Sri Lanka’s Prabath Jayasuriya delivered a fighting bowling performance on Day 4 of the first Test against Pakistan, providing a glimmer of hope for the home team. However, Pakistan still holds a firm grip on the match as Sri Lanka faces an uphill battle to turn the game in their favor.
Chasing a target of 131 runs for victory, Pakistan stumbled to 48/3 at stumps, with opener Imam-ul-Haq and Captain Babar Azam at the crease. Jayasuriya’s crucial strikes revived Sri Lanka’s hopes, dismissing key batsmen and adding a touch of excitement to the contest. Earlier in the day, Pakistan had successfully bundled out Sri Lanka for 279 runs. The visitors owed their success to the exceptional bowling of Shaheen Shah Afridi, who proved to be their biggest weapon with the new ball.
Sri Lanka’s batting lineup struggled, falling short of expectations and leaving them with a daunting task of putting up an exceptional performance in their second innings. Despite their valiant fight and unwavering resilience, Sri Lanka finds themselves in a challenging position against Pakistan, who currently hold the advantage. The equation is now straightforward: Pakistan requires 83 runs to secure victory, while Sri Lanka needs a remarkable turn of events to salvage the match.
The Sri Lanka team will heavily rely on their bowlers to guide them and stop Pakistan team from target chase down.
Meanwhile, Pakistan will approach the final day of the Test with caution, realizing the importance of a disciplined and controlled approach to successfully navigate the tricky chase. Captain Babar Azam and opener Imam-ul-Haq will bear the responsibility of laying a solid foundation and building partnerships to steer Pakistan towards victory.
As the match heads into its final day, spectators can anticipate an enthralling battle between bat and ball. Sri Lanka, fueled by the support of their home crowd, will be eager to orchestrate a remarkable turnaround and snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. On the other hand, Pakistan will be determined to maintain their advantageous position and secure a crucial win.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 312 & 279 (Dhananjaya de Silva 82, Nishan Madushka 52; Abrar Ahmed 3-68, Noman Ali 3-75) lead Pakistan 461 & 48/3 (Imam-ul-Haq 25*; Prabath Jayasuriya 2-17) by 83 runs.
