Sri Lanka vs Pakistan in 2022

Test matches (2): Sri Lanka 1 (12pts), Pakistan 1 (12pts)

Hot on the heels of the Australians, Pakistan arrived in Sri Lanka for a short series. Mass protests sparked by an economic crisis were still taking place around the country, which meant the Second Test was switched from the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo to Galle, whose ground became the first to stage four Test matches inside a month.

On the field, Sri Lanka came from behind to square the series, as they had against Australia. Pakistan had chased down a target of 342 in the first match, thanks mainly to Abdullah Shafiq's unbeaten 160, but could not overhaul 508 in the second.

Sri Lanka's hero was slow left-armer Prabath Jayasuriya, who continued a meteoric start to his career: after taking 12 wickets on debut against Australia, he added 17. Only Indian leg-spinner Narendra Hirwani has taken more in his first three Tests. Dinesh Chandimal maintained his purple patch, scoring 271 runs at 90, and just missing out on a century when stranded on 94 in the First Test.

For Pakistan, Babar Azam lived up to his reputation, making a superb hundred in the first match and a fighting 81 in the second; he also ended up with 271 runs. Pakistan were without key fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi in the Second Test, after he picked up a knee injury. Although teenage quick Naseem Shah partly made up for his absence, Hassan Ali finished that game wicketless. Pakistan's spinners suffered in comparison with their hosts: in his comeback series, Yasir Shah's nine wickets cost 39 each, while slow left-armer Mohammad Nawaz was flattered by his five-for in the First Test.