Saud Shakeel scored a double century in the first innings as Pakistan cruised to a four-wicket win over Sri Lanka on the final day of the opening Test in Galle on Thursday to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Pakistan resumed their run-chase of 131 at 48-3 with Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq at the crease.
Azam scored 24 off 28 balls with five fours before being caught by Prabhat Jayasuriya in front of the stumps.
Shakeel also could not stay at the crease till the end and got out after scoring 30 runs in 38 balls.
Imam played a brilliant innings and remained unbeaten on 50, which included four fours and a six.
Agha Salman helped Pakistan win by hitting a six off the very first ball.
In the final session yesterday, Jayasuriya took two wickets of Pakistan’s top-order after dismissing Abdullah Shafiq (8) and Shan Masood (7).
Meanwhile, nightwatchman Nouman Ali was run out while attempting a suicidal second run.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 279 in their second innings on the fourth day, meaning that Pakistan were set a target of 131 runs to win the match.
Abrar Ahmed and Nauman Ali were the main destroyers for Pakistan with three wickets each. Meanwhile, Shaheen Afridi and Agha Salman bagged two wickets each.
Dhananjay de Silva, who scored a century in the first innings, top-scored for the home side once again with 82 runs.
It should be noted that Saud Shakeel scored his maiden double century in Tests as Pakistan took a 149-run lead against Sri Lanka in a rain-affected opening match.
The visitors were bundled out for 461 in the final session on the third day after a disappointing ninth-wicket partnership of 94 between Shakeel, who remained unbeaten on 208, and Naseem Shah, who scored six off 78 balls.
Spinner Ramesh Mendis took five wickets, but Shakeel, along with the tailenders, shared a 52-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Nauman Ali, who made 25.
But his 177-run partnership with Agha Salman (83 runs) brought Pakistan back into the game after being bowled out for 101-5 in reply to Sri Lanka’s 312.
