In an awe-inspiring display of skill and tenacity, Pakistani batter Saud Shakeel etched his name in the annals of cricket history during the second test against Sri Lanka by achieving a remarkable world record.
Shakeel became the first player in Test cricket to score 50+ runs in each of his first seven matches, surpassing the previous record held by legendary players like India’s Sunil Gavaskar, Pakistan’s Saeed Ahmed, West Indies’ Basil Butcher, and New Zealand’s Bert Sutcliffe, who had all achieved this feat in their first six Tests.
During the third day of the enthralling test match, Sri Lanka’s Asitha Fernando managed to break Shakeel’s dominant knock on 57 runs during the afternoon session, claiming his third wicket of the match. The young fast bowler executed a well-crafted delivery from around the wicket, catching the left-handed Shakeel off guard and dismissing him lbw. Shakeel’s departure ended a promising 109-run partnership with fellow batsman Abdullah Shafique.
Nevertheless, Shafique’s exceptional performance kept Pakistan’s flag flying high. The talented left-handed opener notched his maiden double century in Tests, adding his name in history as the first Pakistani batsman to achieve this milestone on Sri Lankan soil.
Shafique’s brilliant innings, combined with an unbeaten 132 runs by Agha Salman, propelled Pakistan to an enviable position.
At the close of play, Pakistan had amassed a commanding 563-5, establishing a formidable 397-run lead over Sri Lanka in their first innings at Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club.
Salman’s aggressive batting showcased Pakistan’s new approach to the game, with the team adopting a more attacking style in the ongoing series. His scintillating century was celebrated with a boundary, a testament to his impressive form.
While Salman and concussion substitute Mohammad Rizwan remained unbeaten with a solid partnership of 95 runs after Shafique’s departure on a stellar score of 201, the match also witnessed a concerning moment.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed, after receiving a blow to his helmet from Fernando’s delivery, retired hurt due to feeling dizzy. As a precautionary measure, he was substituted by Rizwan.
At the beginning of the day’s play, Pakistan resumed their innings at 178-2 after rain on the previous day had significantly limited the on-field action. Shafique, displaying cautious yet purposeful batting, found his rhythm and accelerated with two consecutive boundaries off Fernando before reaching his well-deserved century with a single.
