‘Test cricket is flipping fantastic’- Twitter jubilant as Pakistan achieve record breaking run chase against Sri Lanka

Pakistan having trailed in the first innings came back into the game and emphatically won the first Test against Sri Lanka. The 24-year-old Abdullah Shafique, playing in just his sixth match became the hero of the match by making an unbeaten 160 on a difficult wicket.

By winning the first Test of the Sri Lanka- Pakistan series, the visiting team broke some records as well. This win is the second highest chase by Pakistan ever. It is also the second highest chase against Sri Lanka in the history of Test cricket. Additionally, it is also the highest-run chase at Galle International Stadium ever.

Talking of the match, Sri Lanka produced 222 runs in the first innings on the back of a great performance from Dinesh Chandimal (76). Pakistan coming onto bat in their first innings faltered from the word get-go. They could only muster 218 runs and that too from a gritty Babar Azam’s century (119). The second highest individual from Pakistan’s first innings was 18 made by the bowler Yasir Shah.

Having taken a four-run lead in the first innings, the home team stretched the lead further by 341 in their second innings. Opener Oshada Fernando came up with a steady fifty on a pitch that could only be defined as a rank turner.

Kushal Mendis was another Sri Lanka batter who achieved a half-century in the match. It was however the in-form batter Dinesh Chandimal again who played an unbeaten knock of 94.

Pakistan approached this big total with caution with both openers giving respect to the good balls. After Imam-ul-Haq’s controversial dismissal, Babar Azam (55) held the innings. It was however the young batter Abdullah Shafique who came up with a mature inning of 160* to see away Sri Lanka’s bowling attack. Wicket Keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan also contributed an important 40 to the run chase. It was Mohammad Nawaz (19*) and Shafique (160*) who took the visiting country across the finish line.

Twitter was elated with Pakistan’s great run chase. Let’s look at some tweets for the entertaining match.