Shakeel’s historic double ton puts Pakistan in driving seat

Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel (L) celebrates after scoring double centuries (200 runs) during the third day of the first cricket Test match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at the Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle on 18 July 2023 – AFP

Sri Lanka’s Dimuth Karunaratne (R) and Dhananjaya de Silva (C) gesture during the third day of the first cricket Test match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at the Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle on 18 July 2023 – AFP

• Sri Lanka face uphill task after conceding 149-run lead; Lankan bowlers fail to prevent successive partnerships by Pakistan tail

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Saud Shakeel was the toast of Pakistan as he became the first batsman from his country to score a Test double century in Sri Lanka on the third day of the first cricket Test played at the Galle International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Shakeel’s immense contribution propelled his team to a handy first innings lead of 149 runs as Pakistan responded to Sri Lanka’s first innings of 312 with 461.  

By the close brought forward by bad light Sri Lanka openers Nishan Madushka (8*) and Dimuth Karunaratne (6*) survived the 3.4 overs possible to score 14-0.

The day however belonged to the 27-year-old left-hander from Karachi who put up a marathon batting performance to dent the Lankan bowlers scoring a magnificent 208* off 361 balls studded with 19 fours.

Shakeel became the fifth overseas player to score a Test double hundred in Sri Lanka, after Virender Sehwag, Chris Gayle, Mushfiqur Rahim and Joe Root. His double century surpassed the previous highest score by a Pakistani in Sri Lanka – 196 by Mohammad Hafeez at the SSC in 2012.

Resuming at 69, Shakeel scored his second Test hundred and shared a record-breaking sixth wicket stand of 177 with Aghar Salman to put Pakistan ahead of Sri Lanka by lunch.

Despite a late start by an hour due to a wet outfield Shakeel and Salman continued undeterred from where they left off on the second day to extend their partnership to record breaking proportions.

The breakthrough that Sri Lanka were looking for came in Ramesh Mendis’ first over of the morning.

Shakeel was first dropped at 93 by Nishan Madushka at short leg, but made sure he got to his hundred by getting a boundary off the third ball and running three off the fourth. However, he lost Salman off the final ball of the over when the batsman gave Mendis the charge and was easily stumped by Sadeera Samarawickrama for a well compiled 83, which comprised nine fours and six off 113 balls.

It was excellent batting by the pair against spin not allowing the bowlers to settle down to a length on a surface which seems to have become slow and lost its early zip. Both batters scored at will and created pressure on the Lankan bowlers picking the gaps with consummate ease. This partnership came when the chips were down for Pakistan at 101-5.

Sri Lanka managed to pick up two wickets in the afternoon session but Shakeel stood firm surviving another dropped chance at 139 to Angelo Mathews at deep midwicket.

Mendis trapped Noman Ali lbw for 25, after a stand of 52 with Shakeel and, Vishwa Fernando dismissed Shaheen Shah Afridi similarly for nine.

But further frustration was to follow when Naseem Shah put up stubborn resistance in a ninth wicket stand of 98 with Shakeel scoring six off 78 balls to carry Pakistan past the 400-run mark.

Mendis picked up the last two Pakistani wickets to finish with his fifth five-fer – five for 136, eventually getting through the defences of Naseem and then having Abrar Ahmed caught in the deep by Mathews for 10.