Watch: Saud Shakeel brought up his maiden Test double-century with a boundary against Sri Lanka today (July 18), continuing a blistering start to his Pakistan international career.
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Shakeel’s innings came in the context of an early collapse from Pakistan after they bowled Sri Lanka out for 312 after Lunch on Day Two. Prabath Jayasuriya pinned Sarfaraz Ahmed to reduce Pakistan to 101-5 with Shakeel and Agha Salman at the crease. The pair began a stunning rescue effort late in the day which carried on until the following morning. By the time Salman was out, Shakeel had already reached his century.
It was second Test hundred in six matches after he made an unbeaten 125 against New Zealand earlier this year. With the lower order exposed, Shakeel put on a masterclass of batting with the tail to find his way to a double. His partnership with Naseem Shah was crucial. The pair put on 94 together, with Naseem scoring just six of those runs off 78 balls, finally out to Kusal Mendis with Shakeel on 197.
An over later, Shakeel rocked back and played a cut shot off Dhananjaya de Silva to bring up his 200 and was greeted by a standing ovation from the Pakistan dressing room.
After some heroics from No.11 Abrar Ahmed, who took ten runs off one over from Prabath Jayasuriya, including a heave for six, Pakistan’s innings came to an end when he was caught in the deep by Angelo Mathews. Shakeel was unbeaten on 208, with Pakistan having opened up a lead on Sri Lanka, all out for 461.
Shakeel now has two centuries and five fifties in his burgeoning Test career – his average from 11 innings reads 98.5. Sri Lanka ended day three on 14-o, trailing Pakistan by 135.
