Pakistan tighten grip on Rawalpindi Test despite late SL resistance

Pakistan kept a firm hold on the Rawalpindi Test, ending the second day with a healthy first-innings advantage after taking out Sri Lanka’s top three.

Kamindu Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva combined for an unbeaten 49-run stand after debutant Saqib Khan’s double strike, but bad light struck once again, bringing an early end to action. Across the first two days, nearly 45 overs have now been lost.

Pakistan had assumed control on the first day with a string of fifties. Resuming at 281/5, Saud Shakeel and Ghazi Ghouri continued without much trouble, capitalising on Sri Lanka’s loose bowling, which tended to be too short at times.

Ghouri, on the cusp of his maiden Test fifty, was caught at gully to a sharp catch, breaking their 96-run stand. Arafat Minhas came out with the intent to attack, but was quickly challenged by the short ball, with Kusal Mendis installing a short-leg fielder. On 10, he fended a delivery off Lahiru Kumara, but was lucky to not be caught by the close-in fielder. He retaliated with a four and a six off the next two balls.

Shakeel, meanwhile, steadily continued towards his century without going after their bowling. He hit just two fours all morning, but had moved his way to 93, when Asitha Fernando struck. Going for a pull, he gloved behind to become Fernando’s 100th Test victim.

Minhas, and the hard-hitting Razuallah, looked for quick runs after crossing the 400-run mark. Minhas hit nine fours and a six, cracking his maiden Test fifty before Madhushanka snared him for his third wicket. On 434/9, Babar Azam felt they had enough to declare. Pakistan had just over a session to have a crack at Sri Lanka’s batters.

Mohammad Abbas began with three slips (and a no-ball), getting the ball to seam into the right-handed duo of openers. Pasindu Sooriyabandara was the first ball, squared up by a cracker that nipped away late. The very next over, Saqib Khan found Dinesh Chandimal’s outside edge to reduce them to 12/2. Pakistan kept testing them, but they managed to reach Tea without any more damage.

Lahiru Udara took three fours off a Saqib over, the last of which brought up the fifty-run stand alongside Kamindu Mendis. On 40, he was sucked into a loose shot by the same bowler, but Mohammad Taha dropped him at gully. But the debutant had the final say, getting one to edge behind.

Mendis, in the company of de Silva navigated through the next phase, putting away any loose deliveries even as light faded and the action continued under lights. Both batters survived a close call each: Dhananjaya almost chopped on and Mendis escaped a run-out chance. Importantly, they went to Stumps unseparated, having given Sri Lanka some stability on a day largely dominated by the hosts.