Published: Jan 03, 2014, 11:11 AM (IST)
Edited: Jan 03, 2014, 11:11 AM (IST)
Abu Dhabi: Jan 3, 2014
A double strike by debutant all-rounder Bilawal Bhatti towards the end of Day 3 put Pakistan in the driver’s seat. Despite a fighting 81 by Kaushal Silva, the other top order batsmen did not provide the resistance for the rookie Sri Lankan opener and the Islanders’ fortunes hang by a thread.
Silva and Sangakkara added 99 for the second wicket which had thwarted Pakistan’s pace-cum spin attack in the last session of the fourth day.
Sri Lankan fortunes will depend largely on Dinesh Chandimal, who was unbeaten on 24 at the end of the day’s play.
Earlier, Pakistan were dismissed for 383 runs in their first innings in reply to Sri Lanka’s 204.
Earlier in the match, veteran batsmen Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq’s fighting centuries ensured that Pakistan got to a fighting total 0f 386.
At the end of the day’s play, Sri Lanka finished with a slender lead of seven runs with six wickets in hand.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 204 and 186 for 4 ( Kaushal Silva 81, Kumar Sangakkara 55; Junaid Khan 2 for 46, Bilawal Bhatti 2 for 65) lead Pakistan 383 (Younis Khan 136, Misbah-ul-Haq 135; Shaminda Eranga 3 for 80) by 7 runs.
