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Pakistan’s new aggressive approach paid off handsomely as they bowled out Sri Lanka for 166 and scored 145 for two in reply on the first day of the second Test on Monday.
Pakistan are in complete control despite losing the toss and fielding first at the Sinhalese Sports Club, leading 1-0 in the two-match series.
At one point, the tourists were scoring 6.5 runs per over, with 50 coming in 50 balls and 100 coming in 101 balls.
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Abdullah Shafiq needed just 49 balls to bring up his fifth half-century in Tests, while Shan Masood brought up his seventh half-century in just 44 balls.
Pakistan dominated the opening day of the Colombo Test #SLvPAK pic.twitter.com/r6VW1SSX3xPakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) 24 July 2023
Asitha Fernando made the first claim Pakistan After the wicket fell, Imam-ul-Haq was dismissed for six, before coming back for a second spell and having Masood caught at wide mid-on for 51.
Shafiq, who was dismissed by Prabhat Jayasuriya on his own ball for 42, reached stumps on 74 not out, while skipper Babar Azam remained unbeaten on eight.
Earlier, leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed took 4 for 69 and fast bowler Naseem Shah took 3 for 41 as Pakistan’s attacking bowling saw Sri Lanka suffer a defeat.
It was a poor start for the home side when opener Nishan Madushka was run out for four in the third over. Captain Dimuth Karunaratne pushed the ball to cover and tried to take a single, but Masood brought down the stumps with a direct hit.
Pakistan’s fielding was excellent and Masood later ran out tail-ender Jayasuriya with a direct hit, but the damage was done to Sri Lanka in the morning session as they were 36 for 4.
Sri Lanka was guilty of throwing the wicket away. Kusal Mendis hit a six straight towards cover, Angelo Mathews was caught for nine and Karunaratne pulled the ball onto the stumps after attempting an expansive drive for 17.
An 85-run partnership for the fifth wicket propelled the innings, before Dinesh Chandimal, who was troubled by short bowling, hit Naseem straight to mid-wicket for 34.
Dhananjay de Silva, who stitched a massive partnership with Chandimal, top-scored with 57 before falling prey to Abrar. An hour’s play was lost due to rain in the morning and 13 overs of the day were wasted.
