Pakistani's openers remained unseparated to take their team to 115-0 by lunch on the second day of the first Test against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
Published: Oct 19, 2011, 02:20 PM (IST)
Edited: Oct 19, 2011, 02:20 PM (IST)
At lunch, opener Mohammad Hafeez (R) was unbeaten on 73 and Taufiq Umar was unbeaten on 35 with Pakistan only 82 runs behind with all their wickets intact © AFP
Abu Dhabi: Oct 19, 2011
Pakistani’s openers remained unseparated to take their team to 115-0 by lunch on the second day of the first Test against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
Pakistan, who bowled out Sri Lanka for 197 in their first innings on the back of a five-wicket haul by paceman Junaid Khan, blunted the Sri Lankan attack at Abu Dhabi Stadium.
At lunch, opener Mohammad Hafeez was unbeaten on 73 and Taufiq Umar was on 35 with Pakistan only 82 runs behind with all their wickets intact.
Resuming at 27-0, Pakistan found the going easy against the Sri Lankan pace duo of Nuwan Pradeep and Chanaka Welegedara, with Hafeez smacking a boundary through covers off the debutant Pradeep in the first over of the day.
Umar was more cautious as Sri Lanka introduced spinners Rangana Herath and Tillakaratne Dilshan from both ends. They bowled four maiden overs between them with tight line and length, but did not get much turn.
Hafeez then broke the deadlock in scoring, jumping out of his crease to hit Herath over long-off for a six and then slashed towards third man to bring his fifth Test half-century.
He then swept the same bowler for two to bring up Pakistan’s 100. Hafeez has so far hit eight boundaries and a six during his 121-ball knock.
Sri Lanka’s three-pronged pace attack and spinners failed to give any trouble to the Pakistani openers on a pitch which had some grass on the first day.
The remaining two Tests in the series will be played in Dubai (October 26-30) and Sharjah (November 3-7). The Tests will be followed by five one-day and a Twenty20 international.
Brief Score: Sri Lanka 197 (Tharanga Paranavitana 37, Mahela Jayawardene 28; Junaid Khan 5 for 38, Saeed Ajmal 2 for 44) lead Pakistan 115 for 0 at lunch (Taufeeq Umar 35*, Mohammad Hafeez 73*; Rangana Herath 0 for 29) by 82 runs.
