It was another exciting day of play between Pakistan and Sri Lanka as the match hangs in the balance played at National Stadium, Karachi on Friday.
Starting on the overnight score of 64 for 3, Embuldenya and Mathews struggled against the Pakistani bowlers. Mohammad Abbas got the breakthrough for Pakistan dismissing night watchman Embudlenya. The night watchman tried to play a big stroke. Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled a beauty to dismiss the experienced Angelo Mathews to leave Sri Lanka in big trouble at 80 for 5. Dhanajaya de Silva and Dinesh Chandimal survived few anxious moments. Both Sri Lankan batsmen played with positive intent to put pressure back on the Pakistani bowlers. As things looked dangerous for Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed Dhanajaya with a decent bouncer which went into the hands of Mohammad Abbas. Dhanajaya and Chandimal added 67 runs for the 6th wicket. Sri Lanka went into the lunch break at 170 for 6.
After the lunch break, the experienced Dinesh Chandimal reached his fifty off 112 balls. Niroshan Dickwella came to the crease and showed his intent. Mohammad Abbas bowled a beauty to dismiss Dickwella for 21. Dickwella and Chandimal added 37 runs for the 7th wicket. Dilwuran Perera came to the crease and created pressure on the Pakistani bowling line up. Naseem Shah and Yasir Shah were not able to bowl right line and length which made life tough for the hosts. Haris Sohail was bought into the attack and dismissed Dinesh Chandimal for 74. Chandimal and Perera added 51 runs for the 8th wicket. Dilurwan Perera showed great skills against the Pakistani bowling line up. At tea break, Sri Lanka were 251 for 8.
Pakistan took the new ball after the 80th over. Perera and Vishwa Fernando looked confident against the bowling line up. Shaheen Shah Afridi got the breakthrough dismissing Diluwran Perera for 48. The umpire gave not out, and Pakistan decided to review it. On review, the umpire gave it out. Perera and Vishwa Fernando added 36 runs for the 9th wicket. Shaheen Shah Afridi got Lahiru Kumara in the same over to pick up his maiden five wicket haul in Test cricket. Pakistan bowled out Sri Lanka for 271 with an 80 runs lead.
In their 2nd innings, Pakistan openers Shan Masood and Abid Ali looked confident against indiscipline Sri Lanka attack which gave free runs. Abid impressed with his technique. Pakistan ended the 2nd day on 57 for 0.
Pakistan 191 in 59.3 overs ( Asad Shafiq 63, Babar Azam 60, Lahiru Kumara 4/49, Lasith Embuldenya 4/71) and 57 for 0 in 14 overs ( Abid Ali 32*, Shan Masood 21*) trail Sri Lanka 271 in 85.5 overs ( Dinesh Chandimal 74, Diluwran Perera 48, Dimuth Karunaratne 25, Mohammad Abbas 4/55, Shaheen Shah Afridi 5/77) trail Pakistan 191 in 59.3 overs ( Asad Shafiq 63, Babar Azam 60, Lahiru Kumara 4/49, Lasith Embuldenya 4/71) by 23 runs.
