Dimuth Karunaratne made an unbeaten 133* while Dinesh Chandimal finished on 49* as Sri Lanka posted 254/3 on day one of the country’s first ever day-night Test at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The left hander was really in his element on the day, following up the 93 he made in the 1st innings of the 1st Test in Abu Dhabi, with a chanceless century. Karunaratne looked untroubled throughout his innings, defending or leaving the deliveries outside the off stump and cashing in when the bowlers strayed onto his pads.
Despite Karunaratne notching up a rare 1st innings ton, there’s no doubt that debutant Sadeera Samarawickrama’s enterprising innings of 38 was what caught the attention of all those present as the youngster’s talent was laid bare in his 1st foray into international cricket.
Coming in at number 3, Samarawickrama’s ploy was to take on Pakistan’s main weapon Yasir Shah and he played a couple of delectable drives against the leggie. He also smoked Wahab Riaz to the square leg boundary and was looking good for a long stay at the crease when he bunted a short ball straight back at Mohammed Amir, who had just been brought back into the attack. Incidentally, this was Amir’s 1st wicket in the series.
Kusal Mendis came in next but played an inexplicably rash shot across the line to Shah in the very next over to offer a catch to the man at slip and leave Sri Lanka on 136/3.
While Samarawickrama’s knock had added some impetus to the Sri Lankan innings, Skipper Dinesh Chandimal was far more circumspect in the middle and was perhaps guilty of letting the momentum of the innings slip slightly. However, more importantly, he was able to stay at the crease as Karunaratne went on to make his 7th Test ton.
Earlier in the day, Karunaratne and opening partner Kaushal Silva had put together 63 for the 1st wicket when the latter was caught smartly by wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahamed off the bowling of Shah for 27.
The Pakistani bowlers looked flat for the most part, with the fast bowlers in particular bowling a little toowide to both Chandimal and Karunaratne. Amir and Riaz did bowl a couple of good spells, in between, but the visitors were able to successfully navigate through them to end the day on 254 for the loss of just 3 wickets.
The visitors made two changes to the XI they fielded in the 1st Test in Abu Dhabi, with Samarawickrama and pace bowler Lahiru Gamage making their debuts. Vice-captain Lahiru Thirimanne, who was suffering from some back stiffness prior to the game was left out alongside chinaman Lakshan Sandakan; neither made any huge contribution to Sri Lanka’s nail biting win in the 1st Test in Dubai.
The home side has also made one change to their line-up with left armer Riaz getting the nod ahead of Hasan Ali.
