Pakistan batters Saud Shakeel and Agha Salman put pressure back on the opponents as rain forced an early halt on day two of the ongoing Test against hosts Sri Lanka in Galle. The pair’s patience and potential saved the Green Shirts, who lost five wickets after lunch. The two batters contributed 31 runs before going for tea and likely talking to their skipper Babar Azam, who had gone off after scoring 13 runs, and coaches Grant Bradburn (head coach) and Andrew Puttick (batting coach). Read out complete details about Pakistan vs Sri Lanka down below.
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka | PAK loses 5 wickets on the second day
After tea, the resilient batting combination faced a dangerous Sri Lankan spin attack. The two resisted the spinners till rain forced early stumps. Pakistan was 221-5 in 45 overs at the stumps. Last year’s Test debutant Agha scored his fourth half-century. He scored 61 not out with six boundaries and a maximum. Saud’s dominance from the last Test in Karachi, where he saved Pakistan’s first innings, continued.
His sixth successive Test half-century was another triumph. Saud (69) and Agha (120*) gave Pakistan hope of a Test comeback. Pakistan lost five wickets for 132 runs as Sri Lankan spinners shook their top order. Pakistan batted after bowling out Sri Lanka for 312 runs before lunch on day two of the opening Test in Galle, hoping to beat a big total. Sri Lankan fast bowlers started well.
Vishwa Fernando’s first-over LBW appeal put Abdullah Shafique under pressure. The ball’s spike on the bat altered the ruling, saving Abdullah.Kasun Rajitha defeated Imam-ul-Haq the next over. Ramesh Mendis caught Shan Masood in the legs after a 44-run partnership with Abdullah. He reviewed it after consulting Imam but failed. Shan hit 39 off 30 with five boundaries and a maximum. After 19, Abdullah was bowled by Prabath Jayasuriya, followed by Babar Azam.
Sarfaraz Ahmed charged Jayasuriya for a time, but the left-arm spinner set his wicket and finally got him after the wicketkeeper-batsman attempted his favorite sweep shot. Sarfaraz reached 3000 Test runs. Pakistan scored 132 runs in the second session, with Jayasuriya, Rajitha, and Mendis each claiming a wicket. Before Pakistan bowled Sri Lanka out for 312, Dhananjaya de Silva guided them. Silva remained on the song after saving his team on day one. On day two, the right-hander scored his 10th Test century. Dhanajaya and Ramesh Mendis started day two at 242-6 and kept cool despite losing wickets regularly.
Sri Lanka leads the third ICC World Test Championship cycle after 122 runs, including 12 boundaries and three maximums. Pakistan’s mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed took Mendis in the 77th over to fulfill his skipper Babar Azam’s confidence. Mendis supported Dhananjaya with 40 balls and five runs.
After Shaheen Shah Afridi hit Jayasuriya in the helmet, Naseem Shah took his wicket. Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka’s top spinner in this Test, scored four runs. Vishwa Fernando’s 28 not-out helped Sri Lanka reach 300. Abrar dismissed eight-run Kasun Rajitha last. Shaheen, who reached 100 Test wickets the day before, took three for Pakistan, followed by Naseem and Abrar. Imam-ul-Haq’s spectacular catch at short leg gave Salman a wicket.
