Pakistan on course to Test series sweep as Nauman Ali wrecks Sri Lanka
Cricket
Salman Ali Agha smashed unbeaten 132 while Rizwan completes his another Test fifty
COLOMBO (Dunya News) – Pakistan spinner Nauman Ali delivered lethal bowling spell, dismissing the six Sri Lanka batters after hosts started second innings in reply to the Team Green’s mammoth 410-run lead on day four of the second Test in Colombo on Thursday.
In the first session, Pakistan declared their first innings at 576 runs after piling on a massive lead, with Salman Ali Agha remained unbeaten at 132.
Sri Lanka started well with the bat as Nishan Madushka and skipper Dimuth made 33 and 41, respectively, before they were removed by Nauman.
The left-arm off spinner completed his six-wicket haul by dismissing Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva and Sadeera Samarawickarma. The hosts trail by 268 runs in 52.3 overs till the filing of the story.
On day three, Abdullah Shafique’s maiden double hundred and Salman Ali Agha’s second century put Pakistan in a commanding position against Sri Lanka on third day of the second Test match at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo on Wednesday.
At stumps, Pakistan were 563 for five in 132 overs, leading by 397 runs.
Earlier, resuming their first innings at the overnight score of 178 for two, Pakistan lost their captain Babar Azam (39, 75b, 4x4s, 1x6) adding 11 runs to his overnight score.
After Babar’s departure in the 48th over, double centurion from first Test match Saud Shakeel joined Abdullah and the pair added 109 runs for the fourth wicket. During 57-run innings, Saud became the only batter in the world to score six half-centuries in seven Test matches with two centuries.
After Saud’s departure, wicketkeeper-batter Sarfaraz Ahmed (14, 22b, 3x4s) was struck on the head by Asitha Fernando’s bouncer in the 86th over of the innings and had to return back to the pavilion. Later, he was substituted with Mohammad Rizwan, who came in as concussion substitute.
Abdullah was the next batter to return back to the hut after scoring 201 off 326 balls, which included 19 fours and four sixes.
Agha was joined by Rizwan in the middle and the pair stitched an unbroken 95 runs for the sixth wicket.
Agha struck 15 fours and one six during his unbeaten 132-run knock which came off 148 balls. Rizwan returned undefeated on 37 off 61, hitting one four and a six.
