SL vs Pak: Abrar Ahmed and Sadeera Samarawickrama’s on field antics leaves Babar Azam in splits on Day 3

Babar Azam. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Pakistan are in the ascendancy in the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka being played at Galle International Stadium, in Galle. The Babar Azam-led side has taken a significant 149-run lead in the first innings, courtesy of a magnificent double hundred by Saud Shakeel (208*). The Day 3 of the Test was an eventful affair as Shakeel and Agha Salman (83) continued to frustrate the hosts with their mammoth 177-run stand.

Meanwhile, apart from the intense action on the field, a hilarious moment between Ramesh Mendis and Abrar Ahmed during the third session became the highlight of the day. The incident took place in the 120th over of the Pakistan innings, when an off-spinner from Mendis turned in sharply brushed Ahmed’s gloves and got stuck in his pads.

Thereafter, Sri Lanka wicketkeeper Sadeera Samarawickrama tried to grab hold of the ball to claim a catch, however, he was hilariously denied to do so by Ahmed, who grabbed his hand and took him outside of the crease. In the process, the ball eventually fell out of his pads and the Pakistani batter quickly rushed back into the crease to avoid a run-out. The entire incident left everyone at the ground in splits especially the Pakistan captain, Babar Azam, who was left in stitches inside the dressing room.

Watch the hilarious incident here:

Babar Azam couldn’t Stop himself from Laughing what happened with Abrar Ahmad 😂#PAKvsSL pic.twitter.com/xKwx5xYs93

— WAQAR 🇵🇰 (@waqu_hassan15) July 18, 2023

Coming back to the match, Pakistan were reeling at 101/5 on Day 2 when Agha Salman and Saud Shakeel got together for their 177-run stand. Courtesy of their partnership and some valuable contributions from the tail, the visitors put on 461 in the first innings.

Shakeel became the first Pakistan batter to score double ton in Sri Lanka

Saud Shakeel remained unbeaten on 208* with the help of 19 fours in his marathon innings. Notably, he became the first Pakistan batter to score a double hundred in Tests in Sri Lanka surpassing Mohammad Hafeez’s previous highest score of 196 in 2012 at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.

Meanwhile, on Day 4, Pakistan have got the wickets of four Sri Lankan batters in the second innings. The Dimuth Karunaratne-led side was 113/4 after 41 overs trailing by 36 runs with Dhananjaya de Silva 5* (13) and Dinesh Chandimal 10* (26) at the crease.