Sri Lanka vs Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique joins Sunil Gavaskar in elite record after Galle Test heroics

Pakistan’s 22-year-old batting sensation Abdullah Shafique led a record-setting run-chase because the guests gunned down a 342-run goal towards Sri Lanka on the iconic Galle Cricket Ground on Wednesday, July 20. Shafique entered file books along with his composed and calculated knock on a difficult pitch on which Sri Lanka spinners have been letting the ball rip.

Abdullah Shafique remained unbeaten on 160 as Pakistan pulled off the best profitable run chase ever by a staff within the last innings of a Test match at Galle, going previous Sri Lanka’s better of 268 towards New Zealand in 2019.

Shafique confirmed grit and dedication as he survived shut calls on multiple event in a knock that lasted 408 deliveries. Shafique hit solely 7 boundaries and a six throughout his marathon knock on the final two days of the gripping Test sequence opener in Galle.

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, 1st Test Day 5 Highlights

By batting in extra of 400 deliveries within the last innings of a Test, Babar joined an elite record of batters, which incorporates his captain Babar Azam.

Former England captain Michael Atherton holds the file for probably the most variety of deliveries confronted within the 4th innings of a Test match – 492 towards South Africa in Johannesburg in 1995.

Shafique joined the elite record, which incorporates Atherton, Herbert Sutcliffe (England), Sunil Gavaskar, and Babar, on the fifth spot.

MOST BALLS FACED IN 4TH INNINGS OF A TEST

Atherton – 185 in 492 balls in 1995 vs South Africa in Johannesburg
Sutcliffe – 135 in 462 balls in 1928 vs Australia in Melbourne
Gavaskar – 221 in 443 balls in 1979 vs England in London
Babar – 196 in 425 balls in 2022 vs Australia in Karachi
Shafique – 160 in 408 balls in 2022 vs Sri Lanka in Galle.

It was additionally Abdullah Shafique’s highest rating in Test cricket because the younger opener led the beautiful chase which gave Paksitan a 1-0 lead.

“As a youngster, he showed his class and temperament,” Pakistan captain Babar Azam stated of Shafique on Wednesday.

Shafique had stitched a 101-run stand for the 4th wicket with captain Babar, who led the batting unit from the entrance with a fifty within the second innings and a shocking hundred within the first innings.

“Babar is one of the best in the world. We have learnt so much from him. I enjoyed batting with him in the middle,” Shafique stated of his captain.

Pakistan additionally jumped forward of Sri Lanka within the World Test Championship standings with solely South Africa (71.43%) and Australia (70%) above them.

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