GALLE: Saud Shakeel’s unbeaten century propelled Pakistan into the first-inning lead over Sri Lanka at Lunch on Day 3 of the ongoing first Test.
At the stroke of Lunch, Pakistan were 313/6 with Saud Shakeel unbeaten on 119 while Noman Ali stood firm with a valuable 13.
Resuming at an overnight score of 221/5, Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha stretched their gutsy partnership to put their side in command.
The pair added 57 runs more to their sixth-wicket partnership before Ramesh Mendis provided a much-needed breakthrough to Sri Lanka when he got rid of Agha in the same over Shakeel had amassed his century.
The right-handed batter had a disappointing end to his sensible knock as he fell just 17 runs short of his second Test century. His 113-ball 83 featured nine boundaries and a six.
Meanwhile, Shakeel stood his ground firm and kept ticking the scoreboard with valuable support from Noman Ali.
The pair of Shakeel and Ali added vital 35 runs to the total which took Pakistan out of the deficit and into the lead.
At the Lunch on Day 3, the touring side had acquired a one-run lead and will be eyeing to add more to it.
Notably, persistent rain here forced an early end to the Day 2 action after Saud Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha’s half-centuries recovered Pakistan to 221/5.
The touring side was in heaps of trouble, having slipped to 101/5 when Shakeel and Agha launched an astounding recovery.
The touring side had a dismal start to their innings as they lost their in-form opener Imam-ul-Haq (1) with just three runs on the scoreboard.
After a brief 44-run partnership between Abdullah Shafique (19) and Shan Masood, Sri Lanka launched a spin attack with Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis bowling in pair.
Jayasuriya removed Shafique to end the budding partnership before Mendis soon hit back to remove Masood, who was scoring at a brisk rate.
The left-handed batter scored a quick 39 off 30 deliveries, hitting five boundaries and a six.
Pakistan then sustained a massive blow when Sri Lanka’s Prabath Jayasuriya removed skipper Babar Azam to better his superior record against the right-handed batter.
Babar Azam could score 13 off 16 deliveries with the help of two boundaries.
Coming out to bat at number six was Sarfaraz Ahmed when Pakistan were reeling at 73/4, fresh from the blow of their captain Babar Azam’s dismissal.
He put on a brief partnership with Saud Shakeel and added 28 runs to the total before Prabath Jayasuriya cut his knock short by trapping him in his legs.
The wicketkeeper batter could score 17 off 15 deliveries with the help of three boundaries.
READ: America’s number 10′ Lionel Messi ‘unveiled’ at Inter Miami
The post Saud’s century gives Pakistan lead over Sri Lanka in Galle Test appeared first on ASports.tv.
from ASports.tv https://ift.tt/o3xQYzt