‘Classical double’ -Fans react as Abdullah Shafique smashes maiden double ton in Test cricket against Sri Lanka
Pakistan and Sri Lanka locked horns on the Third Day at the second Test in Galle. the batting lineup sent the Sri Lankan bowlers on a leather hunt. On Day 2 only 10 overs of play was possible. The score was 145-2 with Abdullah Shafique batting on 74 off 99 balls. Babar Azam was batting with him as the Pakistan skipper made his way to 39 off 75 balls with 4 fours and one six. Saud Shakeel also continued from where he left off in the first Test as he hit a valuable knock of 57 off 110 balls with six fours.
Sarfaraz Ahmed had a very short stay at the crease as he had to leave the field due to a concussion. Mohammad Rizwan came on as his substitute. Agha Salman also made another solid partnership with Shafique. The right-hander though kept on putting pressure on the Sri Lankan bowlers. The 23-year-old went on to get to his maiden double century in Test matches. He played a stroke-filled knock of 201 which came off 326 deliveries studded with 19 fours and four sixes.
Sri Lanka were bundled out for just 166 in the first innings at Colombo
His innings came to an end when he was caught by Dilshan Madhushanka off Prabath Jayasuriya. In the first innings, The Sri Lankan batting lineup was in tatters as they were kept down to just 166. While Abrar Ahmed was the wrecker-in-chief for Pakistan as he claimed 4-69 in his long spell of 20.4 overs. Naseem Shah took 3-41 in his 14-over spell. For Sri Lanka, Dhananjaya de Silva was the top scorer as he hit 57 off 68 balls with nine fours and one six.
Dinesh Chandimal made 34 off 60 balls with four fours. Ramesh Mendis hit 27 off 44 balls with three fours. After Shafique got out, Agha Salman kicked on to help himself to a second Test century. At the time of writing Pakistan are leading by 347 runs. The Men in Green beat the Islanders by 4 wickets in the first Test and look poised to take the second Test as well with two days of play remaining.
Let us take a look at the reactions on Twitter:
And the wait is over.. Abdullah shafiq gets to his first 2nd hundred 💯 👌.. absolutely superb to watch .. such a solid technical 👌 guy . #PAKvsSL #AbdullahShafique @imabd28
— Mijaz ahmad (@ijazahmad39) July 26, 2023
https://twitter.com/Zubair_memon1/status/1684149326623264769?s=20
Congratulations 🎉👏💯
Double Hundred for Abdullah Shafiq.
Will go along way in his promising career.
Pakistan quite upfront piling up hefty lead against Sri Lanka#PAKvsSL #SLvPAK— AdvocateNazar (@nazarulislam71) July 26, 2023
Only visiting batter to score 2 150+ in SL
What a great knock from Abdullah classy Shafiq. ✨
No wonder why everyone calls him a kitaabi player. ❤️
A DOUBLE HUNDRED of highest highest caliber from ABD.💯
Only the second Pakistani batter to score a DOUBLE HUNDRED sl— irfan_orakzai (@irfanorakzai20) July 26, 2023
Abdullah Shafiq is true definition of generational talent. Double hundred away from home is stuff of dream. Gill is not fit to lace boots of Abdullah in test cricket. pic.twitter.com/ZPlWsohP0m
— Maaz (@maaz_ad) July 26, 2023
https://twitter.com/Saif_Speaks66/status/1684150793203769345?s=20
Wow wow wow!!!!👏
Abdullah Shafiq 200♥️🇵🇰
Simply classic 💫⭐#PAKvsSL— Saفia♡🇵🇰 🇵🇸 (@safia9876) July 26, 2023
Thank you misbah for fast tracking Abdullah shafiq
— Danyal (@Danny_danyal23) July 26, 2023
https://twitter.com/LizaJames00/status/1684159111590469634?s=20
What an effort by Abdullah Shafiq. He just look so beautiful when he on sing and playing his shots. A complete batsman. Technique is very good, plays all around the ground, looks elegant when he is playing fluently. A well deserved 200..! pic.twitter.com/7yBjGt4dKZ
— Usman Malik (@UsmanMa34763165) July 26, 2023
