‘Innings of the highest quality!’ – Fans react as Saud Shakeel puts Pakistan in commanding position with double hundred in first Test at Galle

Pakistan have been bowled out for 461 and has a valuable lead of  149 runs at Galle. This happened after Sri Lanka racked up 312 runs on the board.  The star of the show for Pakistan was Saud Shakeel who scored an outstanding 208 off 361 balls with 19 fours. It was a fantastic innings from the left-hander as the Men in Green were tottering at 101-5.  It could have gone pear-shaped for Pakistan but Shakeel found an able ally in Agha Salman who made a cracking 83 off 113 balls with nine fours and one six.

It was not easy for Pakistan having lost the big wickets of Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Shaan Masood, Babar Azam and Sarfaraz Ahmed. But the two stood together and took Pakistan to 278-6. The Men in Green were also helped by valuable contributions from Nauman Ali who hit 25 off 57 balls with four fours. Naseem Shah played a workman-like innings where he scored a resolute 6 off 78 balls with one four to drain the Sri Lankan bowlers.

Sri Lanka made their way to 312 in the first innings on the back of Dhananjaya de Silva at Galle

Shakeel played brilliantly and kept the scoreboard ticking even when batted with the tail. Ramesh Mendis was Sri Lanka’s best bowler as he picked up 5-136 in 42.2 overs. Prabath Jayasuriya also took 3-145 in 35 overs. Earlier The Islanders were rocked early by the Men in Green in 54-4. Then Angelo Mathews and Dananjaya de Silva put up some great rearguard action to steady the ship for Sri Lanka. De Silva made a terrific 122 off 214 balls with 12 fours and three sixes. Mathews made 64 off 109 balls with nine fours.

Then Sadeera Samarawickrama made 36 off 57 balls with five fours. There was a small last-wicket partnership between Kasun Rajitha and Vishwa Fernando. Rajitha made 8 off 24 balls with one four and Fernando made an unbeaten 21 off 28 balls with two fours and one six. When will look at the status of the game Pakistan will feel that they have got their noses in front at the moment.

For Pakistan with the ball in the first innings, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem and Abrar Ahmed took three scalps each. With two days of time left in the game, it will be interesting to see who wins it. The wicket at Galle has provided great assistance to the bowlers and also has been a batting deck if a batter plays himself in.

Let us take a look at the reactions on Twitter:

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