Sri Lankan batters struggle to put up a big score in the first innings of Test match against Pakistan at the Galle International Stadium as the hosts were all out for 222.

Pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi grabbed four wickets, followed by Yasir Shah (2), Hasan Ali (2), and one each by Naseem Shah, and Muhammad Nawaz.

Dinesh Chandimal, the star performer in the series-levelling win over Australia, fought the lone battle for the hosts. He scored 76 off 115 deliveries.

Shaheen got the first wicket of Sri Lankan skipper Dimuth Karunaratne by bowling him out on a length and outside off delivery.

Yasir Shah, who returned to the home side after a gap, grabbed the next wicket of Kusal Mendis. The right-handed batter got caught behind when he tried to slash the outside off delivery.

Oshada Fernando was the next to return to the pavilion right the next over. Hasan Ali got his man and celebrated in his trademark style. Fernando tried to play the outside off delivery, however, it got past the edge and landed in the safe pair of hands of wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan.

Later, Yasir got the scalp of all-rounder Angelo Mathews. The former skipper tried to pull the spinner’s delivery above the mid-on fielder, however, it landed in the hands of Shaheen Shah Afridi.

‘Boost up’ Sri Lanka win toss, decide to bat first

Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bat in the first Test match against Pakistan at the Galle International Stadium on Saturday, as the hosts try to follow the winning momentum after a series-levelling win over Australia.

“If you can put a big score then I think we will bring some pressure on the other side,” Sri Lanka cricket team captain Dimuth Karunaratne said in reply to a query by commentator Danny Morrison.

The hosts had levelled the series against Australia in Galle last week, with memorable performances from Dinesh Chandimal and Prabhat Jayasuriya. “I think winning against Australia here will boost some confidence,” Karunaratne said, “overall the team did a great job.”

Sri Lanka had hammered Australia by an innings and 39 runs on the fourth day of the match, which had witnessed dramatic scenes outside the Galle stadium amid political unrest in the island nation.

The Sri Lankan skipper was of the view that the pitch would be “handy” for spinners in the latter part of the game as both sides are playing two spinners in their playing eleven.

‘Feeling good’

Pakistan’s all-format Captain Babar Azam said the team was feeling and the team was preparing for the series for the past two months.

“We are looking forward to the match and Yasir Shah’s performance,” he said, adding that the experience spin bowler was excited to play in Sri Lanka.

Azam, before departing for the tour, said that the team wanted to play good cricket in front of the Sri Lankan crowd, who are facing a financial crisis.

Pakistani side

Babar Azam (c), Muhammad Rizwan (vc) (wk), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Hasan Ali, Imamul Haq, Muhammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi, and Yasir Shah.

Sri Lankan side

Oshada Fernando, Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Prabath Jayasuriya, and Kasun Rajitha.