Top-class Angelo Mathews stroked his 22nd Test half-ton to lead Sri Lanka’s second innings reply on day three against Pakistan in their third Test at Pallekelle.
Mathews was involved in two exciting partnerships of 81 and 67* with Jehan Mubarak and Dinesh Chandimal respectively to help Sri Lanka post 228 for 5 at stumps after being 35 for 3 at one stage and extend the lead to 291 runs with 5 wickets remaining and two days of play left.
The captain was batting unbeaten on 77* while Chandimal assisting him on 39* when umpires called it a day at 5.40pm due to bad light.
“We need to shut off Pakistan from the game by batting for another session and getting a lead of 380 tomorrow morning. “ Mubarak said to the journalists at the end of day today.
Earlier in the first session, Sri Lanka took only two overs to finish off the Pakistan innings for 215 as the 22-year old, off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal bowled a terrific doosra to dismantle last man, Imran Khan for no score. The lion-hearted and positive Sarfraz Ahmed remained unbeaten on 78 off 104.
Sri Lanka gained a 63-run lead thanks to their hard-working bowlers. Pakistan needed to strike early and they did so by removing the first innings centurion, Dimuth Karunarathne for 10 in the 7th over. Left-arm seamer Rahat Ali persisted with a tight line outside the off stump and finally a peach of a delivery clipped off Dimuth’s off-stump.
Ehsan Adil complimented his new-ball partner’s good work by dismissing Kaushal Silva in the very next over as the right-hander was caught cleverly by Misbah Ul-Haq at first slip through a thick edge.
Vice-captain Lahiru Thirimanne’s poor run with the bat continued as he was clean bowled for a duck by an out-swinging yorker courtesy Rahat Ali as Sri Lanka was wobbling at 35 for 3.
Mathews and Tharanga batted with class and helped the hosts’ recover from the early jitters through their 45-run stand for the 4th wicket. They showcased all their experience in negotiating the problems caused by the visitors.
Tharanga cut and drove excellently to stroke 6 fours but he could not surpass another well-deserved half-ton when he was caught by Azhar Ali at short-leg off a Yasir Shah delivery when he was 48 off 47 balls.
Mathews wanted a stable and trustworthy partner to steady the innings and he found one in experienced, Jehan Mubarak. Playing his first Test after 8 years, the tall left-hander showed maturity in playing out the Pakistani bowlers during his 94-ball knock of 35.
Mubarak timed the ball excellently to find the boundary six times and was involved in an optimistic 81-run stand for the 5th wicket which set the tone for the hosts. He was caught at short leg off a Yasir Shah delivery which took off from the rough patch to get an edge onto his pads.
Sri Lanka was 224 runs ahead when Chandimal walked in and after a lapse in form during his last couple of innings’, he managed to completely take the game away from the visitors with a counter-attacking innings of 39 from 47 deliveries with 5 fours in the final session of play.
The efficient Pallekelle ground staff did a tremendous job by bringing on the covers several times due to many rain stoppages. A total of 25 overs were lost due to rain.
Sri Lanka – 278 all out in 89.5 overs: Dimuth Karunarathne 130, Upul Tharanga 46, Jehan Mubarak 25, Dinesh Chandimal 24, Yasir Shah 5/78, Azhar Ali 2/35, Rahat Ali 3/74.
Pakistan – 215 all out in 66 overs: Ahmed Shehzad 21, Azhar Ali 52, Sarfraz Ahmed 78*, Dhammika Prasad 3/78, Nuwan Pradeep 3/29, Tharindu Kaushal 3/37.
Sri Lanka (2nd inn) – 228/5 in 69.4 overs: Upul Tharanga 48, Angelo Mathews 77*, Jehan Mubarak 35, Dinesh Chandimal 39*, Rahat Ali 2/58, Yasir Shah 2/70.
