Sri Lanka: In a manner that was quite unlike of Pakistan, with little fuss and drama, they found the final 83 runs in just over an hour. Even though they lost three wickets, it was clear from the first ball, which was lifted for four, that they would succeed in the end.
The outcome gives Pakistan a 1-0 series lead over Sri Lanka and puts them in a great position to start this new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. Additionally, it is their first Test victory in precisely one year—the previous one was also at Galle.
When the winning runs were scored, an extravagant loft over long-off for six, Imam-ul-Haq was unbeaten on 50 and had Agha Salman for company. Although Prabath Jayasuriya finished with a score of 4 for 56, adding to his ever-expanding list of Galle scalps, the hosts will find little comfort in this.
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And while Pakistanis could have had second thoughts about a possible collapse or a performance by the visitors this morning that snatched defeat from the jaws of triumph, this was a result that might prompt a reassessment.
On the surface, a four-wicket victory while chasing 131 may indicate some anxiety, but interestingly enough, this was a chase that felt in command despite those defeats.
In fact, the first delivery of the day served as a microcosm of how both of these teams handled their respective mandates throughout this Test, as the occasionally erratic Ramesh Mendis dragged one short for Babar Azam to put away easily to the boundary behind square leg; Pakistan needed quick runs, Sri Lanka needed to keep things tight, but only one side adhered to the plan.
A second boundary was added later in the over, and 30 runs were ultimately scored off the first five overs of the day. During this time, Babar and Imam both displayed unexpected intent by utilizing their feet to attack the spinners, and the Pakistani skipper even made a rare use of the sweep.
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Given their knowledge of Pakistan's history, some of those present may have been excused for bracing for a possible panic when he collapsed with his leg trapped by Jayasuriya. After all, Pakistan had collapsed frighteningly quickly in 2009 while chasing a similarly low total on the same ground. But they are trying to make Pakistan a new country.
They promised to play attacking cricket before the day's play, and they did. Imam pumped one nicely over long-off the very next ball following Babar's wicket, and Saud Shakeel—the star of the first innings—also sliced one behind point.
And as the shortfall decreased so did their intensity. Shakeel took Sri Lanka's top bowler for two boundaries on either side of the wicket with just over 20 runs remaining. Shakeel's average at this point had surpassed 100, but he ultimately settled for a bit less, nicking one through off Mendis before the innings was up.
With only four runs remaining to score, Sarfaraz was the last to fall, top-edging a sweep to deep square leg. However, Agha hammered home the point by smoking one long and straight first ball to end the match.
It remains to be seen how long this "Pete the Positive" version of Pakistan persists, but for the time being, it is unquestionably something to be thankful for. For their side, Sri Lanka has four days to reconsider how to handle this new threat and prepare for round two in Colombo.
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