Sri Lanka crumbled under lights as they ended day 3 of the 2nd Test against Pakistan in Dubai on 34 for 5 in their second innings after bowling out the hosts for 262 earlier in the day to earn a lead of 220.
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Wahab Riaz bowled a brilliant spell under lights with the new pink cherry and he was well supported by Mohommad Abbas and Yasir Shah. Early on, Pakistan were bowled out for 262 with Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera sharing 3 wickets each. Azhar Ali and Haris Sohail were the only notable contributors for Pakistan with the bat.
Dinesh Chandimal opted to start proceedings with Lahiru Gamage and Dilruwan Perera, which payed off as debutant Gamage broke through the defences of Shan Masood to claim Sri Lanka’s 1st. Pakistan’s worries worsened in the very next over when Sami Aslam was struck plumb in front to a straighter one by Dilruwan. Sami opted for the review but the replays showed the ball crashing into the stumps.
It was tough going for both Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali and after a quiet period Suranga Lakmal found the edge of Shafiq who was caught brilliantly by Kusal Mendis at first slip. At the stroke of the tea break, Pakistan lost another wicket as Babar Azam chipped one straight to mid wicket. It was a perfect session for the Lankans, conceding just 64 runs for 4 wickets.
Ali and Haris Sohail looked confident at the crease in the 2nd session as they steadied the ship for Pakistan. Ali managed to reach his second half century of the series but just before the break he was sent back to the pavilion by Herath.
Ali’s wicket gave the Lankans the opening they had been waiting for. Skipper Sarfraz tried to up the ante and play his natural game but he lobbed one straight to the hands of short leg. The wickets just kept coming as injured Mohommad Amir was caught plumb right in front by Herath. Sohail was once again stranded on one end and he was left with no choice but to attack. He reached his half century but was again undone by a straighter one by Dilruwan.
Pakistan was in dire straights needing 62 runs to avoid the follow on just only 2 wickets in hand. Wahab Riaz and Yasir Shah hit back at the bowlers but the hosts were eventually bowled out for 262.
With 15 overs left in the day, Sri Lanka opted to bat again when they had the option of enforcing the follow on. Under lights the new pink cherry was bound to move around and the Pakistani seamers took total control. Kaushal was the first to fall, Mohommad Abbas getting one to straighten on the off stump to find the outside edge of the right hander. A few balls later, Sadeera Samarawickrama survived a review from Abbas.
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Sarfraz opened the bowling with Abbas and Shah but he decided to get Riaz into the attack and it provided them with the big wicket of Dimuth as he chopped on for the 2nd time in the game. Sri Lanka’s decision to bat again proved to be disastrous given the context of the game as wickets tumbled.
Sadeera was the next to and night watchman Suranga Lakmal surived only 10 balls before he was caught plumb in front by Shah. He opted for a review thinking he got some bat on to it but replays showed the ball hitting the pad first. With 2 overs remaining in the day, Sri Lanka lost the prized wicket of Chandimal as well.
Sri Lanka has never lost a Test after scoring 450+ in the first innings but after losing 5 wickets for just 34 runs, Pakistan will fancy their chances in the second innings.
