In a thrilling display of pace bowling, Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi made a remarkable comeback to international Test cricket, wreaking havoc on Sri Lanka's top order in the first Test match. Despite Afridi's early breakthroughs, Sri Lanka showed resilience, staging an impressive fightback to reach 242/6 in 65.4 overs on a rain-truncated opening day.
Afridi's remarkable return to Test cricket saw him reach a significant milestone, picking up his 100th Test wicket. The 23-year-old pacer displayed his trademark angle and movement, dismantling Sri Lanka opener Nishan Madushka early in the innings. He continued his devastating form, claiming two more wickets in his eight-over long opening spell, dismissing Kusal Mendis and the solid Dimuth Karunaratne.
With this achievement, Afridi joins an elite group of only two other Pakistan bowlers who have achieved the milestone of 100 Test wickets at such a young age – the legendary Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. Akram, Pakistan's all-time highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, showered praise on Afridi for his exceptional performance on reaching this significant landmark.
Despite the early damage inflicted by Afridi, Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews (64) and Dhananjaya de Silva (batting 94) stitched together a remarkable 131-run partnership, leading their team's impressive fightback. The partnership, marked by gritty determination, came to an end just before tea when Abrar Ahmed claimed the crucial wicket of Mathews, who departed after contributing 64 runs to the scoreboard.
The final session of the day was disrupted by rain, but on resumption, Dhananjaya de Silva and Sadeera Samarawickrama (batting 36) continued to frustrate the Pakistani bowlers with their resolute batting. They added a vital 57-run stand for the sixth wicket, steering Sri Lanka towards a respectable total.
As stumps approached, Imam-ul-Haq, the Pakistani fielder, produced a stunning catch to break the partnership, sending Samarawickrama back to the pavilion. At the close of play, Sri Lanka finished the day at 242/6, with Dhananjaya de Silva unbeaten on an impressive 94 runs.
The rain-marred opening day witnessed thrilling moments, courtesy of Afridi's deadly spell and Sri Lanka's fighting spirit. Cricket fans are eager to witness the continuation of this gripping battle between bat and ball as the first Test unfolds.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 242/6 in 65.4 overs (Dhananjaya de Silva batting 94, Angelo Mathews 64, Sadeera Samarawickrama 36; Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-63)