Rain delays first Test match between Pakistan, Sri Lanka in Galle

Galle: In an enthralling day of Test cricket in Galle, Sri Lanka made a remarkable comeback against Pakistan after a challenging start.

The first session belonged to Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi, who claimed three crucial wickets to put Sri Lanka on the backfoot at 64 for 4.

 However, the second session saw Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva staging a brilliant partnership of 131 runs for the fifth wicket, shifting the momentum in Sri Lanka's favor.

Mathews, who fell for a well-played 64 just before tea, was the linchpin of the session. Alongside Dhananjaya, they countered the Pakistani attack and neutralized the early movement that had troubled the seamers earlier in the day. The duo capitalized on the fuller deliveries, punishing the loose balls with elegant strokes, including some exquisite straight drives.

The spinners, Abrar Ahmed and Noman Ali, had a significant role to play during the majority of the session, with Agha Salman bowling a couple of overs as well.

🚨 T O S S A L E R T 🚨

Sri Lanka win the toss and elect to bat first 🏏#SLvPAK pic.twitter.com/rruylXbi0J

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) July 16, 2023

However, the Galle pitch offered little turn, making it difficult for the spinners to create sustained pressure. Mathews and Dhananjaya effectively rotated the strike and unleashed an array of attacking shots. Noman Ali, in particular, bore the brunt of their aggression, conceding several boundaries, including a delightful inside-out drive for six.

As the session drew to a close, the scoring rate accelerated, with Mathews joining in on the boundary-hitting spree. Agha Salman was at the receiving end of Mathews' attacking display, as he struck consecutive boundaries through midwicket. The final ten overs witnessed an astonishing run spree, reminiscent of T20 cricket, adding 50 runs to Sri Lanka's total.

However, just moments before the interval, Mathews attempted a cut shot off a length ball and edged it to the wicketkeeper, providing a late breakthrough for Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed.

The ease with which the Sri Lankan batsmen operated in the post-lunch session was in stark contrast to the challenging morning session. Shaheen Shah Afridi wreaked havoc, claiming the wickets of Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis, and Dimuth Karunaratne, reaching his 100th Test wicket milestone in the process. Afridi's fiery spell caused early troubles for Sri Lanka's top order, with the scoreboard showing a meager 54 runs.

A rain delay of 85 minutes added to the difficult conditions for batting, as the moisture on the pitch favored the Pakistani seamers upon their return. However, the resilient partnership between Mathews and Dhananjaya resurrected Sri Lanka's innings, giving them a solid platform to build upon in the Test match.