Sri Lanka reach 36/1 at Stumps on Day 2 of the 1st Test after Pakistan's 218, lead by 40 runs

[Omer2002]

To be fair all srilankans are on the boundaries how are you suppose to score unless sixers..but i am amazed how we have lost 9 wickets on this pitvh looks pretty flat now even jayusuriya looks flat

 

[Azzurri]

Naseem Shah batting like tailender.

Because he’s one?

 

[Shafi]

Babar is such a timid player. Letting Nasim to face so many balls.

 

[Ab Fan]

Because he’s one?

He should bat one position higher than real tailender, Azhar Ali.

 

[Darkrai]

single per over, nice.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

To be fair all srilankans are on the boundaries how are you suppose to score unless sixers..but i am amazed how we have lost 9 wickets on this pitvh looks pretty flat now even jayusuriya looks flat

Lots of soft dismissals but the ball the was turning prodigiously during the first session.

 

[jattafridi]

6 runs partnership

 

[jattafridi]

Lot to learn Babar

Root is something else

 

[shah_1]

Play lofted drive towards cover, look for a boundary.

Pathetic batting

 

[Darkrai]

someone remind Babar 4s and 6s are a thing in cricket lol

 

[Amjid Javed]

Scoring 1 run an over and waiting till naseem gets out. babar masterclass.

 

[adzzy786]

But but India is scared of playing us )

India would rinse Pakistan in three days.

How do we ‘deserve’ this humiliation?

Every time india loose or Pakistan do well you disappear. What kind of Pakistani are you? Who gets thrill of Pakistan not doing well? Or are you another Adnan Sami

 

[Darkrai]

at least the lead is down to 66 now

 

[shah_1]

YK was such a master with the tail

 

[adzzy786]

Why doesn’t Babar counter attack? Why is he going at 1 an over? Is he planning to bat 66 overs to even the scores?

 

[adzzy786]

YK was such a master with the tail

True

 

[waheed_sofi]

If anyone has a way of contacting team management?
I pretty much sure team management would have asked to play like this.
Please ask them toask babar to score fast.

 

[Firebat]

Only 65 more overs of this and we'll be even. Genius from Babar.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Say what you will about Babar's approach but he has cut this lead by more than half while batting with the tail. So clearly his approach has worked to some extent so far.

 

[thecrusade911]

How do we ‘deserve’ this humiliation?

Every time india loose or Pakistan do well you disappear. What kind of Pakistani are you? Who gets thrill of Pakistan not doing well? Or are you another Adnan Sami

TBH I've hardly seen Pakistan do well against top teams in tests or in any format.

 

[Shaddy86]

Babar giving Lankan's a "Piddi". Tiring them out of the game.

 

[Firebat]

Say what you will about Babar's approach but he has cut this lead by more than half while batting with the tail. So clearly his approach has worked to some extent so far.

He didn't cut that lead with this approach of a 10 runs from 72 balls partnership. He was actually scoring before. He is lucky Naseem has lasted so long.

 

[MenInG]

Say what you will about Babar's approach but he has cut this lead by more than half while batting with the tail. So clearly his approach has worked to some extent so far.

So true.

 

[jattafridi]

Good fight from naseem shah

 

[Cover Drive Six]

Pitch looks good for batting.

 

[Shafi]

Nasim should try to het couple of 4s or 6s. It would take Babar 10-15 overs to score 12-15 runs.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

He didn't cut that lead with this approach of a 10 runs from 72 balls partnership. He was actually scoring before. He is lucky Naseem has lasted so long.

He has tried his best to shield Naseem. No one is good enough to rotate the strike on the last ball of every ball, especially with the field being brought in on the fourth ball fo every over. And I wouldn't call him lucky since Naseem has looked assured in defense.

 

[arif_2021]

at some point he has to hit some shots

 

[jattafridi]

Omg 4 runs.

 

[Omer2002]

at some point he has to hit some shots

He has done 3 consec fours..

 

[Cover Drive Six]

Finally some boundaries

 

[Firebat]

Finally some positive intent, good batting.

 

[Firebat]

This is now the longest Naseem Shah has survived in a Test innings. Good fight.

 

[Shaddy86]

3 boundaries move the game forward by 15 overs only if Naseem Shah lasted that long. Should be doing this against the spinner as well.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

This has already been an outstanding innings by Babar. But with a little more effort it has the potential to be an incredible one.

Wishful thinking to think of triple figures for him and a slender lead for Pakistan?

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Takes a single off the last ball too. Beautiful stuff.

 

[Saj]

50 behind now Pakistan.

Still a good lead for Sri Lanka.

Good effort by Naseem and Babar this.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Runs scored by Babar and the batters: 85

Runs scored by Babar and the tail: 87


Safe to say, Babar's strategy has been very successful in the context of the match.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

You know things have gone horribly awry when the opposition starts bowling a negative line.

 

[Adnan_Ilyas]

Keep it up boys brilliant from both of them

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Incredible stuff from Babar. Just incredible. A magnificent century within sight now.

 

[Hextro]

I don't understand why people are complaining. This is brilliant batting by Babar so far.

 

[Firebat]

Hope he reaches 3 figures, fantastic knock overall.

 

[shah_1]

Next over is important

 

[daytrader]

No rest for Jayasurya, SL desperate for the last wicket

 

[Markhor]

A beautiful edge for four from Naseem to get off the mark

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

I don't understand why people are complaining. This is brilliant batting by Babar so far.

Id say its his best innings


Only the 100 against nz in the world cup compares

 

[daytrader]

A beautiful edge for four from Naseem to get off the mark

Loved the bat raise

 

[andy0204]

Fluke innings according to some intellectual.

 

[Marooned]

Id say its his best innings


Only the 100 against nz in the world cup compares

In tests, this is his toughest innings. And it's ridiculously difficult by any standards.

Take a bow babar. But do get that 100.

 

[ha5is12]

Id say its his best innings


Only the 100 against nz in the world cup compares

196 vs Australia?

 

[Sarwar89]

If Pakistan can bowl Sri lanka for 175 in 2nd innings
They can chase 210-215 as i feel some pak batsmen will grind out better in 2nd innings.

 

[Firebat]

Fantastic effort from the young man

 

[Marooned]

I don't understand why people are complaining. This is brilliant batting by Babar so far.

This was incredible batting. He used wits. The only way out was to tire Lankans and he did it. Obviously it required superlative batting ability which babar has.

 

[Marooned]

196 vs Australia?

This was still tougher imo.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Naseems inns better then any Azhar Ali has played in his career.

Well batted.

28 behind now, pretty much a 2nd inns shoot out. we need to bowl well 2nd inns.

 

[Marooned]

To be fair all srilankans are on the boundaries how are you suppose to score unless sixers..but i am amazed how we have lost 9 wickets on this pitvh looks pretty flat now even jayusuriya looks flat

Naseems inns better then any Azhar Ali has played in his career.

Well batted.

28 behind now, pretty much a 2nd inns shoot out. we need to bowl well 2nd inns.

Yasir will disappoint I'm sure but this moment belongs to Babar (and Naseem).

 

[Amjid Javed]

Yasir will disappoint I'm sure but this moment belongs to Babar (and Naseem).

Yasir / naseem might aswell open batting or bat in top 3 they are better interms of Application the the losers imam / Abdullah and Azhar

 

[ha5is12]

This was still tougher imo.

For me the result matters also in the context of the innings. So for now the 196 is definitely the better innings for me

 

[IMMY69]

I don't understand why people are complaining. This is brilliant batting by Babar so far.

Because they're brought up on fast paced slam bang whallop rubbish and can't appreciate the game as it should be.

 

[Marooned]

For me the result matters also in the context of the innings. So for now the 196 is definitely the better innings for me

Results is a different matter. The Australia knock was great too but purely because of the mental effort needed. That pitch was good to bat, and he had partners.

Here, the pitch was spinning miles, no one was good enough to stay, the lankans didn't give an inch but he outclassed them by sheer determination and skill.

 

[daytrader]

Fantastic effort from the young man

View attachment 116515

Man deserves a bat sponsor after this innings ��

 

[Mesozoic]

Game is still interestingly poised as long as Babar is out there. Sri Lankans lack that killer instinct to grab the game by it's neck so Pakistan will get multiple chances to come back even if they concede a handy lead.

Lol. Exactly as I said.

Expect Pakistan to take a 20-30 run lead here. Top innings from Babar.

 

[imshally81]

Great fightback by Babar & Naseem

Shaheen should come after Naseem

 

[90MPH]

Babar taking singles in last ball of the overs to keep the strike..
After 9 wickets.. Lol.

Yes because the opposition had the fielders on the boundary and only brought them in the last 2 balls. He was obviously trying to protect his last batsman and gain as much as strike as possible.

Regardless it worked but what did you want him to do ? Start slogging 6s ? Some of you need to watch more Test cricket as this is a game of chess, not snakes and ladders like 20/20 is.

 

[Marooned]

Lol. Exactly as I said.

Expect Pakistan to take a 20-30 run lead here. Top innings from Babar.

Fair play to you. But it was an absolute grill.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Well done Babar - brilliant 100 under pressure.

 

[Titan24]

What a knock! Surely one of his finest at test level considering the conditions

 

[jattafridi]

Need century from Babar

What a player

 

[Marooned]

What a knock! Surely one of his finest at test level considering the conditions

One of the best surely. This was outrageous!!!!

 

[Marooned]

Babar's best ever knock in tests imo. Tough tough runs these.

 

[Titan24]

Pakistans top 3 just let every teams bowlers settle into rhythm, if batsmen arent scoring then even if opposition isnt taking wickets its not losing control of game as scoreboard isnt moving.

Exactly. Also its not like they don’t have any strokes rather just a survival must mindset

 

[Saurav]

What a knock by Babar

 

[daytrader]

Babar Sher!!! We just witnessed something special. What a knock

 

[Marooned]

Unbelievable knock. Damn.

 

[Sarwar89]

Many people are ignoring his smashing of Dale Steyn in South Africa
That was no small feat

 

[Firebat]

What a player we are blessed to have. Who knows where we'd be without him.

 

[Marooned]

Many people are ignoring his smashing of Dale Steyn in South Africa
That was no small feat

This was far tougher. Those were fine knocks but atleast they were counter attack. Here he had to do everything from soaking tonnes of pressure to bat with tail to score.

 

[Adnan_Ilyas]

Absolute Legend in the making

 

[Shaddy86]

Humble Pies ordered in bulk. Everyone queue up.