"Miracle": Twitter Reacts As Pakistan Achieve First Test Win In 365 Days
On this day last year, Pakistan had defeated Sri Lanka, also in Galle by the same margin.
Pakistan opened their ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle campaign with a four-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test match at Galle on Thursday. With the win, the Babar Azam-led side ended a 365-day drought for a win in the longest format of the game. Saud Shakeel stood out for Pakistan with his maiden Test double century as Pakistan overcame a top-order collapse in the first innings to take a sizeable lead, and eventually come out on top against the hosts.
With Pakistan winning a Test for the first time in a year, fans took to Twitter to express their emotions.
Here's how Twitter reacted:
July 20th, 2022 - 146th Test win for Pakistan
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 20, 2023
July 20th, 2023 - 147th Test win for Pakistan
The wait is over, Pakistan won a Test match after a gap of 365 days. pic.twitter.com/RrDQ9lPjWt
Pakistan have won a Test match after a gap of exactly 365 days.
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) July 20, 2023
The last Test they won was also against Sri Lanka, at Galle and on July 20. Crazy! #SLvPAK
July 20th, 2022 - 146th Test win for Pakistan
— Fahmidah Yousfi (@fahmidahyousfi) July 20, 2023
July 20th, 2023 - 147th Test win for Pakistan
The wait is over, Pakistan won a Test match after a gap of 365 days
Congratulations #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/DDNSVue4Z8
The wait is over, Pakistan won a Test match after a gap of 365 days.
— Amir Awan (@Amirawan000) July 20, 2023
#PAKvsSL #SLvsPAK #SLvPAK pic.twitter.com/esbPAp5lq4
The wait is over, Pakistan has won a Test match after a gap of 1 year (365 days). Last time they won a test match was on 20th July in 2022 against Sri Lanka and today they have won against the same opposition on the same day. What a coincidence. #PAKvsSL #SLvPAK pic.twitter.com/qxvm5wsqdW
— Ahmad Haseeb (@iamAhmadhaseeb) July 20, 2023
Notably, on this day last year, Pakistan had defeated Sri Lanka, also in Galle by the same margin.
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam said on Thursday his team's latest Test hero Shakeel had stepped up his game and showcased new shots in his match-winning unbeaten 208.
The visitors won the first Test in Galle by four wickets after opener Imam-ul-Haq hit an unbeaten 50 to anchor a tricky chase of 131 on the final day to lead the two-match series 1-0.
"Saud has improved a lot. He has been working hard after the New Zealand series," Azam said of the man of the match.
"He attended two camps in Lahore and Karachi. I spoke with him and he told me he had developed a few shots which he applied in this innings.
"As captain, I am very satisfied with his performance. When he came to bat we had lost four wickets and Saud and Salman built the partnership."
(With AFP Inputs)
Sri Lanka Cricket Team
Pakistan Cricket Team
Babar Azam