Gall Test, The first day's play of the first Test match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan
The first day of the first Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan played in Gall, Sri Lanka, was a bowler's affair and a total of twelve wickets fell on the first day.
Sri Lanka's poor team was bowled out for 222 runs in their first innings, after which Pakistan team lost their openers Abdullah Shafiq and Imamul Haq at the beginning of their innings.
The Pakistani batsmen looked in trouble from the first over and fell for Pakistan's first wicket at just 12 when Imamul-Haq was adjudged LBW. The second wicket fell on 21 when Abdullah Shafiq also went lbw.
At the end of the first day, Pakistan needed 198 to end Sri Lanka's lead.
On the first day of the first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Pakistan's batting remained heavy until the tea break and the Pakistani bowlers did not allow the Sri Lankan batsmen to take advantage of the first day's wicket.
Pakistan made changes in both bowling and batting for this match. Leg spinner Yasir Shah was included in the squad to strengthen the spin department, while Sri Lanka's spin wickets were also behind the inclusion of all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz.
Also, batsman and part-time off-spinner Agha Salman was included in the team in place of Fawad Alam for this match to improve the balance of team bowling and batting.
As Sri Lanka's innings began, Shaheen Afridi continued his tradition of taking wickets in the opening overs and sent skipper Karunaratne to the pavilion with just one run.
Opener Oshada Fernando was then joined by Kisal Mendis and the two added 49 runs to stabilize Sri Lanka's innings by the water break but then Yasir Shah came into the bowling attack and was promptly bowled.
They took the crucial wickets of first Kisal Mendes and then Angelo Mathews to put Sri Lanka's batting in crisis before the lunch break. Hasan Ali had earlier taken the wicket of Oshada Fernando, and the four Sri Lankans had returned to the pavilion for just 68 runs.
Even after the lunch break, the situation did not change much and the Pakistani bowlers, led by Shaheen Afridi, continued to inflict damage one after another.
Shaheen took the crucial wickets of Dhananjaya De Silva and Nirushan Dakwella, while Mohammad Naseem Shah dismissed Ramesh Mendes and Mohammad Nawaz dismissed Prabhat Jayasuriya to keep Sri Lanka at bay for the second session in a row.
However, only Dinesh Chandimal from Sri Lanka stood up to the Pakistani bowlers and scored a half-century today after scoring a double century against Australia in the second Test match and after the tea break, he tried to present an aggressive game after Hasan Ali. Out on the ball, Yasir Shah takes a fine catch. Chandimal scored 76 runs with the help of 10 fours and a six.
''national team captain Babar Azam said that all-rounder Salman Ali Agha is making his debut for Pakistan, while Muhammad Nawaz and Yasir Shah have returned to the national team.''
Pakistan's squad consists of captain Babar Azam, Abdullah Shafiq, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi,Naseem Shah, Imamul Haq, Azhar Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Agha Salman, Mohammad Nawaz and Yasir Shah.
while the Sri Lankan squad includes captain Dimuth Karunaratne, Nirushan Dakwila, Ramesh Mendis, Mahesh Theekshana, Oshada Fernando, Kaushal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya De Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Parbat Jayasuriya and Kisan Rajitha.
''Salman Ali Agha received the Test cap from former Test cricketer Muhammad Yousuf, the cricketer has been included in the team in place of middle-order batsman Fawad Alam.''