Sri Lanka 114-3 at stumps on day two, still 320 behind Pakistan’s 434

RAWALPINDI: Sri Lanka reached 114 for 3 at stumps on the second day of the first Test against Pakistan at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, still 320 runs behind the hosts’ first-innings total of 434 for 9 declared. Bad light brought play to an early close for the second day running. Kamindu Mendis was unbeaten on 40 and Dhananjaya de Silva on 22, the pair having added an unbroken 49 runs for the fourth wicket.

Pakistan had resumed the day on 281 for 5 and pushed on to 434 for 9 declared in 106.3 overs. Saud Shakeel top-scored with 93 off 199 balls, hitting nine fours, before falling seven short of his first Test hundred in over two years. Debutant Arafat Minhas made a maiden Test fifty, 52 off 72 balls, and Ghazi Ghori contributed 48. Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka took three wickets each.

Saqib’s dream debut
Sri Lanka’s reply began terribly. Mohammad Abbas removed opener Pasindu Sooriyabandara for a seven-ball duck in the third over, and debutant fast bowler Saqib Khan dismissed Dinesh Chandimal for one off three balls to claim his maiden international wicket. At 12 for 2 after 3.3 overs, the visitors were staring at a collapse. Lahiru Udara counter-attacked with 42 off 52 balls, including seven fours, before Saqib struck again to make it 65 for 3. Saqib finished the day with 2 for 54 in 10.1 overs on debut.

What day three holds
Mendis and de Silva steadied Sri Lanka after the early setbacks, although de Silva was dropped by Arafat Minhas in the penultimate over of the day. Pakistan will look to press home their advantage on the third day, while Sri Lanka need their unbeaten pair to build a big partnership and narrow a deficit that still stands at 320. The second Test of the two-match series begins in Lahore on November 17.