Sri Lanka: 2nd Test: Pakistan look to seal series against Sri Lanka after year-long drought | Cricket News – Times of India

In a determined effort to change their fortunes, Pakistan’s batsmen adopted a more positive and aggressive approach, reminiscent of England’s “Bazball” style. The strategy paid off brilliantly as they scored at a brisk rate of over 4.5 runs per over for a major part of their first innings, putting the Sri Lankan bowlers under immense pressure.
Leading the charge was Saud Shakeel, who blazed a stunning double century, reaching the milestone in just 129 balls. His outstanding 177-run partnership with Agha Salman laid a solid foundation for Pakistan, leading them to a substantial 149-run first innings lead.

Pakistan’s batsman, Shan Masood, shed light on the team’s new approach, stating, “After the last Test cycle, Pakistan’s management was ‘very firm’ that one of the reasons we were not winning matches was that ‘we weren’t scoring at such a high rate as the opposition’.” He further revealed that a concentrated effort was made during pre-tour training camps in Lahore and Karachi to focus on scoring runs to pressure the opposition, a strategy that ultimately put them back in the game.

With the second Test approaching, Pakistan may consider reinforcing their bowling attack with an additional seamer, as the SSC track is known to provide bounce and movement. However, they will have to contemplate whether to make changes to a winning side.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka’s team faces an uphill battle to level the series. Their batting performance in the first Test left much to be desired, with only Dhananjaya de Silva shining with scores of 122 and 82. Several Sri Lankan batsmen got starts, reaching the 20s and 30s, but failed to capitalise on their opportunities.
Sri Lanka’s Captain, Dimuth Karunaratne, acknowledged that their catching had been poor, allowing Saud Shakeel two crucial lifelines when he was on 93 and 139. He also admitted that their use of the Decision Review System (DRS) had been ineffective and would need to be improved for the upcoming match.
Karunaratne said, “The misjudging of reviews is a loss for the team and can be crucial during a tight game. We will have to focus on making the right use of reviews and what could be done differently.”
With a history of success at the SSC, having won 20 out of 43 Tests played there, Sri Lanka will aim to bounce back and draw the series. However, Pakistan boasts a one-win, one-loss record at the venue, with the remaining matches ending in draws, setting the stage for an intense and enthralling second Test.
(With inputs from AFP)