Right-arm off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal snapped up 6 wickets in the Pakistan A first innings but the visiting bowlers fought back well as they hold the advantage after two days of play in the 1st unofficial Test match at R. Premadasa Stadium.
Pakistan A resumed their innings from the overnight score of 244/5. Wicket-keeper batsman Adnan Akmal was the first to be dismissed in the 9th over of the morning when he gave an easy catch to Tharindu Kaushal off Lahiru Gamage’s bowling for just 15. Experienced captain Fawad Alam and Shehzad Azam stabilized the innings with a key stand of 67 for the 7th wicket which took the heavy toll on the Lankan bowlers.
Fawad Alam was dismissed for a well-compiled 147-ball 72 by Tharindu Kaushal and he few overs later he took his 4th wicket by trapping Shahzaib Ahmed for just 1 run as the scores read 359 for 8. The 9th wicket pair of Shehzad Azam and Zia-Ul-Haq demoralized the Lankan bowlers’ further batting for 10 overs to score 36 valuable runs but Tharindu Kaushal prompted the latter to come down the pitch and go for a huge heave which he completely missed for 22.
The 22-year old off-spinner completed his 6-wicket haul in the 130th over of the innings when he clean bowled last man, Mir Hamza for no score. Azam remained unbeaten on a fighting 47 from 123 balls. Kaushal bowled 42 overs and gave away 117 runs for his 6 wickets while bowling 9 maidens.
Sri Lanka A in their reply lost young, Dhananjaya De Silva early in the 3rd over when he was caught behind off Mir Hamza’s bowling for just 8 runs. One drop batsman Madawa Warnapura also failed to capitalize on the given opportunity as he made only 5 runs off 30 deliveries before being dismissed by Zia-Ul-Haq. Left-handed opener Udara Jayasundara looked promising but his 35-ball knock of 31 ended in the 15th over when he became left-arm fast-bowler, Mir Hamza’s 2nd scalp.
Kithruwan Vithanage and Ashan Priyanjan handled the pressure in the final hour of 2nd day’s play to help Sri Lanka stay on course as umpires called it a day with the Lankan score on 95 for 3 in 21 overs. Vithanage stroked 6 fours in his unbeaten knock of 35 while Priyanjan too remained unbeaten on 12. Play will be continued tomorrow.
Chief Scores:
Pakistan A – 401 all out in 130 overs: Umar Amin 99, Khurram Manzoor 82, Fawad Alam 72, Shehahzad Azam 47*, Tharindu Kaushal 6/117, Dhananjaya De Silva 2/47.
Sri Lanka A – 95/3 in 21 overs: Udara Jayasundara 31, Kithruwan Vithanage 35*, Mir Hamza 2/31.
