{"id":347986,"date":"2023-07-20T07:05:03","date_gmt":"2023-07-20T07:05:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/haftavasool.com\/haftavasool\/blog\/2023\/07\/20\/1st-test-imam-ul-haq-anchors-nervy-chase-as-pakistan-win-galle-test-by-four-wickets-cricket-news-times-of-india\/"},"modified":"2023-07-20T07:05:03","modified_gmt":"2023-07-20T07:05:03","slug":"1st-test-imam-ul-haq-anchors-nervy-chase-as-pakistan-win-galle-test-by-four-wickets-cricket-news-times-of-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/haftavasool.com\/haftavasool\/blog\/2023\/07\/20\/1st-test-imam-ul-haq-anchors-nervy-chase-as-pakistan-win-galle-test-by-four-wickets-cricket-news-times-of-india\/","title":{"rendered":"1st Test: Imam-ul-Haq anchors nervy chase as Pakistan win Galle Test by four wickets | Cricket News &#8211; Times of India"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> [ad_1]<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>NEW DELHI: Opener <!-- -->Imam-ul-Haq<!-- --> displayed a brilliant batting performance to anchor Pakistan&#8217;s chase and secure a thrilling four-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in a nerve-wracking opening Test in Galle on Thursday.<br \/>Facing a target of 131 runs for victory, Pakistan found themselves in trouble at 79-4 after skipper Babar Azam&#8217;s dismissal to the left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, who proved formidable with figures of 4-56 in the second innings.<br \/>However, Imam-ul-Haq formed a crucial partnership with <!-- -->Saud Shakeel<!-- --> to stabilize the innings. Despite the odds stacked against them, Sri Lanka refused to back down, even with a limited total to defend. Saud Shakeel, who had already impressed with a career-best 208 not out in the first innings, contributed 30 runs before departing, and Sarfaraz Ahmed (one) couldn&#8217;t hold on for long either.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, Imam-ul-Haq remained steadfast and composed, reaching an unbeaten half-century (50 not out). With Agha Salman joining him at the crease, they sealed Pakistan&#8217;s victory in a stylish manner. Agha Salman wasted no time and smashed the first ball he faced from Jayasuriya over the mid-off boundary.<br \/>Saud Shakeel&#8217;s outstanding performance in the first innings, where he scored a maiden Test double century, proved instrumental in giving Pakistan a crucial first-innings lead of 149 runs, earning him the well-deserved &#8220;Player of the Match&#8221; title.<br \/>&#8220;The way Saud and Agha played, it totally changed the game,&#8221; Babar said referring to their 177-run partnership, which helped Pakistan post 461 in the first innings.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s not easy to bat in Galle, but the way Saud&#8217;s playing is outstanding.&#8221;<br \/>Sri Lanka&#8217;s top order could not vindicate their decision to bat first and they reached 312 in their first innings courtesy Dhananjaya de Silva&#8217;s gallant 122.<br \/>&#8220;We needed to see off that opening spell but we lost a few wickets,&#8221; home captain Dimuth Karunaratne said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Overall, the bowlers did well, but we dropped a few catches and that cost us. We have to assess what went wrong and come back again.&#8221;<br \/>The teams move to Colombo for the second and final Test beginning on Monday.<br \/><span class=\"em \">(With inputs from Reuters) <\/span><\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component QbQNS undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"cricket man2\" msid=\"101979170\" width=\"600\" title=\"\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/42706777.gif\" imgsize=\"23456\" resizemode=\"4\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/imgsize-23456,msid-101979170,width-600,resizemode-4\/101979170.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/div>\n<p><script>!(function(f, b, e, v, n, t, s) {\n    function loadFBEvents(isFBCampaignActive) {\n      if (!isFBCampaignActive) {\n        return;\n      }\n      (function(f, b, e, v, n, t, s) {\n        if (f.fbq) return;\n        n = f.fbq = function() {\n          n.callMethod ? 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