Pakistan could easily have been hundred runs behind but they finish just four short of Sri Lanka's total. The last pair frustrated Sri Lanka and proved to be quite a nuisance. Babar Azam soldiered on farming the strike, picking up singles with ease, and even boundaries when the opportunity presented itself. He made his seventh Test hundred in the process, a superb hundred at that. Naseem Shah blocked everything but hung in there resolutely. The weird thing was that Sri Lanka stopped bringing the field in to stop the single as the partnership wore on, making it easy for Babar to keep the strike at the start of each over. Sri Lanka's last two pairs had added 89 invaluable runs, Pakistan's last two bettered that, adding 106. Prabath Jayasuriya would walk off the field with his head held high, however. He probed away tirelessly and picked up five wickets for his efforts, his third straight five-wicket haul. But overall, Pakistan would be chuffed to have come so close to Sri Lanka.
Babar Azam lbw b Theekshana 119 (312m 244b 11x4 2x6) SR: 48.77
Shazeen Ifamy: "This is very frustrating! I thought Sri Lanka will be batting by now but Pakistan have batted well and have frustrated Sri Lanka and it's fan…I'm currently ripping my hair off!"
Qamber: "I hope all those who were saying sooner or later wicket will fell and criticizing Babar Azam's approach are still watching the game? Patience is a virtue folks!!"
END OF OVER:90 | 7 Runs | PAK: 216/9
- Naseem Shah5 (52b)
- Babar Azam117 (239b)
- Prabath Jayasuriya39-10-82-5
- Maheesh Theekshana25-6-66-1
END OF OVER:89 | 1 Run | PAK: 209/9
- Naseem Shah5 (51b)
- Babar Azam110 (234b)
- Maheesh Theekshana25-6-66-1
- Prabath Jayasuriya38-10-75-5
END OF OVER:88 | 1 Run | PAK: 208/9
- Naseem Shah5 (49b)
- Babar Azam109 (230b)
- Prabath Jayasuriya38-10-75-5
- Maheesh Theekshana24-6-65-1
