PALEKELLE: Pakistan managed to wrap up Islander’s first innings on 278 with addition of just 6 runs in overnight total. Yasir Shah grabbed yet another five-wicket-haul and became the leading wicket taking bowler against Sri Lanka with 22 wickets.
However, in response green shirts took a confident start with Shahzad and Masood playing their strokes, but crumbled as a result of loosing quick wickets in the middle, it was Shan Masood who fell in a trap and was caught leg before wicket to Dhamaika Parasad for his 13(33), soon after Masood, Shehzad aged a length ball that went straight into the hands of keeper, he was back into hut for his 21(29), and then mighty Younis took a suicide single that cost him his wicket for mere 3 runs. Pakistan had lost three early wickets for 46 runs, and dressing room was feeling the heat.
Asad Shafiq and reliable Azher held the innings and stayed on the crease for some, they took the score to 90/3 when rain came off and match was abandoned.
The rain break definitely helped the Lankans as right after matach was resumed, Shafiq departed. It was a length delivery angling in on middle stump line, Shafiq was rooted to the crease as he looked to defend. He missed and the ball hit him on the pad in line with middle stump. Umpire Reiffel raised his finger in a flash and Shafiq knew he was a goner as the ball would have gone on to hit middle and leg. Shafiq lbw b Dhammika 15(38) [4s-2].
Sarfaraz took the reigns as Shafiq departed, played according to the need of time, slow and focused, Pakistan were 117/4 when the second time rain stopped play, and thus the tea was called.
Both Azher and Sarfaraz built a small but useful partnership, Azher completed his 20th Test fifty, before he fell prey to Pradeep, on a pitched up delivery, Azher was tempted to drive it away, the ball took the outside edge flew towards second slip at a comfortable height, Karunaratne tok it with ease. Azhar Ali c D Karunaratne b Pradeep 52(96) [4s-8].
After Azher’s key wicket, Pakistan lost captain Misbah and Ahsan Adil with the difference of just 17 runs, Pakistan were 152/7.
Yasir Shah stood firm and added valuable 45 runs to the total with Sarfaraz. He was caught behind on 18, Pakistan lost 8th wicket for 197 runs.
At the stumps, Pakistan were 69 runs behind Sri Lanka with 209/9, brave Sarafaz not out on 72 of 94 balls.
Pak 1st Innings – 209/9 (64 overs)
| Batting | Out Desc | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shan Masood | lbw b Dhammika Prasad | 13 | 33 | 2 | 0 | 39.4 |
| Ahmed Shehzad | c Chandimal b N Pradeep | 21 | 29 | 5 | 0 | 72.4 |
| Azhar Ali | c D Karunaratne b N Pradeep | 52 | 96 | 8 | 0 | 54.2 |
| Younis Khan | run out (K Silva) | 3 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 12.5 |
| Asad Shafiq | lbw b Dhammika Prasad | 15 | 38 | 2 | 0 | 39.5 |
| Sarfraz Ahmed (wk) | batting | 72 | 94 | 6 | 0 | 88.0 |
| Misbah-ul-Haq (c) | lbw b N Pradeep | 6 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 35.3 |
| Ehsan Adil | lbw b T Kaushal | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Yasir Shah | c Chandimal b Dhammika Prasad | 18 | 37 | 1 | 0 | 48.6 |
| Rahat Ali | lbw batting | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 33.3 |
| Extras | 6 | (b – 0 w – 0, nb – 2, lb – 4) | ||||
| Total | 209 | (64 Overs, 9 Wickets) | ||||
| Yet To bat: | Imran Khan | |||||
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Nb | Wd | ER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dhammika Prasad | 17 | 1 | 75 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4.4 |
| Suranga Lakmal | 14 | 1 | 64 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4.6 |
| Nuwan Pradeep | 14 | 5 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1.9 |
| Angelo Mathews | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.8 |
| T Kaushal | 10 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 |
| FOW | Batsman | Score | Over |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shan Masood | 32/1 | 8.5 |
| 2 | Ahmed Shehzad | 40/2 | 11.3 |
| 3 | Younis Khan | 45/3 | 18.2 |
| 4 | Asad Shafiq | 91/4 | 31.2 |
| 5 | Azhar Ali | 135/5 | 40.5 |
| 6 | Misbah-ul-Haq | 151/6 | 44.6 |
| 7 | Ehsan Adil | 152/7 | 45.5 |
| 8 | Yasir Shah | 197/8 | 56.5 |
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