Ali Asad and Adnan Akmal stroked half-tons to inflict more salt to the Sri Lanka A wounds as the visiting Pakistan A posted a mammoth 580 for 8 declared in their first innings on day 3 in their 3rd unofficial Test match played at Dambulla Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Sri Lanka A commenced their second innings with 307 runs behind and with final day’s play left, they are still 188 runs behind with only 7 wickets in hand. Earlier in the day, Pakistan A resumed their 1st innings on 377 for 4. Overnight batsmen, Shan Masood and Ali Asad added 62 more runs to their score before Masood’s gigantic innings of 182 was ended by part-time spinner, Ashan Priyanjan. The big-left hander hammered 24 fours in his marathon 357-ball innings.
Ali Asad continued to torment the bowling attack of the host country but he fell 11 runs short of a well-deserved ton when Nisala Tharaka captured his only wicket in the match. Asad’s 89 came in 147 deliveries and it had 13 boundaries. Experienced wicket-keeper batsman, Adnan Akmal shepherded the late order batsmen to guide the score to 580 for 8 declared in 149.3 overs. Akmal remained unbeaten on 54*. Lahiru Gamage picked up 4 scalps for 112 runs for the hosts. Lead spinner Malinda Pushpakumara failed to pick up a single wicket in his bowling spell of 35 overs.
The Lankan opening pair of Udara Jayasundara and Dhananjaya De Silva started off positively constructing 88 runs in 27 overs before De Silva was LBW by Tabish Khan for 37. Seamer Shehzad Azam struck two late blows to tighten their grip on the game. Left-handed Udara was out for 56 in 105 balls while Madawa Warnapura failed once again scoring only 8.
Experienced Kithruwan Vithanage and skipper Ashan Priyanjan will have to bat their skins out in the final day with the remaining batsmen, Kusal Janith Perera, Asela Gunaratne and Nisala Tharaka if they are to save the Test match.
Chief Scores:
Sri Lanka A (1st inn) – 273 all out in 74 overs: Kithruwan Vithanage 48, Kusal Janith Perera 90, Nisala Tharaka 76, Shehzad Azam 3/54, Fawad Alam 4/40, Tabish Khan 2/65.
Pakistan A (1st inn) – 580/8 declared in 149.3 overs: Umar Amin 127, Shan Masood 182, Usman Salahuddin 36, Ali Asad 89, Adnan Akmal 54*, Lahiru Gamage 4/112.
Sri Lanka A (2nd inn) – 119/3 in 40 overs: Udara Jayasundera 56, Dhananjaya De Silva 37, Shehzad Azam 2/12.
