SL vs PAK: Saud Shakeel Achieves A Rare Milestone, Becomes Only The Fifth Batter in Cricket History to Do So

Pakistan middle order batter Saud Shakeel achieved a rare milestone in red-ball cricket during Day 3 of the first Test against Sri Lanka in the two-match series in Galle. Saud Shakeel scored a magnificent hundred in his first match away from home in the longer format of the game.

Pakistan bowled out the opposition for 312 runs after winning the toss at the Galle International Stadium in Galle. In response, the Babar Azam-led team struggled at the start, losing four wickets for just 73 runs. Pakistan skipper Babar Azam managed to score just 13 runs off 16 balls.

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Saud Shakeel Achieves A Rare Milestone

Saud Shakeel contributed to a 28-run partnership with wicketkeeper-batter Sarfaraz Khan for the fifth wicket. Sarfaraz was dismissed by Prabath Jayasuriya’s bowling after scoring 17 runs off 15 balls. However, Shakeel and Agha Salman aided the team to gain a lead in the first innings.

The duo went on to form a 177-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Agha Salman scored 83 runs off 113 balls and fell just 17 runs short of a well-deserved century. Meanwhile, Shakeel reached his century in the 56th over of the innings, marking his first century in overseas conditions.

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The southpaw achieved a remarkable feat by becoming only the fifth batter in history to score fifty or more in each of his first six matches. He played the knuckle under immense pressure and crossed the 150 mark. He guided the team to a lead of 77 at Tea on Day 3 on Tuesday, July 18.

The 27-year-old remained unbeaten at the crease with 161 runs, along with Naseem Shah, who scored 1 run from 39 balls. Shakeel and Naseem added an unbeaten 43-run partnership for the ninth wicket. The Pakistan cricket team finished the second session on the third day with a score of 389/8.

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Shakeel made his debut for Pakistan during the Test series against England at home last December. The left-handed batter has shown immense consistency in his brief career, crossing the fifty-run milestone seven times out of in 11 innings. He has smashed two centuries and five fifties in Tests.

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