Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Day 4: Hosts restrict tourists to 69/4 at stumps

[caption id="attachment_647574" align="aligncenter" width="628"] Pakistan bowlers claimed 4 wickets in the session Getty Images[/caption]

Pakistan bowlers ensured Sri Lanka did not rise to the top at the close of Day Four, first Test. Losing wickets at regular intervals, Kusal Mendis and Suranga Lakmal took Sri Lanka to 69 for 4 with a lead of 66 runs. Sri Lanka heroes from the first innings were unable to build on their previous innings. Meanwhile, Yasir Shah came good ending the day with figures of 2 for 25. Mendis and Lakmal remained unbeaten on 16 and 2 respectively.

With a 3-run lead, openers Kaushal Silva and Dimuth Karunarathne tried to put up a fight against Mohammed Aamer and Mohammad Abbas. With the early entry of Yasir, Sri Lanka stuttered. Yasir made an impact on his first over and removed Karunarathne for 10.

Lahiru Thiramanne and Silva tried to steady the boat. But Asad Shafiq broke the momentum once again. Meanwhile, Hasan Ali was taken off the field after complaining of a shoulder pain.

The in-form Silva was also sent back to the hut in couple of overs. Haris Sohail shone with the ball trapping him for 25. Dinesh Chandimal who was the hero with his unbeaten 155 in the first essay, could not capitalise on the same in the second.

Sri Lanka faltered and this time lost their skipper to Yasir for single digit. Shafiq starred in the first slip with a simple catch.

Earlier, Rangana Herath returned with 5-wicket haul. Herath finished with figures of 5 for 93 in his 40 overs. However, a debut Test fifty from Sohail took the lead to 3 runs.

Sohail posted 76 runs to take Pakistan to 422 in reply to Sri Lanka s first innings lead of 419. Sohail added a 50-run stand with Hasan to lift Pakistan from 340 for 8. His innings comprised of 7 fours and 2 sixes.

Herath brought curtains to a resolute innings by Azhar Ali. But Hasan lifted the spirits thereafter. His whirlwind 25-ball 29 knock included 3 sixes and 2 fours.

Apart from Herath, Lakmal did justice to his part as well. The pacer ended with 2 for 42 dismissing Sarfraz Ahmed for 18 and trapping Aamer for 4.

Brief scores:

Sri Lanka 419 & 69 for 4 (Kaushal Silva 25; Yasir Shah 2 for 25) lead Pakistan 422 (Azhar Ali 85, Haris Sohail 76; Rangana Herath 5 for 93) by 66 runs.