श्रीलंका vs पाकिस्तान, पहला टेस्ट, गॉल इंटरनेशनल स्टेडियम, गॉल, 16 July 2023 - कमेंट्री

Fuller, on middle and leg. Ahmed goes for the sweep, but the short leg does well to make a sharp stop.

On off, driven back to the bowler.

Around off, on a fuller length. Ahmed blocks it out.

OUT! CAUGHT! Prabath Jayasuriya picks his fourth wicket. He has certainly made the most of the bowling conditions here. It is tossed up, on off. Sarfaraz Ahmed goes for the sweep shot to find the boundary, but only manages to find the fielder in the deep, as he miscues his slog sweep. Kusal Mendis takes a sharp catch diving forward.

SIX! BANG! Agha Salman seals the game for the visitors. It is tossed up, full and on off. Agha Salman gets under it and smokes it over the bolwer's head for a maximum.

A bit short, turning away as well. Imam-ul-Haq defends it out solidly.

Around off, Imam-ul-Haq blocks it watchfully.

Quicker one, attacking the stumps. Imam-ul-Haq prods and defends it out.

Imam-ul-Haq uses his feet and blocks this full one.

Imam-ul-Haq now rotates the strike as he drives this full ball to mid off. He also gets to his half-century. A well-deserved knock on a tough track. He certainly stepped up for his side here.

LEG BYE! Tossed up, outside off. It grips and turns in. Sarfaraz Ahmed comes down the track as he looks to flick it away but takes a blow on his pads. There is an appeal for lbw, which is turned down by the umpire. Sri Lanka take the review but the Ball Tracking confirms that the impact is outside.

This is full, outside off. Imam-ul-Haq uses his feet, gets behind the line and slogs it through mid-wicket only for one.

Tossed up, around off. Ahmed uses his feet now and drives it to the left of mid off. One taken.

Around off, defended watchfully.

Shorter, on the pads, Imam-ul-Haq tucks it to square leg for a single.

Looped up, on off. Ahmed is unable to time it well, but is fortunate enough to see the ball land before the fielder at mid on.

On off, Sarfaraz Ahmed gets back on defensive duties.

Quicker one, darted on the pads. Imam-ul-Haq clips it to mid on for one.

Saud Shakeel prods to this full one and defends it.

FOUR! Beautiful shot. Ramesh Mendis goes full, around off. Saud Shakeel uses his feet this, gets to the pitch of it, opens the face of the bat and drives it uppishly over covers for a cracking boundary,

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Ramesh Mendis with a peach of a delivery to get rid of Saud Shakeel who was certainly taking on the Sri Lanka bowling attack. Ramesh Mendis serves a full one, around off, that comes in with the arm. The ball though turns away sharply from the bat of Saud Shakeel, only to get nicked. Sadeera Samarawickrama takes a sharp catch.

A low full toss, on leg. Ahmed comes down the track and flicks it into mid-wicket, only to find the fielder.

Two dots in a row to end a wicket-taking over. Very full, outside off. Ahmed prods and blocks it to short leg off the inner half.

Imam-ul-Haq knocks this full ball to mid off and hares across to the other end for a quick single.

Flatter one, outside off. It comes in with the arm, but chnages its trajectory as soon as it grips. Saud Shakeel finds it difficult to deal with it.

On off, blocked away watchfully.

FOUR! Amazing shot. Prabath Jayasuriya goes full, outside off. Saud Shakeel covers his stumps and reverse-sweeps it through backward point, the ball races away.

Around off, blocked out.

FOUR! Saud Shakeel seems to be in a hurry to end things here. It is fuller, on off. Saud Shakeel goes down on one knee and sweeps it along the ground through mid-wicket for four runs.

FOUR! Beautiful shot! Saud Shakeel making it look so easy. It is a flighted one, on leg stump. Saud Shakeel shuffles, gets down on one knee and scoops it towards fine leg. The fielder gives it a chase but loses the race with the ball.

On off, blocked.

A bit short, on top of off. Shakeel stays back and knocks it into covers. Could not find the gap though.

Tossed up, on off, blocked away from inside the crease.

Much fuller, on off stump. Shakeel gets it behind point on the off side off the outer half.

Flights this one up, around off. The ball grips and turns away sharply. Saud Shakeel tries to block it away but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Looped up, around off, blocked.

Around off, on a fuller length. Imam-ul-Haq defends it out with ease.

Imam-ul-Haq now defends this full one off the front foot. The spinners cutting down the run flow here.

Imam-ul-Haq uses his feet this time on the full one. He almost yorks himself, but does well to see it out with the bat.

A single now as this is pushed into covers.

Saud Shakeel now crosses for a single, as Saud Shakeel drives it down the park.

Coming in with the arm, flighted, on leg. Shakeel nudges it into mid-wicket. Saud Shakeel looks for a single here but Imam-ul-Haq was busy ball-watching this time.

Floated and full, around off. Shakeel prods and blocks it out watchfully.

Saud Shakeel now drives this full ball through covers for a brace.

A dot now! Pushed through quicker, on off. Saud Shakeel blocks it out solidly.

Attcking the sticks, blocked out watchfully.

Three dots in a row to end the over. Much fuller, around off. Saud Shakeel remains solid in his defense.

Flatter, short and on middle, Imam-ul-Haq uses his feet but only manages to block it back to the bowler.

Tossed up, on middle, Imam-ul-Haq comes forward and takes it on the full to drill it wide of long on for a single.

Floated, full and on off, Saud Shakeel clips it wide of mid on for a run.

Looped up, full and on off, Imam-ul-Haq jams it out towards mid off for another run.

FOUR! Fine shot! This is flighted and around off, Saud Shakeel dances down the track and smacks it over the bowler's head for a boundary.

In the air...safe! A floated delivery, full and on off, Saud Shakeel goes for the sweep but gets a top edge as the ball lands safely in the backward square leg area. They cross.

Dhananjaya de Silva starts with a floated delivery, full and on off, Saud Shakeel knocks it towards short covers.

Tossed up, full and on off, Saud Shakeel pushes it back to the bowler.

A bit short and on off, Saud Shakeel stays back and taps it to short covers.

Flighted, full and on off, Saud Shakeel prods forward to defend it.

Quicker, short and on middle, Saud Shakeel negotiates it well again.

A maiden over then! This is looped up, full and on middle, Saud Shakeel leans forward and dead-bats it.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Imam-ul-Haq uses his feet to work it away, but yorks himself and digs it out.

Floated, full and on off, Imam-ul-Haq comes forward and pushes it through covers for a single.

Flatter, full and on off, Saud Shakeel eases it towards long on for a run.

Flighted, full and on middle, Imam-ul-Haq blocks it out well.

Looped up, full and on middle, Imam-ul-Haq defends it on the front foot.

Gives this one some more air, on off, turns in sharply, Imam-ul-Haq looks to drive but gets an inside edge onto his pads.

BANG! Imam-ul-Haq goes big! This is tossed up, on off, Imam-ul-Haq dances down the track and launches it against the turn over the long off fence for a biggie.

Floated, full and on middle, Imam-ul-Haq clips it towards mid on for a single.

Flighted, full and on middle, Saud Shakeel blocks it back to the bowler.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Ramesh Mendis drags his length, outside off, Saud Shakeel moves back and cuts it late past backward point for a boundary.

Short again, on off, Saud Shakeel dabs it towards point.

Another short delivery, on middle, Saud Shakeel moves back and keeps it out to the off side.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Imam-ul-Haq comes forward and drills it wide of long on for a single.

Is that a catch? No, it is not. This is floated, full and on middle, Babar Azam sweeps it hard as the ball hits short leg around his shin before looping to short mid-wicket.

OUT! LBW! Prabath Jayasuriya strikes! Just what Sri Lanka needed as they are delighted to see the back of Babar Azam. This is nicely tossed up, full and on middle, angles in without any turn, Babar Azam prods forward to block as he expects the turn away, but plays completely down the wrong line to get hit on the pads in front of the stumps. There is a huge appeal for LBW, and up goes the finger. Babar Azam takes the review, but UltraEdge shows no bat involved and Ball Tracking indicates three reds. Pakistan four down now!

Slower through the air, short and on off, turns in, Saud Shakeel moves across to play but misses and gets hit around his thigh pads.

Looped up, full and on off, Saud Shakeel works it wide of the bowler where Prabath Jayasuriya runs to his left to stop it with his foot.

Lovely delivery! This is flatter, short and on off, skids through and angles away, Saud Shakeel stays back to keep it out but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Imam-ul-Haq blocks it down the pitch.

BEAUTY! Floated, short and on off, grips and tuns away sharply, Imam-ul-Haq is stuck on his crease and has a poke but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Flighted, full and on off, Imam-ul-Haq guides it wit the outer half towards point.

Looped up, full and on off, Imam-ul-Haq pushes it towards covers for a single.

FOUR! Babar Azam finds the fence again! This is flatter, full and around leg, Babar Azam goes down for the sweep but gets a bottom edge as the ball runs away to the fine leg fence for a boundary.

Slower through the air, on middle, Babar Azam turns it to short leg.

A bit short and on off, Imam-ul-Haq stays back and blocks it out.

FOUR BYES! Beats everyone! Prabath Jayasuriya floats this up, full and around off, lands in the rough and turns in sharply and a long way, Imam-ul-Haq looks to drive but misses and Sadeera Samarawickrama fails to stop it as well as the ball races to the fence for a boundary.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Imam-ul-Haq defends it on the front foot.

Flatter, full and on middle, Imam-ul-Haq drills it towards long on for a single.

Flighted, full and on middle, Babar Azam prods forward to keep it out.

Looped up, full and on middle, Babar Azam is solid in his defense.

Short and outside off Imam-ul-Haq cuts it towards deep point for a couple of runs.

Tossed up, full and on middle, turns away, Imam-ul-Haq tries to flick but gets a leading edge in front of covers for a single.

Floated, full and on off, Babar Azam taps it to the off side for a quick run.

Flighted, full and on middle, Imam-ul-Haq uses his feet and tucks it towards mid on for another run.

Looped up, full and on off, turns in, Babar Azam goes for the drive but gets an inside edge onto his pads.

Gives this one some air as well, on off, Babar Azam defends it on the front foot.

Prabath Jayasuriya begins with a floated delivery, full and on off, Imam-ul-Haq steers it towards point for a single.

Tossed up, shortish and on middle, turns in, Babar Azam defends it off the inner half past short leg for a run.

Short and on middle, Imam-ul-Haq moves back and clips it through mid-wicket for another run.

Flighted, full and on middle, Babar Azam tucks it to short leg.

FOUR! Nice use of the feet! This is looped up, on middle, Babar Azam skips down the track, takes it on the full and whips it past mid on for a boundary.

Slightly shorter and on middle, Babar Azam works it towards short mid-wicket.

FOUR! A poor delivery and rightly punished! Ramesh Mendis lands this short and around leg, turns in, Babar Azam moves back and drags it towards the deep square leg fence for a boundary.

Floated, full and on middle, turns into the leg side, Babar Azam leaves it alone.

Tossed up, full and on middle, turns sharply to the leg side, Babar Azam misses his flick.

Flighted, full and on middle, Babar Azam turns it past short leg.

FOUR! Another boundary! This is short again, on middle, turning in, Babar Azam once again moves back and nudges it well past leg slip and short fine leg for four more runs.

Looped up, full and on middle, turns in, Babar Azam prods forward to block but misses and gets hit on the pads. There is a stifled appeal, but turned down.

Fuller delivery sliding down leg, Babar Azam looks to defend but gets hit on his pads. Loud appeal by the fielding side but the umpire has turned this down. Sri Lanka has opted for a review here and the ball tracker shows that the ball would have missed the leg pole.

Tossed up no off, Babar Azam defends this off the front foot.

Fuller one in middle, Babar Azam pushes this to the mid on fielder for no run.

FOUR! Tossed up around pads, Babar Azam stands tall and tucks this to the vacant fine leg region and earns himself and his side four runs here.

Tossed up on off, Babar Azam pushes this to mid on and takes a single.

Flighted delivery outside off, Imam-ul-Haq advances down the ground and pushes this back to the bowler. This would the end of this day's play.

Tossed up in middle, Babar Azam defends this solidly.

Fuller one around off, Babar Azam defends this off the front foot back towards the bowler.

Tossed up outside off, Babar Azam defends this for no run.

Tossed up on off, Babar Azam flicks this towards the long on region for a single.

FOUR! Short-pitched delivery outside off, Imam-ul-Haq hops back and pulls this through the mid-wicket region for a boundary.

Tossed up on off, Imam-ul-Haq drives this to cover for no run.

Fuller one just outside off, Imam-ul-Haq looks to defend but the ball clips his pads first.

Fuller one on off, Imam-ul-Haq defends this right underneath his eyeline.

Tossed up in middle, Imam-ul-Haq pushes this towards the mid-wicket region for no run.

Arm delivery outside off, Imam-ul-Haq defends this off his back foot for no run.

Fuller one around the off-stump line, Imam-ul-Haq pushes this to cover for no run.

OUT! RUN-OUT! OH DEAR ME, What have they done in the middle. The night watchman has to walk back as he has been run out at the non-striking end looking to take an extra run. Tossed up around middle, Imam-ul-Haq flicks this towards the deep square leg region and runs a single but Imam-ul-Haq calls for the second and Nauman Ali just ran to sacrifice his wicket here. A brain-fade moment dismisses Nauman Ali from the middle. Ramesh Mendis chose the correct end to throw as Nauman Ali was no where near the crease.

Tossed up on off, Imam-ul-Haq pushes this to the off side for a single.

Tossed up just outside off, Nauman Ali looks to play the drive but gets beaten.

Fuller one around the middle, Nauman Ali solidly blocks this out.

Fuller one around off, Nauman Ali defends this well.

Quicker and flatter in middle, Nauman Ali strides out and block this.

Tossed up in middle, Nauman Ali tucks this to the on side for no run.

Short of a length in middle, Imam-ul-Haq tucks this towards the on side for a single.

Tossed up on off, Shan Masood defends this off the front foot.

Fuller one around off, Shan Masood strides forward and defends this off his pads.

OUT! DEFLECTION OF HIS BAT ONTO THE PADS AND GONE! Tossed up around middle, Shan Masood advances down the ground as he looks to block this but gets an edge onto his pads and straight in the hands of Nishan Madushka at short fine leg for his dismissal.

Fuller one on off, Nauman Ali defends this right underneath his eye line.

Tossed up on off, Nauman Ali flicks this to short fine leg for no run.

FOUR! Short and wide outside off, Imam-ul-Haq hops back and cuts this towards point for a boundary.

Tossed up in middle, Imam-ul-Haq defends this off the front foot.

Fuller one around middle, Imam-ul-Haq tucks this towards mid on for a single.

Tossed up on off, Shan Masood defends this of his front foot.

Full and wide outside off, Shan Masood drives this towards mid off for a single.

Tossed up on off,  Imam-ul-Haq drives this through mid on for a single.

Tossed up, full and on leg, Shan Masood uses his feet and tucks it towards mid-wicket for a single.

Floated, full and on leg, Imam-ul-Haq misses his flick as the ball goes off his pads towards fine leg. A leg bye is taken.

Flighted, full and on middle, Shan Masood uses his feet to turn it to the leg side.

FOUR! Glorious shot! Prabath Jayasuriya lands this a bit short and outside off, Shan Masood moves back and punches it through covers for a lovely boundary.

Short and on middle, Shan Masood nudges it on the ground as the it bounces over short leg. They cross.

Looped up, full and on middle, Imam-ul-Haq uses his feet and eases it to long on for one.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Imam-ul-Haq drills it back to the bowler.

Floated, full and on off, turns away, Imam-ul-Haq leaves it alone.

Short and on off, Imam-ul-Haq slaps it towards short covers.

Flighted, full and on middle, Imam-ul-Haq defends it on the front foot.

FOUR! Good shot! Ramesh Mendis lands this short and around off, Imam-ul-Haq moves back and whips it towards the deep mid-wicket fence for a boundary.

Looped up, full and on middle, Imam-ul-Haq keeps it out to the off side.

Short and on leg, Imam-ul-Haq pats it past short leg for a single.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Abdullah Shafique blocks it out.

Floated, full and no off, Abdullah Shafique defends it on the front foot.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Prabath Jayasuriya draws first blood! Sri Lanka have an early breakthrough! This is flatter, full and on off, turns away sharply, Abdullah Shafique prods forward to defend but only manages to get a very thin edge behind where Sadeera Samarawickrama lets it through his gloves but the ball gets stuck between his thighs. The umpire gives out after some time but Shafique takes the review. However, UltraEdge confirms the edge and Pakistan lose their first wicket and the review as well.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Shan Masood turns it to short leg.

A bit short and on middle, Shan Masood keeps it out to the leg side.

Tossed up, short and on off, turns away, Imam-ul-Haq looks to pull but gets a bottom edge on the bounce to first slip.

Floated, full and on middle, Imam-ul-Haq blocks it out.

FOUR! Positive intent! This is flighted, full and on middle, Imam-ul-Haq skips down the track and lofts it towards the long on fence for a one-bounce four.

Flatter, full and on middle, Imam-ul-Haq tucks it wide of mid-wicket for a single.

Oh..some turn! Ramesh Mendis lands this short on off, lands on the dust and turns in a long way, Abdullah Shafique looks to cut but gets squared up and the ball hits him high on the body.

Flighted, full and on middle, turns in again, Abdullah Shafique looks to defend but misses and gets hit high on the pads.

Tossed up, full and on off, Abdullah Shafique blocks it out.

Floated, full and on middle, Abdullah Shafique keeps it out to the leg side.

Flighted, full and on off, Abdullah Shafique uses his feet and drives towards mid off for a quick single.

Slower through the air, on off, Imam-ul-Haq comes forward and taps it towards short covers and calls for the run but is sent back.

Short and around leg, Imam-ul-Haq nudges it through backward square leg for a run.

Short again, on off, Abdullah Shafique punches it towards covers.

Tossed up sliding down leg, Abdullah Shafique looks to defend but it turns down leg.

Tossed up around off, Abdullah Shafique tucks this towards fine leg for a single.

Tossed up outside off, Imam-ul-Haq defends this off his front foot.

Short and wide of off, Imam-ul-Haq cuts this towards point for no run.

Fuller one on off, Imam-ul-Haq defends this off his front foot.

TURN AND BOUNCE! Tossed up outside off, Imam-ul-Haq looks to block it out but gets beaten by the spin away with extra bounce.

Leg bye. On a length around the pads, Abdullah Shafique tucks this off his pads towards short fine leg for a single.

 On a length around off, Imam-ul-Haq gets late to the stroke as the ball has bumped into his front pad. Lous appeal but the umpire turns this down and the fielding side has opted for a reviver. The ball tracker shows that the impact was outside off and it saves Imam-ul-Haq.

On a length around off, Imam-ul-Haq defends this off his front foot.

On a length around off, Imam-ul-Haq pushes this towards the off side for no run.

Fuller one around pads, Imam-ul-Haq blocks it out towards the bowler.

Good length delivery on off, Imam-ul-Haq pushes this towards the off side for no run.

Tossed up around off, Imam-ul-Haq defends this off the front foot for no run.

Short of a length around middle, Imam-ul-Haq tucks this towards the on side for no run.

Fuller one outside off, Imam-ul-Haq defends this right underneath his eyeline.

Off-break pitching on off and turning away from the left hander, Imam-ul-Haq defends this off his front foot.

Tossed up on off, Imam-ul-Haq keeps it out.

Fuller one around the pads, Imam-ul-Haq flicks this to short mid-wicket for no run.

On a length around the pads, Abdullah Shafique tucks this towards deep square leg for a couple of runs.

Wide yorker, Abdullah Shafique leans low and defends this well towards the off side.

FOUR! On a length around the pads again, Abdullah Shafique flicks this and runs this down towards the fine leg region for a boundary.

Fuller one around off, Abdullah Shafique defends this off his front foot for no run.

Fuller one around pads, sliding down leg, Abdullah Shafique looks to flick but misses out.

Good length delivery on off, Abdullah Shafique defends this of the front foot for no run.