Pakistan holds the advantage ahead of intriguing final day
After only three runs separated both teams on first innings, the only way the first Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan could have ended in a result was Sri Lanka collapsing in its second innings. Much to Pakistan’s joy, the team took the first steps towards achieving that, having reduced Sri Lanka to 69 for 4 at the end of the day four.
Sri Lanka’s lead when play ended on Sunday was 66, and with Yasir Shah posing a serious threat and already having scalped two wickets, it has set up an intriguing final day. At the close, Kusal Mendis was batting on 16 with nightwatchman Suranga Lakmal on two. Sri Lanka does have some batting depth to come with Niroshan Dickwella and Dilruwan Perera still remaining, but will have to keep the bowlers at bay for long enough to ensure safety.
Yasir’s two scalps were the important ones of Dinesh Chandimal (7), and Dimuth Karunaratne (10), the first-innings heroes. Chandimal had made 155 not out in Sri Lanka’s 419 while Karunaratne had contributed 93.
During the fourth day, it looked like Sri Lanka would take a healthy lead after Azhar Ali’s defiant knock of 85 was ended by Rangana Herath, the wily left-arm spinner ending with 5 for 93 in a marathon bowling session of 40 overs. However, a superb 76 on debut by Haris Sohail gave Pakistan parity.
Sri Lanka was all but set for a lead before Sohail added valuable runs with the tail as Pakistan finally ended on 422 all out. He led the way as Pakistan’s last four wickets added 106 runs. Sohail showed the fight and resolve to prove that his selection was justified.
Two years ago Sohail’s career was in the doldrums, still in the comeback phase after a knee surgery 12 months earlier. But he recovered in time to force his selection with two hundreds in a national one-day tournament. And on Sunday, he fought brilliantly throughout his 161-ball knock, hitting two sixes and seven boundaries.
Herath posed a danger for Pakistan right from the start of the day. He lured Azhar into a drive on a delivery which was slightly held back and it was left to Sadeera Samarawickrama, the substitute fielder, to dive towards his left at short midwicket and pluck the ball centimetres from the ground.
As always, Sarfraz Ahmed upped the tempo by attacking, hitting a boundary and a six before he played on to Suranga Lakmal, trying to hook from outside the off-stump. Lakmal then had Mohammad Amir leg before. At 316 for 6 and then 326 for 7 with Herath threatening, it looked Pakistan would concede a healthy lead.
Herath also had Yasir dismissed to make it 340 for 8, but the energetic Hasan Ali showed his never-say-die approach, not with the ball in his hand but with bat, smashing three sixes off Herath, two in one over. Finally, Herath had him stumped to complete his 32nd fifth wicket haul in his 84th Test.
Another 32 were added for the last wicket with Sohail completing his fifty, and it was only off the third new ball that he finally holed out.
Herath led the way for Sri Lanka, while Nuwan Pradeep and Lakmal took two wickets apiece.
