GALLE , July 17, 2023: Pakistan suffered early losses after they launched their first-innings reply following the Sri Lanka’s 312 on day two of the first Test in Galle on Monday.
Imamul Haq was the first to fall prey to Kasun Rajitha as the team Green appeared on crease after dismissing the hosts. Sri Lanka bowler Jayasuriya delivered magical spell as he has removed three players – Abdullah Shafique (19), Babar Azam (13) and Sarfaraz Ahmed (17) – bringing the visitors under pressure.
Ramesh Mendis dismissed Shan Masood for 39 diminishing hopes of Pakistan’s recovery.
At the time of filing the story, Saud Shakeel and Agha Salman are on the crease with Pakistan stand at 132- in 28 overs.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan on Monday dismissed Sri Lanka for 312 runs on second day of the first Test match in Galle, with Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed showing impeccable skills with ball.
The hosts were 242-6 at stumps when they resumed their first innings, with Dhananjaya de Silva and Ramesh Mendis on the crease. De Silva successfully completed his ton as he made 122 runs to build a respectable total.
Naseem Shah managed to remove the key wicket of Silva to restrict Sri Lanka from setting a huge total in the first innings. He also dismissed Prabath Jayasuriya.
Abrar Ahmed sent Mendis and Kasun Rajitha to packing to restrict the hosts to 312. Pakistan will resume batting after launch break.
On first day of the opening test, de Silva and Angelo Mathews helped Sri Lanka to overcome a top-order collapse and reach 242-6 on Sunday.
Home captain Dimuth Karunaratne’s decision to bat appeared to have backfired after Shaheen Afridi dealt three blows in the morning session and Sri Lanka slumped to 54-4.
De Silva, batting on 94, and Mathews then forged a 131-run partnership to steady the ship in the first match of the two-test series.
Mathews fell at the stroke of tea after making 64, but De Silva went on to stitch together another 50-plus partnership with Sadeera Samarawickrama, who made 36 before Agha Salman dismissed him with the final delivery of the day.
Earlier, Afridi made an emphatic return to test cricket after Sri Lanka elected to bat at a venue where they have played six of their last eight tests, winning four of them.
Afridi had suffered a hamstring injury at the same stadium last year and the left-arm fast bowler did not have to wait long to claim his 100th test wicket.
In his second over, Afridi reached the milestone when he induced a thick edge from opener Nishan Madushka, who made four, and Sarfaraz Ahmed took the catch behind the stumps.
Rain interrupted play after 5.5 overs but Afridi mowed down Sri Lanka’s top order after play resumed as Kusal Mendis (12) perished in the slip and Karunaratne (29) fell caught behind.
Naseem Shah dismissed Dinesh Chandimal, who made one, before Mathews and de Silva bailed out Sri Lanka.
Abrar Ahmed removed Mathews with the final delivery before the tea break but de Silva, who hit three sixes and 10 fours in his stellar knock, remained on course for his 10th test hundred.