Pakistan Shaheens Beat Sri Lanka A in Style

Pakistan Shaheens secured a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka A on the final day of the first four-day match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The match saw standout performances from Ali Zaryab and Mohammad Suleman, with Zaryab earning the Player of the Match accolade for his consistent batting across both innings.

Sri Lanka A set a target of 222 runs which Pakistan Shaheens chased down in just 53 overs, thanks to a pivotal third-wicket partnership between Mohammad Suleman and Ali Zaryab. The duo’s partnership was instrumental in stabilizing the innings after a shaky start.

The Shaheens began their chase with a few early setbacks, losing both openers—captain Mohammad Huraira (9) and Abdul Faseeh (22)—with only 32 runs on the board. This early wobble could have derailed the chase, but Suleman and Zaryab’s partnership of 158 runs turned the tide in favor of the home side.

Key Performances

• Mohammad Suleman: Top-scored in the second innings with a well-crafted 86 off 129 balls, including 11 boundaries. His innings provided the backbone for the Shaheens’ successful chase.
• Ali Zaryab: Remained unbeaten on 83 from 125 deliveries, also hitting 11 fours. His calm and composed innings earned him the Player of the Match award.
• Haider Ali: Came in at No. 5 and delivered a quick-fire 19 not out from just 14 balls, including two sixes and a four, to seal the victory for the Shaheens.

Earlier in the day, Test pacer Khurram Shahzad made a significant impact by taking the final Sri Lanka A wicket on the fourth delivery of the day, preventing the visitors from adding to their overnight score of 364. Shahzad’s exceptional bowling performance throughout the match resulted in impressive figures of 9/102.