GALLE, Sri Lanka — Skipper
Dimuth Karunaratne battled through back pain to extend Sri
Lanka’s second-innings lead to 323 after key strikes by Pakistan’s bowlers in
the second Test on Tuesday.
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The hosts reached
176–5 when bad light stopped play early on day three, with stumps called in
Galle after more than half an hour’s wait for conditions to improve.
The left-handed
Karunaratne, on 27, and
Dhananjaya de Silva, on 30, were batting in an unbeaten
stand of 59.
“The wicket is a
bit slower than the first couple of days,” spinner Ramesh Mendis, who claimed
five wickets to help bowl out Pakistan for 231 in the opening session, told
reporters.
“We need to bat
as deep as possible and get maximum runs possible. This is a good batting
wicket.”
Ramesh said the
hosts would likely be safe with a lead of 400 and believes the captain and
coach Chris Silverwood will decide on a possible declaration if they keep
batting.
Pakistan’s
highest chase in
Sri Lanka came in 2015 when they made a target of 377 in
Pallekele, and the tourists chased down a Galle record of 342 in the series
opener.
Sri Lanka were in
trouble at 117–5 when Karunaratne, who stayed off the field during Pakistan’s
innings, and De Silva got down to the grind.
De Silva took on
the opposition bowlers and hit six boundaries with Karunaratne happy to play
anchor. The skipper got help from the physio in between his knock.
Karunaratne
rotated the strike and also hit two boundaries including a reverse sweep for
four off leg-spinner Yasir Shah.
Mathews disappointed
Pakistan had earlier rattled the Sri Lankan batting with key wickets
including Angelo Mathews in his 100th Test after the former captain, who made
35, attempted to rebuild the innings with Dinesh Chandimal.
Off-spinner Agha
Salman got Mathews out for his maiden Test wicket after Pakistan reviewed the
umpire’s call, with ultra-edge technology confirming a spike when the ball
passed the bat and into the hands of slip.
Mathews walked
back shaking his head after failing to capitalize on another good start in his
landmark Test, after he made 42 in the first innings.
The in-form
Chandimal, with scores of 206 not out, 76, 94 not out and 80 in his last four
innings, looked good on 21 but fell caught behind off fast bowler Naseem Shah
soon after tea.
Naseem, who took
three wickets in Sri Lanka’s first innings, had struck first with the wicket of
Niroshan Dickwella, who fell for 15 after opening in place of the ailing Karunaratne.
“They have a lead
of about 320 and we will try to restrict them and get a target of around
350–360,” said Naseem.
“Bowl them out
soon tomorrow and stay positive in the chase. It doesn’t look that it will turn
big on day four and five, but you never know.”
Pakistan’s
innings ended after the tourists resumed the day on 191–7, in reply to Sri
Lanka’s first innings of 378.
Off-spinner
Ramesh sent back Nauman Ali and then trapped overnight batsman Yasir lbw for 26
to record a third five-wicket haul in his 10th Test to wrap up the innings.
Pakistan lead the
two-match series 1–0 and Sri Lanka are looking to draw level on a pitch which
has favored the batsmen so far.
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