SL vs PAK 1st Test: Saud Shakeel’s double century puts Pakistan in control of Sri Lanka on Day 3

Saud Shakeel became the first Pakistani batsman to score a double century in Sri Lanka as the visitors bundled out 461 to seal the first Test on Tuesday. After trailing by 149 runs in the first innings, Sri Lanka were reduced to 135 runs and were 14 for no loss at stumps on the third day.

Shakeel was unbeaten on 208, his second century in two Tests, when Pakistan were all out after tea. In six Tests since his debut in December, he has scored one double century, one century and five half-centuries. His Bradmanesque average is 98.5. (Meet Kohli’s lookalike Saud Shakeel of Pakistan, who scored a double century against Sri Lanka in the first Test)

After the collapse of the top order, Shakeel remained the mainstay of Pakistan’s innings, forging valuable partnerships with the lower middle order and tail-end batsmen. At 101-5, the first innings lead was the last thing on Pakistan’s mind, but Shakeel saved his side by adding 177 runs with Agha Salman. The partnership was a record for Pakistan for the sixth wicket against Sri Lanka, bettering the 173-run partnership between Sarfaraz Ahmed and Asad Shafiq in Dubai in 2017.

cre trending stories

Shakeel said, “When I went to bat, I wanted to attack. If I had tried to be defensive, we would have been bowled out for 150. That’s why I attacked and was able to take the game deep.” being successful.”

“We are working on playing the kind of attacking cricket we can at home in the camp. The coaching staff backed me. Very happy with the effort.”

With an unorthodox batting technique, Shakeel skilfully used his feet to counter the spinners, punishing loose balls and forcing the Sri Lankans to spread ground during his stand with Salman.

In a rain-affected morning session, Ramesh Mendis got the breakthrough when he stumped Salman for 83.

Batting from the tail, Shakeel changed gears, was quite content to strike from the tail and the strategy worked.

After lunch, Shakeel extended the seventh wicket partnership with Noman Ali to 52 runs. He added 94 runs in the match with Naseem Shah for the ninth wicket. Naseem’s contribution was only six runs.

Shakeel said, “When we were eight wickets down and Naseem Shah came with me, he said I have a chance to score a double hundred.”

“A lot of credit goes to him for supporting me and not letting me panic.”

Sri Lanka’s ground was poor as Shakeel was caught twice, Nishan Madushka on 93 at leg gully and Angelo Mathews on 139 at deep midwicket.

The left-handed batsman brought up his double century by cutting Dhananjay de Silva behind square to the middle of the fielder for four runs.

When the last man Abrar Ahmed was dismissed for 10 in a total of 461, Shakeel remained unbeaten after a marathon innings lasting 506 minutes, in which he faced 361 balls and hit 19 fours.

Only two overseas players, Chris Gayle (333) of the West Indies and Joe Root (228) of England? He has a better innings in Galle than Shakeel. Mendis took five wickets, his fifth in 13 Tests, while Prabhat Jayasuriya took three wickets. Overall, the Sri Lankan bowlers struggled in the face of Shakeel’s clever batting.

The Sri Lankan openers batted through 3.4 overs without much trouble before bad light forced an early end to play. But on the fourth day he has a big question in front of him.

Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood said, “It’s an important day in a Test match.”

“We have to come out and do our best. We haven’t been able to do our best with the ball. It was good to see Ramesh take five wickets. But as a unit we could have done better. We played a lot yesterday. Ask good questions.”