Pakistan asserted their dominance on day one of the second test match against Sri Lanka, both with their exceptional performance in all aspects of the game and through Sri Lanka’s own struggles. After Sri Lanka opted to bat first on what seemed like a good surface, they faltered and were bowled out for a meagre 166 runs before tea.Â
The Pakistani bowlers, led by Abrar Ahmed and Naseem Shah, wreaked havoc, taking four and three wickets respectively, leaving the Sri Lankan batsmen struggling to make an impact.
Sri Lanka’s batting collapse was evident as only four of their players managed to reach double figures, with Dhananjaya de Silva’s 57 being the highest individual score. Poor shot selections and outstanding fielding by Pakistan contributed to Sri Lanka’s downfall.Â
Pakistan’s fielding was exemplary, highlighted by Shan Masood’s direct-hit run-outs to dismiss Nishan Madushka and Prabath Jayasuriya. Additionally, Sri Lanka’s batsmen made several avoidable mistakes, gifting their wickets to Pakistan with edges and misjudged shots.
In response, Pakistan’s openers, Abdullah Shafique and Masood, came out with an aggressive mindset. They launched an onslaught on the Sri Lankan bowlers, scoring at a rapid rate of almost seven runs per over. The partnership between Shafique and Masood yielded 108 runs at a brisk pace of 5.58 runs per over before Masood’s dismissal.
However, as the day progressed, the skies darkened, and the rate of scoring for Pakistan slowed down. Despite this, the visitors continued to show bravery in their approach, taking calculated risks to keep the pressure on Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s woes were compounded by the team’s decision-making regarding the Decision Review System (DRS). They failed to challenge an LBW decision against Shafique that would have been overturned upon review. Later, just before stumps, Shafique survived an LBW call as the replay showed the ball was going over the stumps.
As the day concluded, Pakistan found themselves trailing Sri Lanka by a mere 21 runs, with Shafique remaining unbeaten on an impressive 74, well-supported by Babar Azam on eight runs.
If Pakistan continues to adopt the same bold approach on day two, Sri Lanka could face a challenging time in the field. However, the hosts will need to regroup and display a more resilient batting performance to make a comeback in the match.
Overall, the first day of the second test match was dominated by Pakistan’s strong display, but cricket being an unpredictable game, Sri Lanka still has a chance to turn things around in the remaining days of the match.
