Babar Azam completes 3,000 runs in Test cricket
Jul 20, 2022
Galle [Sri Lanka], July 20 : Pakistan batter and skipper Babar Azam completed 3,000 runs in Test cricket on Tuesday.
Azam reached this landmark during the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle.
Azam struck a fine half-century, his 22nd in Tests, before he was bowled by spinner Prabhath Jayasuriya for 55 off 104 balls.
Now in his 73 Test innings, he has scored a total of 3,025 runs at an average of 47.26. He has 7 centuries and 22 half-centuries in the longest format of the game.
Coming to the match. Pakistan has been set a target of 342 runs to win the match. The visitors are well on course to do so as they finished Day four at 222/3, with Mohammad Rizwan 7* and Abdullah Shafique 112* unbeaten at the crease.
Earlier, Sri Lanka was bundled out for 337 in their second innings. Dinesh Chandimal scored an unbeaten 94* while Kusal Mendis (76) and Oshada Fernando (64) also scored half-centuries that gave Sri Lanka 341-run lead. Mohammed Nawaz was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan with 5/88 while Yasir Shah took 3/122.
Earlier in their first innings, Pakistan was bundled out for just 218. Skipper Azam fought a lone battle for his side, scoring 119 runs. Other players could not cross the 20-run mark.
Prabath Jayasuriya continued his amazing run with the ball, taking 5/82. Spinners Maheesh Theekshana and Ramesh Mendis also got two wickets. Kasun Rajitha got one wicket.
Earlier, opting to bat first, Sri Lanka put a total of 222 runs on the board. While Oshada Fernando (35) and Maheesh Theekshana (38) delivered solid contributions, it was a gritty knock by Dinesh Chandimal (76) that dragged Lankans to a respectable score.
Pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi was the standout bowler for Pakistan, taking 4/58. Hasan Ali and Yasir Shah took two wickets each while Naseem Shah and Mohammed Nawaz could get only one.
