Together with Agha Salman‘s unbeaten 132, Pakistan took management of the match, ending the day at 563-5 of their first innings at Sinhalese Sports activities Membership, main Sri Lanka by a large 397 runs.
Salman and concussion substitute Mohammad Rizwan have been holding robust on the crease, with a powerful partnership of 95 runs, after Shafique’s dismissal at 201. Salman performed aggressively, reflecting Pakistan’s new strategy on this sequence, and reached his second Check century with a boundary.
Shafique led the outstanding response to Sri Lanka’s first innings whole of 166, forging three century partnerships, together with a 124-run stand with Salman for the sixth wicket.
In the course of the remaining session of the day, Shafique introduced up his 200 with a single off Asitha Fernando. He celebrated the milestone by taking off his helmet and pointing to his identify on the again of his jersey.
Nevertheless, his outstanding innings got here to an finish as he was caught out at deep mid-off by left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya. Earlier within the day, Jayasuriya had additionally dismissed Pakistan’s skipper, Babar Azam, who scored 39.
Asitha Fernando had a powerful spell, choosing up three wickets, together with chopping brief Saud Shakeel’s innings on 57 within the afternoon session. Fernando dismissed Shakeel lbw, ending his 109-run partnership with Shafique.
Sarfaraz Ahmed, the wicketkeeper-batter, made 14 runs however needed to retire harm on account of dizziness, possible brought on by a blow he obtained on his helmet from Fernando’s first ball. Consequently, he was substituted by Rizwan.
General, it was a dominant day for Pakistan, with Shafique’s excellent double century and Salman’s stable century placing them in a commanding place within the match.
Shafique handed 150 for the second time towards Sri Lanka with a single off Ramesh Mendis, after which went previous his earlier Check better of 160 not out.
Pakistan resumed on 178-2 after Tuesday’s downpours restricted the motion to only 10 overs.
Shafique began cautiously however quickly hit two successive boundaries off Fernando earlier than a single received his hundred.
Azam added 11 to his in a single day 28 earlier than being trapped lbw, with the choice upheld by the third umpire after overview.
It was the sixth time Azam had been dismissed in Check cricket by Jayasuriya, who bowled unchanged from one finish within the first session.
Pakistan gained the primary Check within the two-match sequence by 4 wickets.
(With AFP inputs)
