‘Toota hai Galle ka Ghammand’ -Fans react as Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 4 wickets to take 1-0 lead in two-Test Match series

Sri Lanka and Pakistan played out a thrilling Test match at Galle where the Men in Green got the better of the Islanders by 4 wickets. Sri Lanka made 312 in the first innings. The Men from the Emerald Isle were in a spot of bother at 54-4. But Dhananjaya de Silva sculpted a brilliant 122 off 214 balls with 12 fours and three sixes. De Silva was ably supported by Angelo Mathews who made a stroke-filled 64 off 109 balls with nine fours. This enabled them to get to a reasonable score in the first innings.

Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed picked up three wickets each in their respective spells. In the second innings, Pakistan had a bit of a stutter at the start when they were reduced to 101-5 by the Sri Lankan’s but Saud Shakeel and Agha Salman made some superb rearguard action to get back Pakistan in the game. Shakeel scored an unbeaten 208 off 361 balls with 19 fours. Salman provided the ideal foil to Shakeel as he made a cracking 83 off 113 balls with nine fours and one six.

Imam-ul-Haq hit an unbeaten fifty for Pakistan in the second innings

There were also some lower-order contributions from Noman Ali who hit 25 off 57 balls with four fours. Lower down the order Naseem Shah played a great knock of 6 off 78 balls which helped to blunt the Sri Lankan bowlers. Ramesh Mendis was Sri Lanka’s best bowler as he picked up 5-136 in his 42.2 overs spell. Prabath Jayasuriya took 3-145 in his 35-over spell. Pakistan had a 149 runs lead going into the second innings.

In the second innings, Sri Lanka succumbed to the Pakistan bowlers and fell for 279. They were reduced to 79-4 in the second innings. De Silva was the top scorer with 82 off 118 balls with 10 fours and two sixes. Madhushanka hit 52 off 115 balls with seven fours and one six at the top of the order. Abrar Ahmed was Pakistan’s best bowler as he picked up 3-68 in his 24.1 over spell. Pakistan only had to chase down 133 to win in the fourth innings.

Imam-ul-Haq scored an unbeaten 50 off 84 balls with four fours and one six to steer Pakistan through. This is the first Test match win for the Men in Green after a year. Jayasuriya picked up 4-56 in his spell of 14.5 overs in the second innings, but that was in vain. Sri Lanka will want to come back well in the second Test.

Let us take a look at the reactions on Twitter:

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