Pakistan hit back with early strikes after posting 191 in first innings

Karachi: Sri Lankan bowlers Lahiru Kumara and Lasith Embuldeniya combined with four-wicket hauls to roll Pakistan over for 191 runs in their first innings on day-one (Thursday) of the second ICC Test Championship series Test match being played at the National Stadium, Karachi.

However, Pakistan pacers Mohammad Abbas and Shaheen Shah Afridi roared back with three early strikes to even out proceedings on an enthralling day as Test cricket returned to the iconic stadium for the first time in more than a decade.

Sri Lanka ended the day at 64 for three, 127 runs behind Pakistan’s first innings total. Pacer Mohammad Abbas bowled with great control and found movement off the pitch as he took the wickets of Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne (25) and Kusal Mendis (13). Shaheen provided the first breakthrough by dismissing Oshada Fernando (4).

Earlier, Pakistan captain Azhar Ali won the toss and opted to bat first. Pakistan were rocked early in their innings by Sri Lanka’s left-arm-seamer Vishwa Fernando who sent back opener Shan Masood (5) and Azhar Ali (0) in the space of three balls with swinging deliveries that breached the defences of both batsmen and shattered the stumps.

Pakistan started the repair work with Abid Ali and Babar Azam, Abid looked set for another big score following his century on Test debut in Rawalpindi last week before he was dismissed lbw by fast bowler Lahiru Kumara for 38 off 66 balls, he hit seven fours and one six and added 55 runs for the third wicket with Babar.

Pakistan took lunch at 72 for three in 24 overs, post-lunch session Babar and Asad Shafiq added quick runs, their 62 runs partnership ended when left-arm-spinner Lasith Embuldeniya accounted for Babar (60 off 96 balls, eight fours and one six) with wicket-keeper Niroshan Dickwella stumping him out.

The wicket of Haris Sohail (9) triggered a collapse as Pakistan lost their last six wickets for the addition of 24 runs. Kumara and Embuldeniya went through the lower-order, from 167 for five, the hosts were bowled out for 191 with both sharing four wickets each.

Scores in brief:

Pakistan 191 all out, 59.3 overs (Asad Shafiq 63, Babar Azam 60, Abid Ali 38; Lahiru Kumara 4-49, Lasith Embuldeniya 4-71)

Sri Lanka 64 for 3, 19 overs (Dimuth Karunaratne 25; Mohammad Abbas 2-21)