Sri Lanka vs Pakistan: Agha Salman came up with a flexible 62, but Sri Lankan spinners Ramesh Mendis and Prabhat Jayasuriya ran through the batting order leaving the visitors for 191 for 7 at stumps on the second day in Galle .
2nd Test: Sri Lanka eye a big lead after Ramesh Mendis’s heroism on day 2 (AFP photo)
highlighted
- Sri Lanka overtook Pakistan on 191/7 at stumps on the second day
- Ramesh Mendis took 3 wickets, Prabhat Jayasuriya got Babar Azam
- Agha Salman played an innings of 62 runs for Pakistan
Ramesh Mendis made an all-rounder effort to take Sri Lanka to the top at the stumps on the second day of their second Test against Pakistan in Galle on Monday, July 25. Mendis disappointed Pakistan bowlers by 35 runs in the morning session. Took 3 wickets to break into the middle order of the visitors.
Pakistan were reduced to 191 for 7 at stumps, still 187 runs behind Sri Lanka’s first innings score of 378. Veteran leg-spinner Yasir Shah remained unbeaten on 13 while Aga Salman, batting at number six, was dismissed for 62 off the last ball of the day’s play at the hands of left-arm spinner Prabhat Jayasuriya.
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, 2nd Test Day 2 Highlights
Sri Lanka are well set to level the series and pick up some crucial World Test Championship points after losing the first match of the series by 4 wickets following a special performance from Abdullah Shafiq in the final innings. However, in the very first over, Shafiq was dismissed for a duck with fast bowler Asitha Fernando being given a star opener.
Pakistan suffered a major setback when they lost captain Babar Azam to Prabhat Jayasuriya, who continues to impress in the whites for Sri Lanka. Opener Imam-ul-Haq got the start but Dhananjay de Silva dismissed him for 32. It was a rare failure for Babar, who has been in fine form in the ongoing Test series. The Pakistan captain scored a century and then a half-century in the fourth innings in the first Test.
Babar went for a drive without covering the line of delivery and Jayasuriya’s delivery took the outside edge of the captain’s bat before crashing at the stumps.
Ramesh Mendis then ruined the middle order, taking the crucial wickets of Mohammad Rizwan and Fawad Alam for 24.
It was Aga Salman who led Pakistan’s fight with a strong knock of 62 runs. Salman hit 4 fours and a six off 126 balls, forming important partnerships with Mohammad Nawaz and Yasir Shah.
Earlier, Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah and spinner Yasir had split Sri Lanka’s last four wickets when the hosts resumed at 315-6. Niroshan Dickwella hit a half-century, before Mendis proved he was no muggle with the bat, disappointing Pakistan’s bowling attack.
— the ending —