Shafique's epic 160* leads Pakistan to fourth-innings glory
Prabath Jayasuriya picked up four wickets but found little support from Sri Lanka's other bowlers
Prabath Jayasuriya picked up four wickets but found little support from Sri Lanka's other bowlers
Scorer: M Venkat Raghav | Commentator: Ankur Dhawan
Right, folks. It's been a memorable, thrilling Test. Sri Lanka and Pakistan have continued the tradition of producing compelling cricket whenever they meet. But that's all from our coverage. The next Test starts in just four days time. Do join us for that. Until then, it's goodbye
Babar Azam: I am thankful to the tailenders Yasir Shah and Naseem Shah to have helped me in the first innings. When I was batting with Abdullah Shafique we were just trying to build a partnership. He has shown his class.
Dimuth Karunaratne: The bowlers bowled well in the first innings and we batted well in the second. 300 is a big score in the fourth innings but as a bowling unit we need to give more support to Prabath Jayasuriya. He did a great job, he's bowled really good areas. Playing hundred Tests (on Mathews' upcoming 100th Test) is a remarkable thing. We need to correct the mistakes come the second Test.
Abdullah Shafique is the player of the match: I'm quite happy that we chased the target on the last day. Plan was simple that we have to go for the runs. The pitch was difficult but as you spent more time, it got easier. When the spinners were bowling with the new ball, they were getting help.
Pakistan finally get there but not without a few scares. Those last 44 runs after lunch felt like they took forever to come - then there was the rain break with 11 needed. With that, Pakistan have chased down their second-highest target in Tests, and a record total at Galle. What a remarkable turnaround this has been for them. To think they were 112 for 8 at one stage in the first innings. But Babar Azam made that brilliant hundred and took them within touching distance of Sri Lanka's score. But the man of the moment is Abdullah Shafique. For someone so new to Test cricket, he showed the maturity of a veteran. He made his highest Test score of 160, to remain unbeaten as he took his side home. Pakistan endured a nervous period of play just before and after lunch, but Shafique made sure he held one end up. They lost three wickets in a hurry, including the crucial one of Mohammad Rizwan during that period. Prabath Jayasuriya did the bulk of the damage taking two of them. Overall, Sri Lanka just didn't create enough chances, and when they did, they didn't take them. Shafique was dropped twice this morning, once a return catch by Dhananjaya de Silva, but the easier one of them later at deep square leg by Kasun Rajitha when the game was on a knife edge with Pakistan requiring 19. Jayasuriya toiled tirelessly and picked up another four-wicket haul, but he didn't have enough support from the other spinners. So Pakistan take a one-nil lead with one Test to go. Stay tuned for the presentation.
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Highlights of Pakistan's incredible win, which was the highest successful chase in Galle
For a country infamous for its opening woes, Shafique doesn't just feel like the right answer, but an entire exam being aced
Prabath Jayasuriya picked up four wickets but found little support from Sri Lanka's other bowlers