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SL vs PAK |  Pakistan Secure Nervous Win With Imam's Gritty Fifty After Spirited Lankan Fightback

image-lkapkcrnImam-Ul-Haq remained unbeaten on [Source: Twitter]

Day 5 of the first Test between hosts Sri Lanka and Pakistan witnessed the visitors prevail by four wickets, needing 83 to win as Imam-Ul-Haq anchored their boat.

Pakistan chase down with ease

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam started the day with intent and struck a flurry of boundaries until getting out to Prabath Jayasuriya for a quick-fire 24 off 28.  Opener Haq was then joined by the star of the Test Saud Shakeel, who remained unbeaten on 208* in the first innings.

In an attempt to score quickly, Shakeel fell for 30, which had as many as six fours. Haq along with Shakeel stitched a 43-partnership in just 55 balls, helping Pakistan near their target.

Former skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed joined Haq in the middle with Pakistan needing 9. Haq went to register his eighth Test fifty along the way, laced with four 4s and one solitary six in 84 deliveries.

Ahmed scored just 1 before gifting his wicket to Jayasuriya; his fourth of the innings.

With four to win, Agha Salman came out to bat, slammed his first ball for six, and helped Pakistan win the match by four wickets, and take a 1-0 lead over Sri Lanka. Haq remained unbeaten on 50* playing the sheet anchor role quite impeccably.  

Earlier, Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat, managing 312 in their first innings, thanks to a hundred from Dhananjaya de Silva. Pakistan, who started poorly, were helped by Saud Shakeel, who scored his maiden double ton in Test and helped his side take a 149-run lead.

Hosts folded for 279 the second time around, asking Pakistan to chase down 131 to win. 

The second and final Test starts July 24 and will be played at Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. 

Brief Scores

Sri Lanka (1st innings): 312-10 (95.2) 

Dhananjaya de Silva 122 (214), Angelo Mathews 64 (109);
Abrar Ahmed 3-68 (31.2), Shaheen Afridi 3-86 (24)

Pakistan (1st innings): 461-10 (121.2)

Saud Shakeel 208* (361), Agha Salman 83 (113);
Ramesh Mendis 5-136 (42.2), Prabath Jayasuriya 3-145 (35)

Sri Lanka (2nd innings): 279/10 (83.1)

Dhananjaya de Silva 82 (112), Nishan Madushka 52 (115);
Abrar Ahmed 3-68 (24.1), Noman Ali 3-75 (25)

Pakistan (2nd innings): 133/6 (32.5)

Imam-ul-Haq 50* (84), Saud Shakeel 30 (38);
Prabath Jayasuriya 4-56 (14.5), Ramesh Mendis 1-62 (14)

Pakistan win by 4 wickets