Pakistan showcased their dominance in the Test series against Sri Lanka, securing a convincing 2-0 clean sweep. After a narrow four-wicket victory in the first Test, the Pakistani team displayed even greater prowess in the second game, securing a massive innings and 222-run triumph. The highlight of the second Test was the sensational performance by spinner Noman Ali, who claimed a memorable seven-wicket haul.
Noman’s exceptional bowling mesmerized the Sri Lankan batsmen on Day 4, setting the stage for Pakistan’s emphatic win. The young pacer Naseem Shah also played a vital role, displaying lethal bowling skills and dismissing three tail-end batsmen in six deliveries. As the Sri Lankan innings began on Day 4, Noman Ali quickly became the center of attention, already having taken seven wickets.
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However, Naseem Shah was eager to contribute and produced some electric reverse swings to claim his victims. He struck early, removing Prabath Jayasuriya’s stumps with a delivery that deceived the batsman. In the same over, he went on to dismiss Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka with precise bowling, cleaning up their stumps.
Naseem Shah was just 🔥🔥pic.twitter.com/bAhGmalO3s
— Ammar (@This_is_Ammar) July 28, 2023
In the first innings, Sri Lanka had struggled, posting a mere 166 runs on the board. Naseem Shah and legspinner Abrar Ahmed were instrumental in dismantling the Sri Lankan batting line-up, taking three and four wickets, respectively. In response, Pakistan’s Abdullah Shafique provided a solid start, scoring an impressive double-century, tallying 201 runs off 326 balls.
Salman Ali Agha contributed with a century, complemented by half-centuries from Shan Masood and Shaud Shakeel, propelling Pakistan to a colossal total of 576 runs before declaring their innings.
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With Noman Ali and Naseem Shah’s exceptional bowling, Pakistan bundled Sri Lanka out for 188 runs, completing their first clean sweep against Sri Lanka in Test cricket since 1994. As a result, Pakistan earned 24 points in the World Test Championship (WTC) rankings, placing them at the top of the table, led by skipper Babar Azam.
