GALLE: Dhananjaya de Silva spearheaded Sri Lanka’s batting charge against Pakistan with a gutsy century and lifted the hosts to 312 in the first innings on Day 2 of the ongoing first Test.
Sri Lanka, resuming at an overnight score of 242/6 with Dhananjaya de Silva just six shy of his century, could only add 70 runs for their last four wickets.
The right-handed batter, who, alongside Angelo Mathews, recovered Sri Lanka from a dismal start, continued his rhythm and notched up his well-crafted 10th century.
In the opening session on Day 2, de Silva put on brief partnerships with Ramesh Mendis and Prabath Jayasuriya before Naseem Shah finally got rid of him.
The right-handed batter top-scored for Sri Lanka with 122 off 214 deliveries, smashing 12 boundaries and three sixes.
Following the dismissal of their mainstay, Sri Lanka got a vital push courtesy of an astounding 28-run cameo by their No. 11 Vishwa Fernando.
For Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Abrar Ahmed and Naseem picked up three wickets each while Salman Ali Agha made one scalp.
On the opening day of the ongoing Galle Test, half-centuries from Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva took Sri Lanka to 242/6 at the stumps despite a ruthless opening session spell by Shaheen Shah Afridi.
After opting to bat first, the home side endured the wrath of Shaheen Shah Afridi, who returned to Test cricket after a year-long hiatus.
The left-arm pacer ran through the Sri Lankan top-order with three wickets in his first spell.
Shaheen’s first scalp of the match – Nishan Madushanka (4) – also propelled him to breach the 100 Test wickets mark.
Naseem Shah also joined Shaheen and added to the misery of the home side by removing Dinesh Chandimal for a mere one.
With Chandimal’s dismissal, Sri Lanka slipped to 54/4 but Mathews soon joined hands with Dhananjaya de Silva to launch an astounding recovery.
The pair added 131 runs for the fifth wicket and pulled their side out of trouble before mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed got a much-needed breakthrough in the form of Mathews.
The right-handed batter scored a cautious 64 off 109 deliveries, hitting nine boundaries.
Following Mathews’s dismissal, de Silva then stitched a 57-run partnership with Sadeera Samarawickrama.
The pair was looking in control to bat through the rain-hit opening day but Samarawickrama fell to Agha Salman on what turned out to be the final delivery.
He played an important 36-run knock which ended courtesy of a sensational catch by Imam-ul-Haq.
Samarawickrama’s dismissal in the closing minutes brought Pakistan back into the game but Sri Lanka’s mainstay de Silva remained firm at the crease.
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The post Pakistan book Sri Lanka on 312 after Dhananjay’s century appeared first on ASports.tv.
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