In a remarkable feat, Sarfaraz Ahmed etched his name in the annals of Pakistani cricket history as he became the first wicketkeeper from Pakistan to amass 3,000 Test runs.
The former captain of the Pakistani cricket team achieved this significant milestone during the first Test match of the two-match series against Sri Lanka, held in Galle.
Earlier, Dhananjaya de Silva showcased his resilience and skill with a resolute innings of 122, leading Sri Lanka’s fightback against Pakistan on the second day of the first Test in Galle. After a challenging start on a wet opening day, de Silva built on his overnight score of 94 and notched up his 10th Test century in his 50th appearance, bolstering Sri Lanka’s position in the match.
With adjusted start times for each session on the second day, play began early, and de Silva wasted no time in reaching his century, achieving the milestone off the bowling of Shaheen Shah Afridi. His patient and determined approach proved vital in steering Sri Lanka’s innings.
As the Sri Lankan innings concluded in 95.2 overs and lunch was called, Shaheen, along with fellow fast bowler Naseem Shah and leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, all claimed three wickets each. Abrar made the first breakthrough of the day by dismissing Ramesh Mendis, who had batted through the previous day.
Despite facing a new ball and the persistent threat from Naseem, de Silva continued to accumulate valuable runs alongside the lower-order batsmen before eventually falling victim to the pacer. In his innings spanning 214 deliveries, de Silva struck 12 fours and three sixes, showcasing his expertise in handling the Pakistan bowling attack.
Lower-ranked batsman Vishwa Fernando remained unbeaten on 21, providing additional support towards the end of Sri Lanka’s innings.
On the opening day, Sri Lanka had a disastrous start, losing four wickets for just 54 runs in the first session after opting to bat. However, they showed resilience and staged a comeback with a crucial 131-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Angelo Mathews (64) and Dhananjaya de Silva.
