2nd Test, Colombo, July 24, 2023, 10:00 AM
Sri Lanka
166/10(48.4ov) & 188/10(67.4ov)
Pakistan
576/5(134.0ov)
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 222 runs
Babar Azam is now presented with the trophy and now he celebrates along with his team! It has been a comprehensive win for Pakistan. That is it from this series. We hope you enjoyed our company. Until next time, goodbye and take care!
Babar Azam says he is very pleased to have won the series and the team was eager to do so. Adds the team was brilliant, everybody put on a show and he is very pleased. Credits the way Saud Shakeel, Agha Salman and Abdullah Shafique played. Ends by saying they are looking forward for the games coming their way.
Dimuth Karunaratne says they were poor with the bat and they gave away the wickets and it was difficult to come back into the game after that. Adds batters are getting starts but not converting it and it is opposite with the Pakistan batters. Mentions Pakistan won the crucial moments in the game and their batting was key. Admits they played far too many shots and they should have played a lot better.
Agha Salman, MAN OF THE MATCH, starts by saying, they were in trouble in the first innings of the first Test and they need a stand and it came between him and Saud Shakeel! States he does not mind where he bats, he just wants to play for Pakistan. Adds he is happy with his strike rate and he likes playing that way.
Abdullah Shafique, MAN OF THE MATCH, says it is a confidence booster as they have struggled in this version lately. Adds he is happy about his contribution. States he likes playing here and the team's win is the most important thing.
... TIME FOR PRESENTATION ...
They declared with a lead massive lead and yet again ensured Lanka do not cross the 200-run mark. The application from the Lankan batters was poor yet again. It was a combination of some poor shots and some good bowling but overall, Sri Lanka will be very disappointed with their performance in this series.
Right from Day 1, it was about Pakistan! They were asked to field first but they bundled Lanka out for a very low score. Abrar Ahmed and Naseem Shah were key sharing 7 wickets between them. In reply, Pakistan batted, batted and batted, they batted the hosts out of the game by scoring over 500. One centurion and one double centurion. There were contributions from others too but Abdullah Shafique, who scored a double ton and Agha Salman who got a ton were thhe highlights.
Yet another convincing performance from the visitors and they have recorded one of their biggest victories in Test cricket! Also, with this one, they have won the series 2-0. Nauman Ali and Naseem Shah were the stars for them on Day 5. Post this session, it was Nauman Ali who was brilliant and ended with a seven-fer whereas, after the break, it was Naseem Shah who ran through the tail. Outstanding.
In over# 68
0W
0
0
0W
Naseem Shah 44/3(17.4)
67.4
W
OUT! TIMBER! Cleans him up! PAKISTAN BEAT LANKA BY AN INNINGS AND 222 RUNS! Yet again a top delivery! A yorker on off, an inswinging yorker. Dilshan Madushanka fails to jam it out and it hits the stumps.
67.3
.
Another big inswinging delivery, this one comes in from well outside off but swings too much. Hits the pad of Dilshan Madushanka as he looks to flick.
67.2
.
On middle, this one jags back in, Dilshan Madushanka looks to defend but misses to get hit on the pads. That is going down leg.
67.1
W
OUT! TIMBER! Too good for a tail-ender! Number 9 down! This starts outside off and comes back in. Asitha Fernando is beaten for pace as he looks to get his bat down but the ball sneaks through and hits the off pole.
In over# 67
4
0
0
0
0
0
Nauman Ali 70/7(23)
66.6
4
FOUR! Up and over! Lovely shot! Fuller and around off, this is lofted over mid off and it races away to the fence.
66.5
.
On off, kept out.
66.4
.
Around off, this is pushed to cover.
66.3
.
On middle, blocked.