COLOMBO: Abdullah Shafique’s maiden double century, followed by an unbeaten 132 by Salman Ali Agha kept Pakistan in complete control of the ongoing second Test against Sri Lanka.
At the stumps on Day 3, Pakistan were 563/5 and had a humongous 397-run lead over Sri Lanka with Agha and Mohammad Rizwan still on the crease.
Pakistan dominated another session of the ongoing Colombo Test as the visitors added 166 runs to their total at the cost of a wicket.
Salman Ali Agha and Abdullah Shafique resumed Pakistan’s first innings at 397/4 after the Tea break and stretched their fifth-wicket stand to 124 before Prabath Jayasuriya finally got rid of the latter soon after his double century.
Shafique top-scored for Pakistan with 210 from 306 deliveries, laced up with 19 boundaries and four sixes.
Coming in to bat for Pakistan as Sarfaraz Ahmed’s concussion substitute, Mohammad Rizwan batted sensibly amid his 95-run unbeaten partnership with Salman Ali Agha to solidify Pakistan’s grip.
At the stumps, Rizwan was unbeaten on 37 while Agha had scored 132 not out with the help of 15 boundaries and a six.
Pakistan were 397 and had gathered a massive 231-run lead for the loss of four wickets at Tea on the third day of the ongoing second Test.
At the conclusion of the second session, Abdullah Shafique was just 10 runs away from his maiden double century while Salman Ali Agha was unbeaten on 28.
Abdullah Shafique and Saud Shakeel resumed Pakistan’s batting charge at 273/3 and added a further 46 runs to their stand before Asitha Fernando got rid of Saud Shakeel.
The left-handed batter, who scripted all-time Test history, scored 57 off 110 deliveries, laced with six deliveries.
Following Saud’s dismissal, wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed put on a brief 25-run partnership with Abdullah before getting retired hurt.
He could score 14 from 22 deliveries before returning to the pavilion.
Walking out to bat after Sarfaraz’s unfortunate departure, Salman Ali Agha partnered strongly with Pakistan’s mainstay Abdullah Shafique and stitched an unbeaten 53-run partnership before the break.
Pakistan, resuming their first innings at an overnight score of 178/2, enjoyed a fruitful opening session of Day 3 despite their captain Babar Azam’s dismissal as the touring side acquired a dominating 107-run lead.
Pakistan’s pair, batting since the last session of the opening day, finally got broken in the early half of day three’s opening session when Prabath Jayasuriya, once again, dismissed Pakistan captain Babar.
The left-arm spinner trapped Babar Azam plumb in front to draw a much-needed success for Sri Lanka while the Pakistan captain fell just 11 short of his half-century.
He scored 39 off 75 deliveries, laced with four boundaries and a six.
Pakistan were 210/3 in response to Sri Lanka’s 166 when Pakistan’s first match hero Saud Shakeel walked out to bat.
The in-form batter wasted no time adapting to the conditions and soon put on an important partnership for the touring side.
Saud and Abdullah had added an unbeaten 63 runs amid their fourth-wicket partnership before Lunch.
At the stroke of Lunch, Abdullah Shafique was unbeaten on 137 while Saud was 32 not out.
Notably, Rain played spoilsport on the second day of the ongoing second Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Only 10 overs of action was possible on an important second day due to persistent downpour.
Pakistan were 178/2 and had a 12-run lead when the rain intervened.
READ: England face Anderson call after naming unchanged squad for Ashes finale