Sarfraz Ahmed leads Pakistan’s fightback at Lunch on Day 4 of 1st Test against Sri Lanka at Galle

Pakistan head to Lunch on Day Four in a good position against Sri Lanka in first Test at Galle on Saturday. The record 139-run stand between Sarfraz Ahmed and Asad Shafiq ensured that they not just came back in the game but also got into a very position to possibly dictate terms going further in the game. They are 259 for six at the end of 72 overs with Shafiq and Wahab Riaz at the crease.  Pakistan scored 141 runs in the 30.2 overs in the session to come back nicely in the game.

Shafiq was patient and did not need to do anything as Sarfraz was flowing at the other end. Sarfraz had no issues hitting all the Sri Lankan bowlers all around the park, be it the pacers and spinners. His innings provided the visitors the impetus they needed to get on top of the hosts. Sarfraz though missed out on his fourth Test ton as he got bowled trying to paddle Dhammika Prasad for 96. Shafiq though carried on to score his 12th Test fifty and will hope to bat well with the tail. Live Cricket Updates: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, 1st Test, Galle Day 4

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Sri Lanka will be disappointed with the way they bowled today. They did not manage to stem in good overs and created no pressure to induce a false stroke. Prasad was the lone striker for them and they will hope they do bat well whenever they have to avoid a shock loss.

The hosts had Pakistan in trouble at end of day three with Pakistan 118 for five and were still some way away from getting to the follow-on mark. Dhammika Prasad struck twice in his first spell to reduce them to 11 for two. The rest of the bowlers continued to bowl well and despite a 51-run stand between Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq, the hosts were on top then. Read: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 2015, 1st at Galle, Day 3: Dhammika Prasad gets his revenge

Earlier that day, Sri Lanka were bowled out on for a score of 300 after they lost as many as seven wickets for a 122. They were 178 for three at the end of the second day due to a 112-run stand between Kaushal Silva and Kumar Sangakkara. Sangakkara scored his 52nd Test fifty while Silva went onto score his second Test ton to help Sri Lanka reach 300. Wahab Riaz and Zulfiqar Babar took three wickets each to restrict the hosts to that score.

Earlier on Day Two, Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first. Misbah-ul-Haq said that it was a situational call and they wanted to make first use of the conditions on offer with so much rain. Angelo Mathews wanted to bat first anyway and was not upset about losing the toss. Rain had washed out the entire first day’s play. LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, 1st Test, Galle, Day 4

Brief scores:

Sri Lanka 300 (Kaushal Silva 125, Kumar Sangakkara 50; Wahab Riaz 3 for 74, Zulfiqar Babar 3 for 64) lead Pakistan 259 for 6 (Sarfraz Ahmed 96, Asad Shafiq 64*; Dhammika Prasad 3 for 59) by 41 runs.

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(Nikhil Popat is a diehard cricket enthusiast and a PotterHead till the end of time. He can be followed on Twitter @CricCrazyNIKS)