শ্রীলঙ্কা' পাকিস্তান উইকেট

Lunch শ্রীলঙ্কা 221 for 4 (Dhananjaya 87*, Kamindu 58, Abbas 2-33, Saqib 2-82) trail পাকিস্তান 434 for 9 dec (Shakeel 93, Asitha 3-107) by 213 রান

Lunch শ্রীলঙ্কা 221 for 4 (Dhananjaya 87*, Kamindu 58, Abbas 2-33, Saqib 2-82) trail পাকিস্তান 434 for 9 dec (Shakeel 93, Asitha 3-107) by 213 রান। Dhananjaya de Silva frustrated পাকিস্তান on the third morning of the first Test in Rawalpindi, with শ্রীলঙ্কা's middle order holding firm and pushing past 200 as পাকিস্তান searched for the উইকেট that would give them a large first-innings lead.। De Silva and Kamindu Mendis built on the fourth-উইকেট অনবদ্য জুটি that had begun to inch শ্রীলঙ্কা out of trouble on the second evening, and shut পাকিস্তান out in the first hour.।

They looked largely comfortable, except against Mohammad Abbas, who retained the ability to produce unplayable deliveries. One of those did for Kamindu shortly after his অর্ধশতক, but with none of the other bowlers posing a similar threat and de Silva in fine form, পাকিস্তান didn't look like making more substantial inroads.। Save for an over of spin to change ends, পাকিস্তান stuck with the seam bowlers early on, but শ্রীলঙ্কা were judicious and patient in their shot selection. De Silva was quick to drive fuller balls back past the bowlers while defending length, while Kamindu was strong through the off side. Both were especially respectful against Abbas, with Kamindu batting out a maiden over one shy of his অর্ধশতক, not looking to rush to the milestone.। His stay at the crease ended in a probing Abbas over where he was beaten on the outside edge a couple of times. Abbas went wider of the crease and finally got the tickle he was looking for from Mendis' bat on the stroke of drinks, pumping his fists.।

পাকিস্তান knew the magnitude of the moment, and the opportunity to blast through the middle order that came with it. It wasn't to be in the session, though.। Not that they made it easy for themselves. Razaullah was erratic in his opening spell, but drew an edge from de Silva when he pushed with hard hands at a straight drive. It flew to Saud Shakeel at first slip at what was perfect catching height, only for it to pop back out.। De Silva and Kusal Mendis gave no more chances for the remainder of the extended session, clawing their way back into the game with another unbeaten 50-অনবদ্য জুটি. The narrative of the day remains up for grabs in the two sessions that remain.।

lovely nipbacker, and it finally produces a উইকেট। He'd been bright in this spell, and it's a superb setup before he lands the variation. Awais' eyes lit up as he eyed another drive, but this time it was coming back in. It takes the inner edge, and the অধিনায়ক takes a sharp catch behind the stumps. You'd say শ্রীলঙ্কা have probably deserved it.। Edged and both openers are gone।

This was nearly identical to the last delivery, but here a thick outside edge is taken and Kusal gobbles up another. Quality from Asitha, just testing the green Tayyab in that channel outside off, and the young man unwisely pushes a touch away from his body। Taha falls to the spinner। He'd smeared at a couple in the previous over. Once more, he heaves across the line and gets a top edge that Dananjaya makes short work of. Not the way a fighting innings on debut deserved to end, but poor selection will be punished in Test cricket।

and the উইকেট comes। Babar has fallen just after getting a অর্ধশতক again. It was a lovely, probing delivery, shaping away from the outside edge after landing on off-stump. Babar tried to drive it back down the ground, but gets a feather on it, and Mendis takes a comfortable catch। Saud has thrown it away, oh dear।

And it's 100 উইকেট for Asitha। This was a nothing ball really, short down leg, and Saud has conspired to nick this attempted hook down leg. Kusal springs to his right and takes good catch with both hands। Asitha gets Agha with a corker।

This was short of a length and it reared up sharply, certainly more than Agha was expecting. Agha initially looks to play at this, before belatedly deciding to drop his hands. But it's too late and the ball takes the edge off the shoulder of the bat for Kusal to complete a simple take behind the stumps। Perhaps a lapse in concentration but Ghazi gives away his উইকেট after building such a good innings. Madushanka lands it away from his off stump on good length and the ব্যাটার dabs it to the left of the gully fielder while attempting to রান him down to third. Sharp catch with both hands while diving brings an end to Ghazi's innings. Falls two short of what would have been his maidn Test অর্ধশতক.। This was always coming. Arafat gets under this fuller delivery, but it's more height that distance. Dhananjaya settles under it at long-on and makes no mistake।

And now Razaullah goes। Full outside off, and looks to go big. Gets under it and goes hard. It's high to the left of long-off, and this time Asitha makes no mistake, holding on well falling to his left. And at the fall of that উইকেট Babar signals for the declaration। This time the edge is taken।

Poor from Udara, this. And the drop doesn't cost পাকিস্তান anything. Good length, around a sixth stump line, and seaming away. Udara with a fairly loose drive and he gets a thin edge through to the keeper.। Squares him up with a jaffa। Hits the hard length around the off stump line and jags it away from Pasindu who is forced to play and ends up edging it to the keeper who takes a brilliant catch diving to his right.।

The debutant gets experienced Chandimal with a peach। Goes wide of the crease to angle it in and curves it away after landing it on good length right in front of the middle stump. Chandimal closes the face of his bat as he looks to work the ball in the midwicket region but it takes leading edge and flies to the second slip.। just magic from Abbas।

What would পাকিস্তান do without him। He went wider of the crease, and exploited the angle to seam it away from the ব্যাটার. Mendis tried to defend again, but, for the third time this over, was beaten. The difference: it took a little feather off the edge, and it gives পাকিস্তান a much-needed উইকেট to break this 91-রান stand. Kamindu departs for a steely 58।