Twitter Reactions: Sri Lanka set Pakistan an improbable target on back of Dhananjaya De Silva's ton

The second Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Galle on the fourth day saw an early close due to bad light but not before the hosts managed a foothold after setting the visitors a mammoth target of 508 runs on the back of Dhananjaya de Silva’s glorious century.

Pakistan were frustrated by the Sri Lankan lower-order batters and will have to play out of their skins to survive on the fifth day. A win looks improbable at the moment, but the visitors won’t be too disappointed at the prospect of drawing the match from here and taking the trophy back home as they lead the series by 1-0.

Pakistan were happy to walk off the field on the fourth day with 26 overs remaining in the day’s play. The visitors ended the day at 89/1. Skipper Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq looked proactive at the crease tried to score more often than not, as the pitch has not posed any great threat. But they will have to be wary of the Sri Lankan spinners on the fifth day on a deteriorating Galle surface, especially against Prabath Jayasuriya, who can make life difficult with his treacherous deliveries.

Dhananjaya de Silva shows his class

Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka started from where they had left off as skipper Dimuth Karunaratne continued his resolute stay at the crease and scored a gritty half-century, while his understudy, Dhananjaya de Silva, went one better than his skipper and notched up a remarkable ton. The all-rounder accelerated after Karunaratne’s dismissal, which broke their 126-run stand.

If the visitors weren’t already deflated by that partnership, De Silva and Ramesh Mendis (45*) piled more misery with a quickfire 82-run partnership for the eighth wicket. The Sri Lankan skipper declared with the score being 360/8. The declaration could have come a bit earlier, but the skipper wanted to see his deputy reach the three-figure mark before declaring.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Sri Lanka declare their innings at 360-8 following Dhananjaya de Silva's 109 🏏

Pakistan have been set a target of 508 🎯#SLvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/lZXRXDLRWA

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) July 27, 2022

9th test 💯 for DHANANJAYA DE SILVA in 45 matches batting lower down the order, That's some record for LANKAN 🇱🇰 alrounder.. #PAKvsSL #SLvPAK pic.twitter.com/RkZBfx8nT3

— Farooq Alam (@AlamFAR786) July 27, 2022

Elegant and classy 2nd inns Test century (109) by Dhananjaya de Silva. One of the most underrated allrounders in International cricket at present. 🇱🇰 @dds75official #Cricket #SLvPAK

— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) July 27, 2022

Dhananjaya de Silva gets to his 9th CENTURY in Test cricket 💯👏

This is the first time, Sri Lankan 🇱🇰 batter scored hundred while batting at no. 7 or lower in Galle stadium.

Previous Best :
95 – Angelo Mathews vs AUS 🇦🇺, 2011#SLvPAK pic.twitter.com/3saDHhQmQx

— Thurunu Jayasiri (@ThurunuJ) July 27, 2022

Divided by border, united by the passion for the game 🇵🇰🇱🇰#SLvPAK #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/5rkcc9hAhK

— Cricket Pakistan (@cricketpakcompk) July 26, 2022

Dananjaya De Silva scoring a 💯 is like your eternal crush finally commiting to a date,after many false promises. DDS looked million dollars everytime he walked out this home season.Finally delivered at a crunch moment.Elegance exemplified! #Crickettwitter #SLvPAK pic.twitter.com/7CtHqy4Odh

— Aravinthan Arunthavanathan (@Cricket_decoded) July 27, 2022