Pakistan’s Aggressive Approach Pays Off: Bowls Out Sri Lanka for 166, Races to 145/2 on Day One

Pakistan’s Aggressive Approach Pays Off: Bowls Out Sri Lanka for 166, Races to 145/2 on Day One

Pakistan’s new aggressive approach in the second Test against Sri Lanka has paid rich dividends as they bowled out their opponents for 166 before racing to 145 for 2 in reply on day one in Colombo. Led by captain Babar Azam, Pakistan’s intent to solidify their position was evident as they finished the day on a high, only trailing by 21 runs with 2 wickets in hand.

Winning the toss, Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne chose to bat first but soon regretted his decision as his team’s top order crumbled under the superb bowling of Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi. They were reduced to 36 for 4 early on. However, Dhananjaya de Silva fought back with a valiant knock of 57 runs, but he found little support from his teammates, with only two others reaching double figures.

Pakistan’s fielding was exceptional as well, with Shan Masood running out opener Nishan Madushka and tailender Prabath Jayasuriya with direct throws.

When Pakistan came out to bat, they showed a sense of urgency in their scoring. Although opener Imam-ul-Haq could only manage six runs before being caught at gully, Abdullah Shafique (74) and Shan Masood (51) steadied the ship with a rapid 108-run partnership for the second wicket.

Asitha Fernando eventually dismissed Masood with a well-executed pull shot, but Pakistan’s batting still appeared to be on track to surpass Sri Lanka’s total before play was halted due to inclement weather.

The Pakistan team will be eager to continue their strong performance on day two, with Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam set to resume their innings. Their focus will be on building a substantial first-innings lead that could potentially bat Sri Lanka out of the game.

Overall, Pakistan’s aggressive approach has yielded positive results so far, with their bowlers dismantling Sri Lanka’s batting lineup and their batsmen displaying a fearless intent. If they can maintain this momentum, they have a great opportunity to clinch the series with another convincing victory.