Pakistan v Sri Lanka 2017: 1st Test, Day 4 – Statistical Highlights

Despite the fact that both the teams Pakistan and Sri Lanka scored runs at snail’s pace for the first four days, the home side holds the advantage for producing a result on the final day. After taking a 3-run lead in the first innings, Pakistan reduced the Lankans to 69/4 before the end of day four. They would have ended up way behind Sri Lanka’s total if not for a brilliant inning on debut by Haris Sohail.

Here we look at all the stats and records created during the day’s play.

3 – Pakistan’s first innings lead of three runs in this Test is the lowest they have taken in a Test match while batting second. The previous lowest 1st innings lead Pakistan have taken while batting second was 12 runs also against Sri Lanka in 2014. They took a three-run lead in the first innings while batting first on two occasions.

7 – Number of consecutive innings in which Rangana Herath has dismissed Azhar Ali in Test cricket. Overall, Herath has claimed Azhar Ali’s wicket on nine occasions in Tests so far.

40.48 – Pakistan batsmen have scored 398 runs at a strike rate of 40.48 in their first innings. Since 2010, only England (402 at 39.37 against New Zealand, 2013) and Sri Lanka (410 at 39.37 against Pakistan, 2014) have scored more runs at a lower S/R in a Test inning.

32 – Number of five-wicket hauls in Test cricket for Rangana Herath. Only four players have taken more 5-fers in Test format than Herath. His 16 five-wicket hauls after the age of 35 are the 2nd most behind Sydney Barnes and Clarrie Grimmett’s 18 five-fers.

76 – Haris Sohail’s 76 is the highest individual score by a Pakistan batsman at No.6 on Test debut. The previous highest by a Pakistan player on debut at this position is 61 by Asad Shafiq against South Africa in 2010 at the same venue. No other debutant has scored fifty at No.6 for Pakistan in Tests.

194 – Rangana Herath has taken a total of 194 wickets in Test cricket after turning 35 which is the most for any player. He went past Clarrie Grimmett who had 192 wickets in Tests after turning 35.

2013 – The last time before Pakistan in this Test, a team’s top five batsmen scored 25+ under an SR of 40 in a Test innings was England in The Oval Test against Australia in 2013. These are the only two such instances recorded in the last 20 years of Test cricket.