Sri Lanka vs Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique joins Sunil Gavaskar in elite list after Galle Test heroics

Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka: Abdullah Shafique batted 408 deliveries in the fourth innings of the Galle Test for his match-winning 160. Pakistan completed a record chase of 342 against the islanders on Wednesday.

Pakistan's 22-year-old batting sensation Abdullah Shafique led a record-setting run-chase as the visitors gunned down a 342-run target against Sri Lanka at the iconic Galle Cricket Ground on Wednesday, July 20. Shafique entered record books with his composed and calculated knock on a challenging pitch on which Sri Lanka spinners were letting the ball rip.

Abdullah Shafique remained unbeaten on 160 as Pakistan pulled off the highest successful run chase ever by a team in the final innings of a Test match at Galle, going past Sri Lanka's best of 268 against New Zealand in 2019.

Shafique showed grit and determination as he survived close calls on more than one occasion in a knock that lasted 408 deliveries. Shafique hit only 7 boundaries and a six during his marathon knock on the last two days of the gripping Test series opener in Galle.

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, 1st Test Day 5 Highlights

By batting in excess of 400 deliveries in the final innings of a Test, Babar joined an elite list of batters, which includes his captain Babar Azam.

Former England captain Michael Atherton holds the record for the most number of deliveries faced in the 4th innings of a Test match - 492 against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1995.

Shafique joined the elite list, which includes Atherton, Herbert Sutcliffe (England), Sunil Gavaskar, and Babar, at the 5th spot.