Abdullah Shafique’s One-Handed Stunner to Dismiss Samarwickrama Is Called “Pure Sorcery,” Setting Twitter on Fire
On Thursday, Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka in the first Test by four wickets to take a 1-0 series lead. Pakistan began the final day on 48-3, needing 131 to win, and lost three more wickets, including Babar Azam for 24. Imam-ul-Haq, on the other hand, scored an undefeated fifty and led the visitors to a stunning win in the opening session.
In addition to Pakistan’s decisive victory, Abdullah Shafique’s one-handed miracle catch at short-leg on the last day of the Test match in Galle caught the attention of the audience. Shafiue’s catch, perhaps one of the greatest ever seen, removed Sri Lanka batsman Sadeera Samarawickrama and dropped Sri Lanka to 175/6 before the hosts staged an incredible comeback and reached 279 runs.
Here’s what transpired:
Against Agha Salman, Samarawickrama comfortably moved down the pitch in the 56th over of Sri Lanka’s second innings. However, the length outplayed the Lankan batsman, as the ball took an inside edge off the bat before falling toward short leg. Shafique made a remarkable exhibition of fielding skill by anticipating the ball’s direction and diving full length to his right to catch it out of thin air.
By the conclusion of the day, Pakistan had a little advantage since they just needed 83 runs and seven wickets on the final day to win. Imam, who began the last day on 25, maintained his composure alongside Babar and left-handed partner Saud Shakeel, who quickly hit 30 after scoring an undefeated 208 for Pakistan in the first innings.
Jayasuriya took four wickets for Lanka, giving the home team some optimism, but Imam maintained his composure under duress. Before losing to Jayasuriya, he achieved his ninth Test fifty; however, Agha Salman then came out and smashed the game-winning six.
Earlier, Pakistan scored 461 runs in response to Sri Lanka’s 361 on the strength of Dhananjaya de Silva’s 10th Test ton (122) in the first innings. This was made possible by Saud Shakil’s double century and Agha Salman’s 83.
On Monday in Colombo, the second game of the two-game Test series will begin.
