Cricket News By TODAYLIVESCORE.INFO - Shafique, Imam provide Pakistan solid start in pursuit of 342. The openers began on a rather nervy note, with Shafique surviving a close LBW shout off Prabath Jayasuriya.
The openers began on a rather nervy note, with Shafique surviving a close LBW shout off Prabath Jayasuriya.
Openers – Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq – provided Pakistan a solid start in pursuit of a substantial target of 342 in the Galle Test versus Sri Lanka. The tourists had progressed to 68 for no loss when the umpires called for lunch.
In fact, the openers began on a rather nervy note, with Shafique surviving a close LBW shout off Prabath Jayasuriya. The on-field decision was not out and the ball-tracker suggested it would be umpire's call, with the ball projected to have not hit more than half of the leg-stump. In the very next over, Shafique's batting partner, Imam, had a narrow escape too. In Imam's case, he was adjudged LBW off Kasun Rajitha. However, he took the review and the ball-tracker suggested it would miss the stumps.
Shafique and Imam then looked to play with more intent, bringing out the lofted shot, flick and the occasional cut and drive to collect crucial runs while facing the spinners and Rajitha. Earlier, Dinesh Chandimal had missed out on cracking a brilliant hundred by just six after Naseem Shah cleaned up the No.11 batter Jayasuriya. Sri Lanka finished with 337 on the board.
The Sri Lankan camp would still believe the track has enough assistance for the spinners to come into play. Meanwhile, it would be interesting to see to what extent the effect of the roller would have on the pitch.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 222 and 337 (Dinesh Chandimal 94*, Kusal Mendis 76; Mohammad Nawaz 5-88) lead Pakistan 218 (Babar Azam 119; Prabath Jayasuriya 5-82) and 68/0 (Abdullah Shafique 41*) by 273 runs
