Shoaib Malik played extraordinarily superb today against Sri Lanka to save the first test match. After Sri Lanka had given Pakistan a target of 458 runs Pakistan started their batting yesterday just before tea. They had lost two wickets of Imran Farhat and Younis Khan till end of day. Today when match started Faisal Iqbal and Malik spent a lot of time on crease and seen trough the whole session before lunch. They made a partnership of 115 runs.
This superb innings has shut the mouth of many criticising persons who were targeting Malik’s performance as a make shift opener in test cricket. This was Malik’s first test hundred. His best runs was 64 versus West Indies made last year at Antigua. He played for almost 8 hrs and remained there for all 121 overs in the ground that Pakistan has played. He faced 350+ deliveries to score 148 runs. He had completed his century at 320th ball with a boundary.
When Iqbal got out at a total of 186, Inzamam came to company Malik and made rather quick 48 runs. He got out on a delivery by Muralitheren. Razaq came after Inzi’s dismissal and remained with Malik till the match was called off with 7 overs left in the days play.
SangaKKara was declared man of the match for his brilliant performance of 185 runs. Srilankan main bowler Muralitharan was unable to pick wickets today. He could get only one wicket of Inzamam in the whole day and that at such a time when Sri Lanka had had no chance left to win the match.
2nd Test Match will be played an 3rd April 2006.
FALL OF WICKETS:
- Faisal Iqbal lbw Maharoof 60 (186 for 3)
- Inzamam-ul-Haq c Dilshan b Muralitharan 48 (267 for 4)