Right-arm fast-bowling duo, Dhammika Prasad and Nuwan Pradeep took 3 wickets apiece as Sri Lanka succeeded to stranglehold Pakistan at close of play on rain-hit day two at Pallekelle.
After being bundled out for 278, Sri Lanka restricted Pakistan to 209 for 9 with the help of Pradeep and Prasad’s inspiring fast-bowling. Azhar Ali and Sarfraz Ahmed struck fighting half-centuries to propel the Pakistani innings which crumbled like a house of sand. The visitors still trail by 69 runs with only 1 wicket remaining.
Earlier, the home team resumed from their overnight score of 272 for 8 but Pakistan wrapped up the Lankan innings early when Rahat Ali and Yasir Shah trapped Tharindu Kaushal and Nuwan Pradeep in consecutive overs respectively as the hosts’ were bowled out for 278 within 3.5 overs during the first hour.
Leg-spinning maestro, Yasir Shah completed his five-for and became only the 2nd spinner after Shane Warne to claim three consecutive five-wicket hauls against Sri Lanka at home.
The newly-formed Pakistan opening pair of Shan Masood and Ahmed Shehzad started off brightly stroking delicate boundaries in their 32-run stand but within 8 runs both fell to the bowling of Prasad and Pradeep respectively.
Masood was given LBW after a full-length delivery hit him straight on the shoe and Shehzad was caught in two minds on a delivery which was closer to the off-stump and got a faint nick straight to the keeper.
Pakistan was in dire straits when their experienced batsman, Younis Khan was dismissed by a direct-hit by Kaushal Silva at the stroke of lunch as the visitors were reeling at 45 for 3 at lunch.
The play was interrupted twice in the post-lunch session and in between Dhammika Prasad broke the 46-run stand for the 4th wicket by pinning down Asad Shafiq LBW for 15. Only 72 runs were scored for the loss of 1 wicket in this particular session by the visitors.
Pakistan’s most successful batsman in this tour, Azhar Ali stroked his 20th half-ton and it had 8 beautiful fours. After the tea break, Azhar Ali was cleanly caught by Karunarathne at second slip off Nuwan Pradeep to end his 96-ball 52.
The Pakistani skipper Misbah Ul-Haq demoted himself to number 7 in order to nurse his groin injury but he could not make a significant contribution as he was trapped LBW by Pradeep for 6. Five balls later, Tharindu Kaushal bowled an off-spinner which kept low and stuck right in front of the stumps as Ehsan Adil was LBW for a golden duck.
Late in the day, a promising 45-run stand between Yasir and Sarfraz reduced the deficit but the former was given out caught-behind off Prasad. Sarfraz played a charismatic innings of a lone-warrior with the tail and after a brief shower, Kaushal struck Rahat Ali plumb in front when the game resumed at 5.50pm.
Play will commence on Sunday for day three starting at 9.45am.
Sri Lanka – 278 all out in 89.5 overs: Dimuth Karunarathne 130, Upul Tharanga 46, Jehan Mubarak 25, Dinesh Chandimal 24, Yasir Shah 5/78, Azhar Ali 2/35, Rahat Ali 3/74.
Pakistan – 209/9 in 64 overs: Ahmed Shehzad 21, Azhar Ali 52, Sarfraz Ahmed 72*, Dhammika Prasad 3/78, Nuwan Pradeep 3/26, Tharindu Kaushal 2/34.
