Shaheen Afridi became the fourth-fastest fast bowler to reach 100 wickets for Pakistan as he took three of four wickets to reduce Sri Lanka to 55/4 on Day 1 of the first Test in Galle on Sunday, July 16. However, a 131-run partnership in the afternoon session between Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva brought the home side back into the game.
Afridi took the wicket of opener Nishan Madushka (4), complemented by a brilliant diving catch by wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed. This wicket gave the young pacer his new record as he also became the 19th Pakistan bowler to reach 100 wickets.
He added the wickets of captain Dimuth Karunaratne (29) and Kusal Mendis (12) before Dinesh Chandimal (1) was sent back to the pavilion by Naseem Shah, with a major top-order collapse on the cards.
However, things changed in the afternoon session as Sri Lanka worked their way back into the game. Mathews and Dhananjaya were cautious in their shot selection and crossed the 100-run mark in their partnership, but after scoring 64 runs in 109 balls, Abrar Ahmed took his scalp just before Tea, with the Sri Lanka score reading 185/5.
Rain interruptions hampered the day constantly as Dhananjaya and Sameera Samarawickrama almost held their ground till the end of the day. Just before stumps, Agha Salman sent Samarawickrama after ending their 57-run partnership.
Heading into stumps on Day 1, Dhananjaya de Silva is unbeaten on 94 runs in 157 deliveries. He will aim to continue his fine form and score an important century to take his team to at least 3509 while Pakistan will want to rediscover their form from the morning session.
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