GALLE: Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi made a sensational return to Test cricket by taking three wickets, including his 100th scalp, to leave Sri Lanka struggling at 65-4 during a rain-hit morning session in the opening match of the series in Galle.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Sri Lanka found themselves in trouble as Shaheen wreaked havoc with his lethal left-arm pace. At lunch, the home team’s score stood at 65-4, with senior batsmen Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva at the crease.
The morning session was affected by rain, leading to a delay of nearly 90 minutes and a subsequent adjustment in the session timings. However, that did not deter Shaheen from making an impact. In his second over, he reached a significant milestone, taking his 100th Test wicket by dismissing Nishan Madushka for four, caught behind.
Shaheen’s Lethal Bowling Against Sri Lanka
Shaheen, who had suffered a knee injury at the same venue a year ago, continued to trouble the Sri Lankan batsmen after the rain interruption. He struck again, this time removing Kusal Mendis for 12. Sri Lankan skipper Dimuth Karunaratne fought back with a few boundaries but fell prey to Shaheen’s prowess, getting caught behind for 29 while attempting a glance down the leg side.
Pakistan’s fast bowler Naseem Shah joined forces with Shaheen to further dent Sri Lanka’s batting lineup. Naseem bowled a quick delivery that dismissed Dinesh Chandimal for just one run, with skipper Babar Azam executing a difficult catch at third slip.
The rain-marred morning session in Galle showcased Shaheen’s exceptional skill and his return to form after recovering from injury. Sri Lanka will be hoping that their remaining batsmen can steady the ship in the face of Pakistan’s formidable bowling attack.
