SL v PAK | 1st Test | Day 2 Report | Sensational Babar carves out a masterclass at Galle to lead Pakistan's fightback

A masterclass in grit, patience, and skill from Babar Azam led Pakistan's fightback on the second day against Sri Lanka in what proved to be fascinating six hours of Test match cricket in Galle on Sunday.

Having started the day at 24 runs for the loss of two wickets, the tourists got off to a horrendous start as the relentless Prabath Jayasuriya knocked over Azhar Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Agha and Shaheen Afridi to notch up his 3rd five-wicket haul, leaving the Pakistanis gasping for breath at 85 runs for the loss of seven wickets.

Jayasuriya trapped Ali plumb in front in the first over of the day as the right-hander looked to sweep him. Rizwan and Azam took the positive route and added 40 runs between them in quick time before the former got strangled down the leg by Ramesh Mendis.

Debutant Agha succumbed to an arm ball from Jayasuriya while Oshada Fernando's stunning catch at forward short leg saw the end of Nawaz. Jayasuriya then trapped Afridi LBW to bring up his 3rd five-wicket-haul in as many innings.

Azam, who surpassed 10,000 international runs on Day 2, survived a close LBW shout during the morning session but the umpire’s call on impact saved the skipper.

Brilliant Azam stands tall amid the ruins

When play resumed after the Lunch break, Babar not only had to hold up one end but he also had to ensure that he kept the scorecard ticking in order to reach anywhere close to the Lankan target.

He lost Yasir Shah immediately after Lunch as Pakistan slipped further to 8-112, but Azam stepped up to the occasion just like Dinesh Chandimal had for the home side to carve out a masterclass.

Hasan Ali did swing his bat for a couple of mighty sixes but Pakistan were still miles behind Lanka's total when he was dismissed. The score read 148 at the time and from hereon, Babar engineered a comeback.

It was a typical, calculated knock by a top-order batsman batting with the tail as he kept the scorecard ticking by playing some brilliant shots.

He pressed on the accelerator in the 74th over of the innings as he smashed pacer Kasun Rajitha for three boundaries before pulling Theekshana for a six.

The peerless batsman showcased his full range as he crunched an inside-out six off Jayasuriya.

Babar completed his 7th ton in the format with a single off Theekshana in the 3rd session and he celebrated the milestone by hammering Jayasuriya wide off long-on to reduce the deficit to single figures.

Babar’s ton helps Pakistan assume (almost) parity with Lanka at the end of 1st innings

The Pakistani skipper was eventually trapped plumb in front by Theeksana but not before he had ensured that the game came to parity after the end of the first innings as Sri Lanka gained a slender 4-run lead. 

Naseem Shah may have contributed just 5 runs to the 70-run stand with Babar but his 52-ball stay helped his skipper stitch what could easily turn out to be a match-winning knock.

Mohammed Nawaz then dismissed Dimuth Karunaratne for 16 to cap off a see-saw day as Lanka finished the proceedings at 36/1.

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka 222/10 in 66.1 (Dinesh Chandimal 76, Maheesh Theekshana 38; Shaheen Afridi 4/58, Hasan Ali 2/23) & 36/1 in 11.5 (Oshada Fernando 17*; Mohammad Nawaz 1/12) lead Pakistan 218/10 in 90.5 (Babar Azam 119; Prabhat Jayasuriya 5/82, Ramesh Mendis 2/18) by 40 runs

Stumps Day 2

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