Abdullah, Shan and bowlers put Pakistan in commanding position against Sri Lanka in 2nd Test
COLOMBO (92 News) - Half-centuries from Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood, and seven wickets between Abrar Ahmed and Naseem Shah put Pakistan in a commanding position at the close of first day’s play of the second Test match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo on Monday.
After opting to bat first, Sri Lanka were dismissed for a paltry 166 in 48.4 overs. Right-arm mystery spinner Abrar bagged four wickets for 69 in 20.4 overs. He was well supported by Naseem Shah, who picked three wickets for 41 in 14 overs. Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi took one wicket, while two Sri Lankan batters were run out courtesy energetic fielding from Shan.
In turn, the tourists lost their opening batter Imamul Haq (6 off 6, 1x4) with 13 runs on the board in 2.3 overs. Abdullah was joined by Shan and both batters stitched a 108-run partnership for the second wicket off just 117 balls. Shan struck four fours and a six in his 47-ball 51 run knock.
At stumps, Pakistan were 145 for two in 28.3 overs when bad light stopped play. Abdullah returned undefeated on 74 off 99 balls, smashing seven fours and two sixes. Captain Babar Azam remained unbeaten on 8 off 21 balls, hitting one boundary.
SCOREBOARD
Sri Lanka 1st innings
N. Madushka run out (Masood) 4
D. Karunaratne b Naseem 17
K. Mendis c sub (Rizwan) b Shaheen 6
A. Mathews c Sarfaraz b Naseem 9
D. Chandimal c Haq b Naseem 34
D. de Silva c Shakeel b Abrar 57
S. Samarawickrama c Shafique b Abrar 0
R. Mendis c Shakeel b Abrar 27
P. Jayasuriya run out (Masood) 1
A. Fernando b Abrar 8
D. Madushanka not out 0
Extras (b2, nb1) 3
Total (all out, 48.4 overs) 166
Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Madushka), 2-23 (K. Mendis), 3-35 (Mathews), 4-36 (Karunaratne), 5-121 (Chandimal), 6-122 (Samarawickrama), 7-133 (de Silva), 8-136 (Jayasuriya), 9-163 (Fernando), 10-166 (R. Mendis)
Bowling: Shaheen 11-1-44-1, Naseem 14-3-41-3, Abrar 20.4-3-69-4, Noman 3-1-10-0 (nb1)
Pakistan 1st innings
A. Shafique not out 74
Imam-ul-Haq c Madushka b Fernando 6
S. Masood c K. Mendis b Fernando 51
B. Azam not out 8
Extras (lb2, nb2, w2) 6
Total (2 wickets, 28.3 overs) 145
Fall of wickets: 1-13 (Haq), 2-121 (Masood)
Still to bat: S. Shakeel, S. Ahmed, A. Salman, N. Ali, S. Shah Afridi, N. Shah, A. Ahmed
Bowling: Fernando 7-0-41-2 (w2, nb1), Madushanka 5.3-0-28-1, Mendis 8-0-39-0, Jayasuriya 8-0-35-0 (nb1)
Umpires: Alex Wharf (ENG), Chris Gaffaney (NZL)
TV umpire: Rod Tucker (AUS)
Match referee: David Boon (AUS)