Younis Khan (Right) was dismissed at the stroke of lunch but Azhar Ali (Left) will look to continue his good run in the second session © Getty Images (File photo)
Pakistan manage to reach 45 for three at lunch on Day Two of the third Test at Pallekelle after bowling Sri Lanka out for 278 earlier. Tharindu Kaushal and Nuwan Pradeep were dismissed after the hosts added just six runs to their overnight score. Yasir Shah managed to get yet another five-wicket haul, his fourth in Tests to help Pakistan bundle out Sri Lanka. Fast bowler Rahat Ali got the other wicket to fall and finished with three wickets to his name. Live Blog: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 3rd Test, Day 2 at Pallekele
Dimuth Karunaratne to scored for Sri Lanka with 130 and nobody else managed to get a big score despite some batsmen like Upul Tharanga, Jehan Mybarak and Dinesh Chandimal getting off to decent starts. Pakistan will would have certainly been the happier of the two teams going into the innings break. Live scorecard: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 3rd Test, Day 2 at Pallekele
Sri Lanka have managed to get rid of openers Shan Masood and Ahmed Shehzad for 13 and 2 respectively. The duo were looking in good nick as they were dealing in boundaries in their brief innings. The first one went to Dhammika Prasad when he trapped Masood in front. Nuwan Pradeep then struck in his very first over, getting rid of Shehzad caught behind, when he got a nick attempting to leave a ball outside off alone. READ: Yasir Shah picks up 4th 5-wicket haul in Tests in Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 3rd Test, Day 2 at Pallekele
Their wickets has brought two new batsmen in the form of Azhar Ali and Younis Khan into the crease. It has also managed to cut the run flow of the Pakistan team. The hosts built a lot of pressure and as a result was run out looking for a quick single at the stroke of lunch. Sri Lanka bowlers will be delighted with their effort with the ball and will look to come out and get some more quick wickets in the post-lunch session. READ: Yasir Shah’s good run gives Pakistan’s spin department much needed boost
On Day One, Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq had won the toss and elected to bowl first. Both teams have made four changes to their sides. Sri Lanka are without their star batsman Kumar Sangakkara, who decided to opt out of the match but will be apart of the Sri Lanka squad, who face India in their next series.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka: 278 (Dimuth Karunaratne 130, Upul Tharanga 46; Rahat Ali 3 for 74, Yasir Shah 5 for 7) lead Pakistan 45 for 3 ( Shan Masood 13, Ahmed Shehzad 21; Dhammika Prasad 1 for 16, Nuwan Pradeep 1 for 1) by 233 runs.
(Pramod Ananth is a reporter at CricketCountry. He has represented Karnataka table tennis under-15, and is a hardcore supporter of Liverpool FC. His Twitter handle is @pramz)