‘Pakistan ka Axar Patel hai ye aadmi’ – Fans react to Noman Ali claiming first 7 wickets against Sri Lanka during second Test

Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Noman Ali tore past Sri Lanka on Thursday, picking up six wickets as the tourists sought an innings victory during the second Test along with a series victory. At Tea on day four, Sri Lanka was in peril, behind visitors by 267 runs in Colombo. Sri Lankan innings and the match was in the hands of Angelo Mathews and Ramesh Mendis. With just two overs used in the morning session and a lead of 410 runs, Pakistan, which defeated the hosts in the previous Test by four wickets, declared the first innings on 576-5.

Together with his partner Agha Salman on 132 not out, concussion replacement Mohammad Rizwan scored 50 off 67 balls and three fours during the second over to add 108 runs to the total. Just after completing his fifty, Pakistan skipper, Babar Azam declared the innings to give his bowlers enough time and liberty to get the 10 opposition wickets.

Before leaving after the final session of day three, opener Abdullah Shafique made a strong impression with his 201. The hosts got off to a great start with a 69-run opening stand before left-arm spinner Noman dismissed Madushka for 33 on the spinner’s first delivery of the day.

Noman Ali – Spinning a web around Sri Lanka

Dimuth Karunaratne, the left-hander, scored boundaries against Naseem Shah as well as Shaheen Shah Afridi, with Madushka following in until his exit. After lunch, Karunaratne scored 41 before being removed, and later on in the session, Noman quickly sent home Kusal Mendis alongside Dinesh Chandimal. Dhananjaya de Silva then made an attempt to resist during his brief stay alongside Mathews. 

De Silva was caught off guard by Abrar Ahmed after trying a massive heave over long-on, and he was out for 10. He took one more wicket after some brilliant work behind the stumps from Mohammad Rizwan.

Shafique’s first Test double century helped Pakistan reach their enormous total after bowling Sri Lanka out for 166. In his 14th Test, Shafique, the 23-year-old opener, has notched up three centuries, notably a 124-run fifth-wicket stand with Salman.

Fans react to Noman Ali claiming a seven-fer against Sri Lanka during the second Test: