Pakistan skipper Babar Azam proved his class once again by scoring a sublime century in the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle International Cricket Stadium.
On a pitch where not only the Pakistan batsmen but Sri Lankan batsmen struggled too, Babar looked class apart. Batting first, Sri Lanka were all out for only 222 runs in their first innings.
Dinesh Chandimal was the only Sri Lankan batsman who managed to perform well with the bat. While his teammates fell like a pack of cards, Chandimal played a fine knock of 76 to guide his team to a respectable total.
At one stage, Sri Lanka were reeling at 133 for 8 and even the 150-run mark was looking unlikely on the tough pitch before Chandimal and tailender Maheesh Theekshana (38) guided the hosts to a respectable total.
Babar Azam rescues Pakistan:
In reply to Pakistan’s first innings total of 222, Pakistan were in all sorts of trouble. They kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were reeling at 112 for 8 at one stage.
They were soon reduced to 148 for 9. Babar Azam, however, stood firm from at one end and scored a stunning century on a tough pitch to rescue Pakistan. He was eventually dismissed for 119 as Pakistan recovered from 112 for 8 to post 218.
The Pakistan captain came out to bat when his team was reeling at 21 for 2 and has made sure that Sri Lanka do not gain the upper hand. Apart from Babar, no other Pakistani player managed to touch the 20-run mark as the right-handed batsman waged a lone battle.
For Sri Lanka, Prabath Jayasuriya was the pick of the bowlers, taking 5 for 82 while Theekshana and Ramesh Mendis picked two wickets apiece.
Meanwhile, the cricket fraternity lavished praise on Babar Azam for his stunning knock. Here are some of the reactions:
Master craftsman; Babar Azam superb once again??????????.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) July 17, 2022
Sri Lanka had Pak on the mat but Babar Azam was not going to take such ignominy lying down. Marvellous century by the captain who rises in stature with every innings
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) July 17, 2022
End of a great knock from Babar Azam, 85 for 7 to 218 for 10 – Babar scored 119 runs from 244 balls including 11 fours and 2 sixes. Take a bow, Babar. pic.twitter.com/ZoyT5BOGYg
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 17, 2022
Babar Azam is the only player in the world who is delivering top performances consistently in all three formats. Truly the best at the moment ? @babarazam258 #CricketTwitter
— Sushant Mehta (@SushantNMehta) July 17, 2022
Highest batting average in Test cricket since January 2018 (minimum 20 innings):
59.04 – Babar Azam ??
58.21 – Kane Williamson ??
54.02 – Marnus Labuschagne ??
52.36 – Usman Khawaja ??
52.07 – Steve Smith ??#SLvPAK— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) July 17, 2022
How do you even describe how good Babar Azam is?
Once again producing one of the most spectacular Test match knocks for @TheRealPCB. Deserves a century. #SLvPAK
— Nick Creely (@NCreely) July 17, 2022
Terrific hundred from Babar Azam.
He is a player so good that I cannot even say this is his best hundred of the year.
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) July 17, 2022
Babar Azam playing the best Test knock of his career.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 17, 2022
Special ? by @babarazam258. He is doing it again and again regardless of the situation and conditions. #SLvPAK
— Yasir Arafat (@YasArafat12) July 17, 2022
We are living in Babar Azam's era. What a knock ?. Masha Allah
— Rizwan Ahmed Ghilzai (@RizwanGhilzai) July 17, 2022
The KING ? BABAR AZAM ???
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) July 17, 2022
?? Babar Azam is a true definition of a team leader! He not only knows how to absorb the challenges but also makes sure his teammates are protected and guided well under his shelter. Babar Azam is a lone warrior and a leader who leads his teammates right from the front! #SLvPAK
— Arfa Feroz Zake (@ArfaSays_) July 17, 2022