GALLE: Saud Shakeel scored a record-setting double-century and powered Pakistan to conclude their first innings with a massive 149-run lead over Sri Lanka on Day 3 of the first Test.
Bad light forced an early closure of Day 3 action when Sri Lanka could only bat for 16 deliveries against Pakistan in their second innings and had scored just 14 runs.
Openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Nishan Madushka remained unbeaten at the crease and will now resume their side’s second innings with a 135-run deficit.
Earlier in the closing session, Pakistan were bowled out for a mammoth 461 in their first innings at the back of a record-setting double century by young Saud Shakeel, who remained not out on 208.
Saud achieved the milestone amid his astonishing 94-run partnership with Naseem Shah.
The 94-run stand was majorly dominated by Saud but Pakistan’s number 10 Shah displayed grit with his sensational knock.
Shah scored mere six runs and faced a whopping 78 deliveries to pave the way for Saud to achieve the landmark, which eventually came after the former’s unlucky dismissal.
Following his dismissal, Pakistan’s number 11 Abrar Ahmed slogged a couple of boundaries before Ramesh Mendis got rid of him to complete his five-wicket haul. He scored 10 off 12 deliveries.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s star with the bat, Saud remained unbeaten with his swashbuckling knock. His 361-ball 208 featured 19 boundaries.
Mendis led the bowling attack for Sri Lanka with a five-for, followed by Prabath Jayasuriya’s three while Kasun Rajitha and Vishwa Fernando made one scalp each.
At Tea on Day 3, Pakistan were 389/8 with Saud Shakeel still firm at the crease with Naseem Shah, who scored an unbeaten one from 39 deliveries.
Pakistan dominated the second session of Day 3 despite losing two wickets as the touring side enhanced their first-innings lead to 77, which stood at one at Lunch.
Pakistan’s first-inning hero Saud Shakeel remained the touring side’s mainstay on the third day as well and kept Sri Lankan bowlers under control with a calculated knock.
The left-handed batter surpassed his highest Test score and went on to register his maiden 150 in the format. He is currently unbeaten on 161, laced with 15 boundaries.
Sri Lanka appeared determined in the opening minutes of the second session as the hosts got rid of Noman Ali (25) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (9) in quick successions but Naseem Shah displayed grit to cut their comeback short.
He held his end firm with great defence while Shakeel ticked the scoreboard at the other.
At the stroke of Lunch, Pakistan were 313/6 with Saud Shakeel unbeaten on 119 while Noman Ali stood firm with a valuable 13.
Resuming at an overnight score of 221/5, Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha stretched their gutsy partnership to put their side in command.
The pair added 57 runs more to their sixth-wicket partnership before Ramesh Mendis provided a much-needed breakthrough to Sri Lanka when he got rid of Agha in the same over Shakeel had amassed his century.
The right-handed batter had a disappointing end to his sensible knock as he fell just 17 runs short of his second Test century. His 113-ball 83 featured nine boundaries and a six.
Meanwhile, Shakeel stood his ground firm and kept ticking the scoreboard with valuable support from Noman Ali.
The pair of Shakeel and Ali added vital 35 runs to the total which took Pakistan out of the deficit and into the lead.
At the Lunch on Day 3, the touring side had acquired a one-run lead and will be eyeing to add more to it.
Notably, persistent rain forced an early end to the Day 2 action after Saud Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha’s half-centuries recovered Pakistan to 221/5.
The touring side was in heaps of trouble, having slipped to 101/5 when Shakeel and Agha launched an astounding recovery.
The touring side had a dismal start to their innings as they lost their in-form opener Imam-ul-Haq (1) with just three runs on the scoreboard.
After a brief 44-run partnership between Abdullah Shafique (19) and Shan Masood, Sri Lanka launched a spin attack with Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis bowling in pair.
Jayasuriya removed Shafique to end the budding partnership before Mendis soon hit back to remove Masood, who was scoring at a brisk rate.
The left-handed batter scored a quick 39 off 30 deliveries, hitting five boundaries and a six.
Pakistan then sustained a massive blow when Sri Lanka’s Prabath Jayasuriya removed skipper Babar Azam to better his superior record against the right-handed batter.
Babar Azam could score 13 off 16 deliveries with the help of two boundaries.
Coming out to bat at number six was Sarfaraz Ahmed when Pakistan were reeling at 73/4, fresh from the blow of their captain Babar Azam’s dismissal.
He put on a brief partnership with Saud Shakeel and added 28 runs to the total before Prabath Jayasuriya cut his knock short by trapping him in his legs.
The wicketkeeper batter could score 17 off 15 deliveries with the help of three boundaries.
READ: America’s number 10′ Lionel Messi ‘unveiled’ at Inter Miami