Day 4: Pakistan leads by 90 runs in first Test against Sri Lanka
Shafiq was unbeaten on 115, his seventh Test century and the third in the last four matches.
GALLE (AP) - Middle order batsman Asad Shafiq posted his seventh test hundred as Pakistan reached 390-8 at tea on day four of the first test against Sri Lanka.
Pakistan leads by 90 runs with two wickets remaining.
Shafiq saw Pakistan slip to 96-5 on day three and had to rebuild the innings with wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed (96) before the tail-enders made some healthy contributions.
Shafiq s patient 115 was his second test hundred against Sri Lanka and put Pakistan in a position from where they can consolidate. Shafiq added 139 runs with wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed for the sixth wicket after resuming the day still 182 runs behind Sri Lanka.
The two batsmen adopted contrasting styles. While Sarfraz was aggressive and raced to his half-century in just 45 deliveries, Shafiq took his time taking 138 balls for his half-century with just two fours.
Sarfraz was dismissed four short of a hundred when he attempted a sweep shot off fast bowler Dhammika Prasad and was bowled.
Sarfraz needed only 86 balls for his 96 and hit 13 fours. .
Pakistan lost just one wicket in the morning session and dented the hopes of the Sri Lankans, who were hoping to knock off the remaining five Pakistani wickets after impressive bowling saw them dismissing the top five batsmen early.
The tail-enders gave Pakistan the advantage as Wahab Riaz added 38 runs for the seventh wicket with Shafiq while Yasir Shah added 29 runs for the eighth wicket.
But it was the ninth wicket partnership between Shafiq and Zulfiqar Babar that hurt the Sri Lankans most as they added an unfinished 90 runs. Babar reached his maiden fifty with a six over long-on. He required just 48 balls and hit six fours and two sixes.
Shafiq reached his century by lofting Dilruwan Perera for four. He required 207 deliveries and hit just four boundaries.
