‘Crushing win’ -Fans react as Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 222 runs at Colombo to take series 2-0
Pakistan and Sri Lanka locked horns with each other at Colombo in the second Test. The Islanders won the toss and opted to bat. It was an abysmal batting performance from them as they were bundled out for 166 in just 48.4 overs in the first innings. Abrar Ahmed took 4-69 in his 20.4 overs spell. Naseem Shah took 3-41 in his 14-over burst. For the Men from the Emerald Isle, Dhananjaya de Silva was the top scorer with 57 off 68 balls with nine fours and one six.
There were also contributions from Dinesh Chandimal who made 34 off 60 balls with four 4s. Ramesh Mendis made 27 off 44 balls with three 4s. In the second innings. the Sri Lankan bowlers were sent on a leather hunt by the Pakistan batters. Abdullah Shafique was the hero for the Men in Green as he smashed his maiden double ton in Test cricket. The right-handed batter made an authoritative 201 off 326 balls with 19 fours and four sixes.
Agha Salman hit an unbeaten 132 off 145 balls for Pakistan in Colombo
Shaan Masood made a quickfire 51 off 47 balls with four fours and one six. Saud Shakeel continued his good form from the first Test where he scored a double hundred. The left-hander made 57 off 110 balls with six fours. Pakistan continued their onslaught down the order as Agha Salman plundered the Sri Lankan bowlers and made a stroke-filled unbeaten 132 off 154 balls with 15 fours and one six.
Salman got great support from Mohammed Rizwan who came into the side as a concussion substitute for Sarfaraz Ahmed. The wicketkeeper-batter struck 50 off just 67 balls with four fours and one six. The Men in Green mounted 576-5 and declared. This meant Sri Lanka had to follow on and chase a target of 410 runs. The batting from the Islanders did not hold up in the second innings as well. Noman Ali spun a web over the Sri Lankans and picked up 7-70 in his 23-over spell.
Naseem provided support with 3-44 in his 17.4 over spell. Angelo Mathews was the only one who showed some resistance as he hit an unbeaten 63 off 127 balls with seven fours and two sixes. This gave Pakistan a huge win by an innings and 222 runs and also a 2-0 drubbing over Sri Lanka. Shafiqye was awarded the player of the series.
Let us take a look at the reactions on Twitter:
Win after a long time ❤️🔥#BabarAzam𓃵 #Naseemshah #PAKvsSL pic.twitter.com/DygBmyKO1A
— Moiz Malik (@MoizIzHere) July 27, 2023
https://twitter.com/israr_alee8/status/1684533924653936642?s=20
A Splendid Whitewash By 🇵🇰 Over 🇱🇰 👏🏼👏🏼 Stunning Bowling Display by @Ali17Noman and @iNaseemShah.#PakBall #TestCricket #Pakistan @TheRealPCB @ICC#PAKvsSL #PAKvSL #Pakistan #PakBall #TestCricket pic.twitter.com/zW20UMMvYg
— Amad Liaqat (@amadliaqat_001) July 27, 2023
It's all about captaincy, batting, fielding, bowling. Pakistan clinching the historical series by 2-0. Credit goes to the entire team 💖.#pakvsSL #PakBall #WTC25 pic.twitter.com/XoKwx5EqHw
— Niaz Aحmad🇵🇰 (@NiazAhmad7904) July 27, 2023
Magnificent victory for the Pakistan cricket team! They dominated throughout the entire Test series, truly exemplifying #ThePakistanWay. Congratulations boys.
Fielding made a massive difference in the series win. #PAKvsSL @TheRealPCB @babarazam258 @iNaseemShah @ZakaAshraf1 pic.twitter.com/uIdQctiE3F— Azhar Masood Khan (@AzharMasood786) July 27, 2023
https://twitter.com/khadija_altkd/status/1684534571763929090?s=20
Horror story for Sri Lanka team .. lost by 222 runs and an inning 😢😢😢
Absolute gem of a performance by the Pakistan team ! #PAKvsSL #Cricket #SriLanka #Slcricket
— Rukshan Ediriweera (@RukiEdi) July 27, 2023
Sri Lanka played T20 style match while Pakistan 🇵🇰 played the proper old school test match. Well done to the Pakistani team. #lka SL team is properly thrashed with a whitewash #PAKvsSL #SLvsPAK It was N. Ali's spinning & N. Shah finished it in style. pic.twitter.com/1zoURYK3Fg
— Tom (@DentalBusi27587) July 27, 2023
Congratulations Pakistan 🇵🇰 on wining the series 2-0💚
Brilliant performances by Saud ,Shaheen,Naseen,Abrar,Salman,Nouman,Abdullah,Imam,Shan,Rizwan and brilliant captaincy by Bobby 👑 #PAKvsSL #SLvsPAK #WorldCup2023 #WTC25 #BabarAzam𓃵 #Ashes23 pic.twitter.com/RwwH1jBfBY
— Farhan (@LitFarhan) July 27, 2023
CONGRATULATIONS PAKISTAN 🇵🇰
A splendid whitewash By Pakistan Over Sri Lanka👏🏼👏🏼 Stunning bowling display by Nauman Ali, Abrar, and Naseem Shah as well.Amazing Batting by saud shakeel, Abdullah, and Salman Ali Agha.👏🏼✨#PAKvsSL #TestCricket #Pakistan @TheRealPCB pic.twitter.com/XF9ML3kwBk— Saeed Ajmal (@REALsaeedajmal) July 27, 2023
https://twitter.com/SaadIrfan258/status/1684465187376844801?s=20
