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Sri Lanka's bolwer Dhammika Prasad appeals unsuccessfully for an lbw against Pakistan batsman Asad Shafiq during the 1st Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, on day four in Galle, 4th day, June 20, 2015. (AFP)
Asad Shafiq's seventh hundred and a belligerent 96 from Sarfraz Ahmed helped give Pakistan a sizeable lead against Sri Lanka on the fourth day of the opening Test at Galle on Saturday.
Sri Lanka had hoped for quick wickets in the morning when Pakistan resumed on 118 for five but a sixth-wicket stand of 139 between Sarfraz and Asad Shafiq (131) put paid to their chances.
Another 101-run stand for the ninth wicket between Shafiq and Zulfiqar Babar (56) gave the visitors the upper hand in the match.
Pakistan were finally all out for 417 with a first-innings lead of 117.
Pakistan then piled on the pressure and picked up two wickets in the remainder of the day's play as Sri Lanka reached stumps on 63-2 in their second innings, still trailing by 54 runs.
Kaushal Silva (five), a centurion in the first innings, and the experienced Kumar Sangakkara (18) were the batsmen out.
Opener Dimuth Karunaratne (36) and nightwatchman Dilruwan Perera (nought) were at the crease for the hosts.
Earlier, wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz caused disarray in Sri Lanka's disciplined attack with his innovative batting and hit 13 fours in his 86-ball knock.
His downfall came when he tried an unorthodox sweep against fast bowler Dhammika Prasad, with the ball catching the inside edge and going on to hit the stumps.
The dismissal gave Prasad his third wicket of the innings.
Shafiq was calm and composed during the partnership and hit five fours in his 253-ball stay.
He brought up his hundred with a boundary as the right-hander danced down the track to loft off-spinner Perera straight back over his head.
Shafiq continued to frustrate Sri Lanka's bowlers with useful partnerships with the tail.
He added 38 with Wahab Riaz (14) for the seventh wicket and another 29 for the eighth with Yasir Shah (23) that took Pakistan past 300.
The ninth-wicket partnership with Babar, who also posted his highest test score and first 50, took Pakistan's lead into three figures.
Shafiq became the final Pakistan wicket to fall when he was stumped by wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal.
Perera was the most successful Sri Lankan bowler with four wickets while Prasad picked up three.
Sri Lanka are 63-2 in 21 overs at close, still trailing by 54 runs, at the end of the fourth day.
Pakistan are ecstatic as Yasir gets the big wicket of Sangakkara. SL 63-2, 19.1 overs.
Kumar Sangakkara c Azhar Ali b Yasir Shah 18 (27b 2x4 0x6)
Sangakkara survives as Azhar Ali at short leg fails to latch onto a chance off Wahab. SL 32-1, 11 overs.
Wahab strikes ending Silva's shaky stay in the middle edging a slower ball straight to third slip. SL 18-1, 8.4 overs.
Kaushal Silva c Azhar Ali b Wahab Riaz 5 (30b 1x4 0x6)
Silva opens his account by pouncing on a wide ball from Wahab to send it to the cover boundary. SL 16-0, 7 overs.
Karunaratne cracks Junaid through the covers for a delightful boundary. SL 12-0, 6 overs.
Karunaratne drives Junaid straight down the ground for the first boundary of the innings. SL 6-0, 4 overs.
Silva survives after overturning the verdict following a brilliant catch by Shehzad at backward short leg off Wahab with replays suggesting it came off the hip in the first over.
Pakistan first innings
Pakistan are all out for 417 in 113.1 overs, a lead of 117, with Shafiq being the last man out for a solid 131.
Asad Shafiq st Chandimal b Perera 131 (253b 5x4 0x6)
Tea
Asad Shafiq's seventh hundred and a belligerent 96 from Sarfraz Ahmed propped up Pakistan's innings and gave the visitors a sizeable lead against Sri Lanka on the fourth day of the opening Test at Galle on Saturday.
Sri Lanka had hoped for quick wickets when Pakistan resumed on 118 for five but a sixth-wicket stand of 139 between Sarfraz (96) and Asad Shafiq (115 not out) put paid to their chances.
Pakistan were 390-8 at tea and with a first-innings lead of 90. Zulfiqar Babar (51) was the other unbeaten batsman.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz put Sri Lanka's disciplined attack in disarray with his innovative batting and hit 13 fours in his 86-ball knock.
A similar unorthodox shot, when he tried to play a sweep against fast bowler Dhammika Prasad, brought about his downfall as the ball took the inside edge and went on to hit the stumps.
The dismissal gave Prasad his third wicket of the innings and Sri Lanka their only success in the session.
Shafiq on the other hand was calm and composed during the partnership and hit five boundaries in his 226-ball stay.
One of the fours brought up his hundred as the right-hander danced down the track to loft off-spinner Dilruwan Perera straight back over his head.
Shafiq continued to frustrate Sri Lanka's bowlers with useful partnerships with the tail.
He added 38 with Wahab Riaz (14) for the seventh wicket and another 29 for the eighth with Yasir Shah (23) that took Pakistan past 300.
The unbroken 88-run stand for the ninth wicket with Babar, who also posted his highest test score and first 50, took Pakistan's lead close to three figures.
Babar's enterprising knock and the century stand comes to an end as he holes out a full toss from Dilruwan. Pak 403-9, 106 overs.
Zulfiqar Babar c Vithanage b Perera 56 (60b 6x4 2x6)
Babar gets a standing ovation after completing his maiden Test half century in style by lofting Dilruwan over long on for his second six. It came off just 48 balls and contained six boundaries. Pak 389-8, 102 overs.
Shafiq dances down the track and lofts Dilruwan for only his fourth boundary to complete his seventh Test century. Pak 349-8, 96 overs.
Babar is playing a fine cameo slamming Herath for a six. Pak 329-8, 92 overs.
Chandimal takes a brilliant catch behind to end Yasir's superb cameo after Pakistan past Sri Lanka's total. Pak 302-8, 86.4 overs.
Yasir Shah c Chandimal b Pradeep 23 (29b 4x4 0x6)
Shah cracks consecutive boundaries off Prasad edge closer to overhauling Sri Lanka's total. Pak 292-7, 85 overs.
Dilruwan strikes as Wahab swings and misses going for a big heave. Pak 273-7, 79.3 overs.
Wahab Riaz b Perera 14 (54b 1x4 0x6)
Lunch
Sarfraz Ahmed narrowly missed his fourth test century but his counter-attack put paid to Sri Lanka's hopes of a sizeable first-innings lead on the fourth day of the opening Test against Pakistan at Galle on Saturday.
The hosts would have hoped for quick wickets when Pakistan resumed in the morning on 118-5 but a sixth-wicket stand of 139 between Sarfraz (96) and Asad Shafiq (64 not out) thwarted them.
Pakistan reduced their first-innings deficit to 41 by the end of the first session, reaching 259-6 with Wahab Riaz (eight) the other unbeaten batsman.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz put Sri Lanka's disciplined attack in disarray with his innovative batting and hit 13 fours in his 86-ball knock.
A similar unorthodox shot, when he tried to play a sweep against fast bowler Dhammika Prasad, brought about his downfall as the ball took the inside edge and went on to hit the stumps.
The dismissal gave Prasad his third wicket of the innings and Sri Lanka their only success in the session.
Shafiq on the other hand was calm and composed during the partnership and hit three boundaries in his 149-ball stay as he completed his 12th Test half century.
Sarfraz is devastated as he misses out on a well deserved century being castled by Prasad attempting an extravagant sweep from outside off to fine leg. Pak 235-6, 65.5 overs.
Sarfraz Ahmed b Prasad 96 (86b 13x4 0x6)
Sarfraz pulls a short delivery from Vithanage for a boundary to move to 94. Pak 230-5, 64 overs.
Shafiq reaches out to sweep Herath for a boundary and bring up the 200 of the innings. Pak 202-5, 59 overs.
Sarfraz reverse sweeps Dilruwan for a boundary to bring up the 100 partnership with Shafiq. Pak 196-5, 58 overs.
Sarfraz clips Prasad with superb timing to the midwicket fence for another boudnary. Pak 174-5, 53 overs.
Pakistan have averted the follow-on mark and Sarfraz completes his half century which came off just 46 balls consisting nine boundaries. Pak 162-5, 50 overs.
Sarfraz cracks a couple of boundaries in the second over of the day from Herat. Pak 129-5, 43 overs.
Sri Lanka's bowlers ripped through Pakistan's top order in dramatic fashion to leave the tourists struggling on the scheduled third day of the first Test in Galle on Friday.
After opener Kaus hal Silva hit 125 to lift Sri Lanka to 300 in the first innings, Pakistan collapsed to 35-3 in reply before a partial recovery saw them to 118-5 by stumps.
Asad Shafiq was unbeaten on 14 and Sarfraz Ahmed was on 15 when rain forced play to end early with the tourists trailing by 182 runs with five wickets in hand.
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