Shafique stands tall in record run chase

A defiant innings from Abdullah Shafique carried Pakistan to a record-breaking win in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle today, the visitors taking a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.

Deservedly, Shafique scored the final runs, cover driving Prabath Jayasuriya for a boundary to finish unbeaten on 160 and for Pakistan to complete the highest successful run chase in Galle.

For someone relatively new to international cricket, aged 22 and playing just his sixth Test, Shafique showed an abundance of patience and maturity, facing more than half of the deliveries bowled at his team – 408 in a total of 764 – and yet rarely offering the Sri Lanka any chances.

When those chances came however, the hosts were not sharp enough, twice dropping catches offered by the centurion today.

Having received a reprieve on day four, when he was on 70, Shafique returned a catch to Dhananjaya de Silva, then on 135, but the ball arrived too quickly for the off-spinner to hold on and the slipped through his fingers.

Another, much easier, chance arrived when the opener, on 151, played a rare shot of aggression, slicing a slog sweep towards the deep square leg boundary, but Kasun Rajitha dropped a regulation catch, and with Pakistan just 19 runs from victory at that stage, it proved to be the final chance for the hosts.’

With Pakistan needing 120 runs to win, the day had a lively start when Jayasuriya beat the defense of Mohammed Rizwan on the first ball of the day, which went with the arm but missed the top of off-stump by the barest of margins.

By the time Jayasuriya trapped Rizwan leg before wicket after the first drinks break, the target was only 66 runs away for Pakistan and Sri Lanka’s window of opportunity fast closing.

Where the hosts would have hoped for a flurry of wickets however, a 29-run partnership between Shafique and Agha Salman ensued, Jayasuriya once again making the breakthrough when the latter edged to Niroshan Dickwella at the stroke of lunch.

The wicket of Hasan Ali after the break renewed Sri Lanka’s hopes, but Shafique and Mohammed Nawaz shepherded Pakistan towards the final score.

Having loomed over the grounds for much of the day, the overcast clouds opened for a brief spell of rain, leading to an early tea break, but 16 balls after the resumption Pakistan gather the final 11 runs they needed to cross the line.

Jayasuriya was excellent once again, taking 4 for 135 in total, and bowling 19 overs unchanged from the Galle Fort end.

The lack of support that was available to the left-arm spinner will be cause for concern, Ramesh Mendis proving too expensive at times and Maheesh Theekshana not incisive enough.  

By Shehan Daniel reporting from Galle