Pakistan comfortably placed at 171/2 against Sri Lanka at stumps on Day 3 of 2nd Test at Colombo

Ahmed Shehzad and Azhar Ali‘s half-centuries guided Pakistan to a comfortable position on the third day of the second Test at P Sara Oval in Colombo on Saturday. Shehzad and Ali put on 120-run partnership before the former was dismissed soon after tea break. Pakistan were 171 for 2 at the end of day’s play. Unfortunately, play had to be called off early after bad light interrupted proceedings. The match will start 15 minutes earlier on Day Four.

After rain delayed the start of match, bad lights halted play at the end of the day. Rangana Herath and Dusmantha Chameera opened the innings for Sri Lanka. Yasir Shah picked up six wickets as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 315 in reply to Pakistan’s 138. Sri Lanka conceded a first-innings lead of 177 runs.

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Mohammad Hafeez went cheaply for eight before lunch, was caught at second slip by Kumar Sangakkara off Angelo Mathews. Chameera went off the field in the morning session after bowling just nine deliveries. However, he returned after lunch to bowl five overs.

Shehzad and Azhar resumed after tea at 129 for the loss of one wicket. However, Shehzad was soon removed by Dhammika Prasad, caught by Dinesh Chandimal as he tried to pull a short ball.

Veteran Younis Khan, who is playing his 100th Test, soon joined in. They are unbeaten on a xxx-run partnership for the third wicket when bad lights suspended play. Pakistan won the first of the three Tests. Sri Lanka will aim to win and level the series.

Brief scores:

Pakistan 138 (Mohammad Hafeez 42, Azhar Ali 26; Dhammika Prasad 3 for 43, Tharindu Kaushal 5 for 42) & 171 for 2 (Ahmed Shehzad 69, Azhar Ali 64*, Younis Khan 23*; Angelo Mathews 1 for 5, Dhammika Prasad 1 for 46) trail Sri Lanka 315 (Kaushal Silva 80, Kumar Sangakkara 34, Angelo Mathews 77; Yasir Shah 6 for 96) by 6 runs.

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(Sudatta Mukherjee is a reporter with CricketCountry. Other than writing on cricket, she spends penning random thoughts on her blog. When she is not writing, you will catch her at a movie theatre or watching some English television show on her laptop. Her Twitter handle is @blackrosegal)