Day two: Sri Lanka lead Pakistan by 166 runs in second Test

Yasir becomes fastest Pakistani to bag 50 Test wickets, bags another fifer


Afp June 26, 2015
Pakistan cricketer Yasir Shah (L) celebrates with teammates Azhar Ali (C) and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed after dismissing Sri Lankan cricketer Lahiru Thirimanne during the second day of the second Test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at the P. Sara Oval Cricket Stadium in Colombo on June 26, 2015. PHOTO: AFP

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka, replying to Pakistan's first innings total of 138, were 304-9 at stumps on the second day of the second Test in Colombo on Friday.

Opener Kaushal Silva top-scored with 80 and skipper Angelo Mathews made 77, but Sri Lanka lost six wickets for 112 runs after being 191-3 at one stage.

Leg-spinner Yasir Shah claimed five wickets to restrict Sri Lanka's lead to 166 runs runs.

Pakistan lead the three-match series after winning the first Test in Galle by 10 wickets.

Silva spree

Opener Kaushal Silva continued to torment Pakistan's bowlers as he helped Sri Lanka take the lead on the second day of the second Test in Colombo on Friday.

Silva, who hit a century in the first Test at Galle, was unbeaten on 64 as the hosts went to lunch on 147-3 in their first innings in reply to Pakistan's 138.

Skipper Angelo Mathews was the other batsman at the crease on 11, with his team ahead by nine runs and seven wickets in hand on a hard, bouncy pitch at the P. Sara Oval.

Kumar Sangakkara, who resumed on 18 at the team's overnight score of 70-1, moved to 34 when he attempted a big hit off left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar and was caught at long-on by Asad Shafiq.

Sangakkara, 37, has still not responded to media speculation he is available for only the first two Tests against Pakistan and one against India in August before retiring.

Leg-spinner Yasir Shah, whose seven-wicket haul in Sri Lanka's second innings fashioned Pakistan's 10-wicket victory in Galle, struck a further blow for the hosts.

Yasir forced Lahiru Thirimanne (seven) to edge a catch to Azhar Ali at short-leg, reducing Sri Lanka to 119-3.

But Silva stayed solid at one end, hitting eight boundaries, to take his team past Pakistan's modest total.

The third and final Test is scheduled to start in Pallekele from July 3.

COMMENTS (1)

US CENTCOM | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistan needs to bat extremely well in the second innings to stand a chance. The current situation still favors Sri Lanka given they have 150 runs lead with a wicket remaining. My gut feeling is that Pakistan will bounce back and this match is far from over. Ali Khan Digital Engagement Team, USCENTCOM
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