Pakistan jumped to 3rd position in ICC World Test Championship after registering the highest chase at Galle vs Sri Lanka
On Wednesday, Pakistan registered their second highest successful run-chase in the history of Test cricket when they beat Sri Lanka in the first Test of the two-match series. It was also the highest ever chase at Galle International Stadium. Babar Azam and his team chased down the target of 342 runs.
They made 344/6 and won the match by six wickets courtesy of a marathon innings by opener Abdullah Shafique. The right-hander carried his bat through the innings and remained not out on 160 runs off 408 balls. He also got good support from skipper Babar Azam and wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan.
After scoring a century in the first innings, Babar made 55 runs in the second innings as well, while Rizwan also scored an important 40 runs in the chase. With this win, Pakistan has taken a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
This win has also helped the Men in Green to regain their third position in the ongoing World Test Championship 2021-23 cycle. Paksitan is now third in the table with 58.33 percent. On the other hand, South Africa is at the top with 71.43%, while Australia is in second place with 70%.
Pakistan rise to third in the World Test Championship standings after a brilliant win 📈#SLvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen | #WTC23 pic.twitter.com/Hct3U5dDRV
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) July 20, 2022
It is the fourth win for the Babar-led team in this WTC cycle. They are left with six more games to play and they are one of the favourites to qualify for the finals. But for that, they need to make sure that they don't lose any games from here on.
Speaking of the game, it was Sri Lanka that won the toss and decided to bat first. But they couldn't repeat the heroics of the second test against Australia and were bundled out for 222 runs, with Dinesh Chandimal top scoring with 76 runs.
In reply, Pakistan lost their 9 wickets for just 148 runs, but then skipper Babar with Naseem Shah added an important 70 runs for the last wicket to take their team near the Sri Lankan score and they got all out at 218 runs. Babar scored a brilliant century and made 118 runs.
With a lead of four runs, Sri Lanka batted well in their second innings and made 337 runs to give Pakistan a massive target of 341 runs to chase. It looked untouchable at one point, but Pakistan had a good start with an opening wicket partnership of 87 runs.
But in the end, a gutsy performance from the visitors broke all the records. Both teams will now face off in the second match on Sunday, July 24 at the same venue.