12.04 AM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:57 06:11 12:27 15:53 18:37 19:51
29 March 2024

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test Day 3: Shehzad, Ali power Pakistan to 171-2

Published
By Cricket Correspondent and Agencies
 



Gritty half-centuries from Ahmed Shehzad and Azhar Ali steered Pakistan to 171 for two against Sri Lanka when bad light ended the third day of the second Test on Saturday.

Shehzad fell for 69 to the first ball after tea having shared a 120-run second-wicket partnership with Ali (64) who was unbeaten after registering his 20th Test fifty.

Veteran Younus Khan was on 23 not out at the close as Pakistan trailed Sri Lanka by six runs with eight wickets in hand at the P Sara Oval.

Earlier, Pakistan had claimed the last Sri Lankan wicket in the morning session to bowl out the hosts for 315 with leg-spinner Yasir Shah (6-96) dismissing Dushmantha Chameera 15 minutes after a rain-delayed start.

Younus held a good running catch to send back Chameera as Sri Lanka, pressing for a series-levelling victory, took a 177-run first-innings lead.

Shot out for 138 in their first innings, Pakistan did not make a great start in their second either as a leaden-footed Mohammad Hafeez (eight) poked at an Angelo Mathews delivery to be caught by Kumar Sangakkara in the slips.

Shehzad and Ali proved there were no demons in the pitch and they frequently used their feet to negate the threat posed by Sri Lanka's left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.

Shehzad overcame a blow on his helmet by a Chameera bouncer to bring up his fifty in the 35th over.

The opener, however, perished straight after tea when he edged a pull shot against Dhammika Prasad through to keeper Dinesh Chandimal.

Bad light has stopped play with Pakistan 171-2 in 59 overs, trailing by just six runs, and 26 overs remaining for the day.

Azhar is unbeaten on 64 while Younis is with him on 23, both batsmen having hit three boundaries apiece.

Younis gets into his stride by stroking Prasad through the covers for a boundary. Pak 140-2, 50 overs.

Prasad has struck in the first ball after tea as Shehzad top edges a short ball to be caught behind. Pak 129-2, 47.1 overs.

Ahmed Shehzad c Chandimal b Prasad 69 (154b 4x4 1x6)

Tea

Ahmed Shehzad struck his third Test fifty and shared a fluent 120-run second-wicket stand with Azhar Ali to steer Pakistan to 129 for one, still 48 runs behind Sri Lanka, at tea on day three of the second Test at P Sara Oval on Saturday.

Shehzad, who was hit on the helmet by a Dushmantha Chameera bouncer before reaching his half-century, was unbeaten on 69 at with Ali (47 not out) proving a perfect foil.

Shehzad and Ali proved there were no demons in the pitch and they frequently used their feet to negate the threat posed by Sri Lanka's left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.

Shehzad overcame the blow on his helmet to bring up his fifty in the 35th over and Pakistan reached the 100-mark in the same over.

Pakistan added 67 without loss in the post-lunch session to take tea at 129-1 in 47 overs, reducing the deficit to 48.

Shehzad is unbeaten on 69 and Azhar on 47 sharing in an unbroken stand of 120 so far.

Shehzad pulls Chameera for runs to bring up a fluent half century. Pak 103-1, 35 overs.

Azhar Ali shows positive intent using his feet to Herath and piercing the offside field for a boundary. Pak 77-1, 23 overs.

Sri Lanka lose a decision review as Shehzad survives after Herath's appeal for a leg before is not successful. Pal 64-1, 21 overs.

Lunch

Pakistan lost opener Mohammad Hafeez early before reaching 62 for one, still 115 runs behind Sri Lanka, at lunch on day three of the second Test at P Sara Oval on Saturday.

Ahmed Shehzad was batting on 39 at the break with Azhar Ali (14) at the other end as the tourists, who claimed the last Sri Lankan wicket in the morning to bowl out the hosts for 315, battled on to save the Test.

Leg-spinner Yasir Shah was the pick of the bowlers, taking six for 96 and ending the innings some 15 minutes after a rain-delayed start by removing Dushmantha Chameera (two).

Younus Khan took a good running catch as Sri Lanka, pressing for a series-levelling victory, took a 177-run first innings lead.

Shot out for 138 in their first innings, Pakistan did not have a great start in their second innings either with a laden-footed Hafeez (eight) poking at an Angelo Mathews delivery which was caught by Kumar Sangakkara in the slips.

Shehzad and Ali proved there was no demon in the pitch as they added 53 runs for the flourishing second wicket.

For Sri Lanka, Chameera left the field midway through his second over following a calf muscle niggle.

Pakistan are 62-1 in 19 overs at lunch, trailing by 115 runs with Shehzad unbeaten on 39.

Shehzad lofts Herath in his second over for a six over long-on. Pak 52-1, 14 overs.

Shehzad cracks two consecutive boundaries to third man off Chameera. Pak 44-1, 13 overs.

Mathews has struck as Hafeez perishes edging to first slip. Pak 9-1, 3.1 overs.

Mohammad Hafeez c Sangakkara b Mathews 8 (15b 1x4 0x6)

Sri Lanka first innings

Yasir Shah claims six wickets as Sri Lanka are dismissed for 315 in 121.3 overs, a lead of 177.

Dushmantha Chameera c Younis Khan b Yasir Shah 2 (16b 0x4 0x6)


Skipper Angelo Mathews and opener Kaushal Silva hit half-centuries to help Sri Lanka take a 166-run first innings lead against Pakistan and push for a series-levelling victory on day two of the second Test on Friday.

Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah (5-95) claimed his second successive five-wicket haul but the visitors sorely missed the service of pace spearhead Wahab Riaz who will miss the series with a fractured hand.

Rangana Herath was batting on 10, while Dushmantha Chameera was yet to open his account when rain forced stumps with the hosts on 304 for nine.