Dhananjaya de Silva leads Sri Lanka’s fight against Pakistan in Galle Test
Sri Lanka’s Dhananjaya de Silva played a crucial role in helping his team recover from an early collapse on the first day of the Test match against Pakistan in Galle. After being reduced to 54-4 in the opening session, de Silva and Angelo Mathews steadied the ship with a partnership of 131 runs for the fifth wicket.
De Silva remained unbeaten on 94 at stumps, showcasing his elegant stroke play with deft cuts, drives, and pulls. He hit 10 fours and three sixes during his innings, including one six that brought up his fifty. However, he slowed down in the final hour of play as he aimed to reach his milestone of 10 Test centuries in his 50th match.
Mathews, playing his 105th Test, scored his 39th half-century in Test cricket. The experienced duo looked comfortable at the crease, with de Silva taking on the bowlers with boundaries. But leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed got Mathews caught behind just before tea, ending their partnership.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi made a successful return to Test cricket by taking three wickets in Sri Lanka’s top order. Shaheen dismissed Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis, and Sadeera Samarawickrama to leave the hosts struggling at 54-4. Rain interruptions further disrupted play, resulting in the loss of 24.2 overs.
Shaheen’s teammate, Naseem Shah, also contributed with a wicket by getting Dinesh Chandimal out for just one run. Captain Babar Azam took a superb catch at third slip to dismiss Chandimal.
Overall, it was a challenging day for both teams due to rain interruptions and early wickets. Sri Lanka will be pleased with the recovery led by de Silva and Mathews, while Pakistan’s bowlers will look to make further inroads on the second day.
The weather forecast for the remaining days of the Test match looks promising, so fans can expect an exciting battle between bat and ball. Both teams will be eager to gain an advantage and set themselves up for a strong position in the match.
As we await the continuation of the Test match, cricket enthusiasts will be hoping for more thrilling performances and memorable moments in Galle.
