Pakistan slip below India to No. 5 in WTC table after big defeat in Galle (AP Photo)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Pakistan were handed a 246-run defeat by Sri Lanka in Galle
• Pakistan have slipped to No. 5 on the WTC points table
• Sri Lanka climbed to No. 3, South Africa on top of table

Pakistan’s chances of reaching the World Test Championship final suffered a blow as they slipped to No. 5 on the WTC 2021-23 points table after their 246-run defeat to Sri Lanka in the 2nd of 2-match Test series in Galle on Thursday, July 28.

Pakistan moved to No. 3 after winning the series opener, which was also played in Galle earlier this month. Babar Azam’s men had an opportunity to close in on the top 2 with a win in the 2nd Test but Dimuth Karunaratne-led Sri Lanka bounced back and clinched a clinical win on Day 5 of the 2nd Test with spinner Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis ruling the roost.

Pakistan are now 5th and behind India, who suffered a defeat to England in the rescheduled Birmingham Test in July, on the WTC 2021-23 points table.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka jumped to the 3rd spot after the win over Pakistan. Notably, the island nation also leveled the series against Australia, winning the 2nd Test earlier this year.

There is not much to separate India and Pakistan as the former are 4th with a PCT (winning percentage) of 52.08 while Pakistan have a PCT of 51.85. South Africa are on top of the WTC points table with 71.43 PCT while Australia are in the 2nd spot with 70 PCT.

South Africa have a good chance of widening the gap when they take on England in a three-match Test series next month.

The architect of Sri Lanka’s 246-run win was left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, who has been making waves in Test cricket since his debut earlier this month. In just six Test innings, he has accumulated 29 wickets, including four five-wicket hauls and a 10-wicket match-haul.

Jayasuriya picked up the big wicket for Sri Lanka on Day 5 as he trapped Pakistan skipper Babar LBW for 81 right after the Lunch in Galle. The left-arm spinner and Mendis triggered a collapse as Pakistan went from 176 for 2 to 261-all out, losing their last 8 wickets for just 85 runs.

“Tough game for us, we were trying to win. Credit to Sri Lanka, they bowled really well,” captain Babar said after Pakistan’s defeat in Galle.

WTC POINTS TABLE

1. South Africa – 71.43 PCT

2. Australia – 70 PCT

3. Sri Lanka – 53.33 PCT

4. India – 52.08 PCT

5. Pakistan – 51.85 PCT

6. West Indies – 50 PCT

7. England – 33.33 PCT

— ENDS —