Pakistan’s Noman Ali emerged as the star of the show, taking a magnificent seven-wicket haul to lead his team to a resounding victory against Sri Lanka. With this win, Pakistan clinched the Test series with a clean sweep of 2-0. The second Test ended in a heavy defeat for Sri Lanka, as they were bowled out for 188 in their second innings, leading to an innings and 222-run triumph for Pakistan.
Left-arm spinner Noman Ali was the wrecker-in-chief, claiming all seven wickets of Sri Lanka’s second innings. His remarkable figures of 7-70 showcased his exceptional talent and skill. This outstanding performance marked a career-best for Noman in his 15th Test match. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, succumbed to their heaviest Test defeat on home soil.
Pakistan had already gained a massive advantage in the match after declaring their first innings at 576-5, boasting a substantial lead of 410 runs. The hosts began well with an opening partnership of 69 runs, but it was Noman’s brilliance that turned the game in Pakistan’s favor. He struck early, dismissing Nishan Madushka for 33 with his first delivery of the day and continued to dominate thereafter.
Captain Dimuth Karunaratne fought valiantly, hitting boundaries off Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi, while Madushka also contributed to the charge. However, Noman’s exceptional skills once again came to the fore as he claimed the crucial wicket of Angelo Mathews, who had been batting admirably and remained unbeaten on 63. Noman had gone wicketless in Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 166, but he made a magnificent comeback in the second innings.
Naseem Shah, known for his express pace, also played a vital role in wrapping up the Sri Lankan tail. He missed out on a few close lbw calls earlier in the innings but eventually managed to dismiss two batsmen in one over, utilizing the reverse swing of the old ball.
In addition to their stellar bowling performance, Pakistan also witnessed an impactful innings from Mohammad Rizwan, who served as a concussion substitute. Rizwan reached his half-century off just 67 balls and formed a crucial partnership of 108 runs with his overnight partner, Salman. This further strengthened Pakistan’s position as they bundled out Sri Lanka for 166 in their first innings.
With this comprehensive victory, Pakistan displayed their dominance over Sri Lanka throughout the series. While Sri Lanka fought hard at times, they were ultimately unable to match Pakistan’s exceptional performances. Pakistan’s Fawad Alam’s maiden Test double century in the first match and Noman Ali’s sensational seven-wicket haul in the second Test played instrumental roles in their series triumph.
Overall, Pakistan’s emphatic win serves as a testament to their skills and teamwork. It is a significant achievement for the team, further solidifying their reputation as a formidable force in Test cricket. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will have to regroup and reassess their strategies to bounce back stronger in future matches.
