle, but that will be scant consolation for the hosts.
And while those of a Pakistani persuasion might have had doubts gnawing away in the back of their minds over a potential collapse, or a snatching-defeat-from-the-jaws-of-victory performance by the visitors this morning, this was a result that might force a rethink.
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