Dinesh Chandimal holds Sri Lanka’s hopes of getting a meaningful first innings lead against Pakistan in the second test as the tourists moved to 170-6 at lunch on day two.
In an extended first session of 2 hours and 40 minutes due to Friday prayers, Chandimal held the Sri Lanka innings together with an unbeaten 42 and trailed Pakistan by 21 runs.
Pakistan was bowled out for 191 in the first innings.
Pakistani players celebrate the dismissal of Sri Lankan batsman Lasith Embuldeniya during the second day of the second test in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, Dec. 20, 2019. Sri Lanka removed Pakistan's top batting order through the twin threats of pace and spin as the hosts reached 171-5 at tea on the first day of the second test on Thursday. Fast bowler Fernando (2-31) struck twice in three balls. (AP PhotoFareed Khan)
Niroshan Dickwella was unbeaten on 10 as Sri Lanka added 106 runs in the session.
Resuming on overnight 64-3, nightwatchman Lasith Embuldeniya (13) frustrated Pakistan fast bowlers for over half an hour before falling to an awful stroke.
Babar Azam missed a regulation catch that could have dismissed Embuldeniya on 11 in 16-year-old fast bowler Naseem Shah’s third over before Mohammad Abbas (3-34) struck.
Pakistani bowler Shaheen Afridi celebrates the dismissal of Sri Lankan batsman Angelo Mathews during the second day of the second Test cricket in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, Dec. 20, 2019. Sri Lanka removed Pakistan's top batting order through the twin threats of pace and spin as the hosts reached 171-5 at tea on the first day of the second test on Thursday. Fast bowler Fernando (2-31) struck twice in three balls. (AP PhotoFareed Khan)
Embuldeniya strangely attempted a swat sweep against Abbas but got a leading edge and was caught in the second slip.
Left-armed bowler Shaheen Afridi (3-44) then found the inside edge of Angelo Mathews’ bat as the former Sri Lanka captain struggled in negotiating with the seam bowling of the three fast bowlers.
But Chandimal and first test century-maker Dhananjaya de Silva (32) settled in well and featured in a 67-run sixth wicket stand as Yasir Shah couldn’t extract much spin off the wicket.
Sri Lankan batsman Dhananjaya de Silva looks at a ball he misses during the second day of the second test in Karachi, Pakistan,Friday, Dec. 20, 2019. (AP PhotoFareed Khan)
Afridi broke the threatening stand in his second spell when Dhananjaya top edged a pull shot and was caught at fine leg, before Chandimal and Dickwella denied Pakistan further success.
The rain-affected first test at Rawalpindi ended in a draw last week. It was Pakistan’s first test at home in over 10 years.