Every game of cricket adds another chapter to the incredible story of this exciting game. Similarly, when Pakistan cricket team — which is unarguably the most unpredictable team in the world — steps onto the field, some strange and even wondrous things can happen as well.
On Monday, Sri Lanka registered a win over Pakistan in the first Test match of the series. Even for casual viewers of cricket, it was an exciting end to the match. After a rugged start, which was due to the slow nature of cricket that both these teams play, Sri Lanka opted to bat first. Little did anyone know how exciting a turn the match could take in its final days, and how many records could be set during that.
The match was significant for many reasons; from Pakistan losing their first match at Abu Dhabi, to Azhar Ali reaching 5,000 runs in his Test career.
A Day of Records
Here is a complete list of records which made their way to history books during the match:
- Yasir Shah became the joint second fastest bowler to take 150 wickets in Test cricket. He’s accompanied by Waqar Younis who achieved the milestone in the same 27 matches.
- Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Herath became the first ever left arm spinner to take 400 wickets in Test cricket.
- Herath also become the only player in the history of cricket to take 100 wickets against Pakistan. Before him, Kapil Dev had 99.
- Yasir Shah is the fastest amongst leg-spinners to take 150 wickets.
- Azhar Ali became the 8th Pakistani batsman to reach 5000 runs.
- Azhar Ali became the fourth fastest Pakistani batsman to reach the milestone of 5000 test runs (in 115 innings compared to Younis Khan’s 106).
- Sami Aslam scored the fourth highest number of fifties since Jan 2010 for Pakistan. 7 fifties to be precise.
- The opening partnership of 100 during the first innings between Sami Aslam and Shan Masood was the first by a Pakistani left handed pair since 2010.
- Haris Sohail’s 76 during first innings was the highest score by a Pakistani batsman on debut while batting at no. 6. position. The previous highest was by Asad Shafiq with 61 runs.
- This was the lowest total, 136, that was successfully defended in UAE (Sri Lanka won the match).
- This was Pakistan’s first ever Test defeat at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
- Sri Lanka won only three games with a margin of 50 or less, all of them came against Pakistan.
- This 21-runs defeat against Sri Lanka is Pakistan’s narrowest defeat in Test cricket. The previous was 24, against Zimbabwe in 2013.
- It was the first time Pakistan failed to chase a target of less than 140 in Test cricket.
What do you think about the first Test match? Do the records justify the game? Tell us in the comments below.