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Ahmed Shehzad, Azhar Ali lead Pakistan fightback

Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Colombo, 3rd day

Arnold: Pakistan will think of winning rather than saving

A 120-run, 2nd-wicket Partnership between Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shehzad drove Pakistan's fightback on the third day of the second Test in Colombo. Both batsmen hit fifties and Pakistan were seven runs shy of leads the pack on the third day when awful light halted play an hour into the last session. With eight wickets close by and the track losing skip, Pakistan's chances will rely on upon how well Azhar, Younis Khan and whatever remains of the center request exploit the open door.

After a dreary aggregate of 138 in the first innings, Pakistan required train and coarseness at the wrinkle to guarantee they kept their chances in the match alive in the wake of surrendering a first-innings lead of 177 runs, and Shehzad and Azhar satisfied that part well. They were restrained and careful against the great balls however guaranteed they were not impeded by turning the strike over routinely. Just two limits were hit more than 28 overs in the whole second session, and the remainder of Shehzad's four fours came in the first session.

Shrewd details

1.       2 Consecutive six-wicket pulls taken by Yasir Shah - 7 for 76 in the second innings in Galle and 6 for 96 in the first innings of this Test. This is the first occasion of a Pakistan spinner detracting successive six-wicket pulls from home. Danish Kaneria and Mushtaq Ahmed took consecutive six-wicket pulls in Pakistan.

2.       16.7 Yasir Shah's knocking down some pins normal in two Tests against Sri Lanka - he has taken 15 wickets in three innings. He midpoints 28.4 in seven Tests against different groups - three against New Zealand and two each against Australia and Bangladesh.

3.       28 Fifty or more scores for Azhar Ali, the 2nd-most for any Pakistan batsman since Azhar made his presentation in July 2010. Misbah-ul-Haq has 30 such slashes while

      Younis Khan has 21.

4.       46.7 Ahmed Shehzad's batting normal, the second-best in Test history for any Pakistan opener (min. 750 runs). Saeed Anwar is above him with a normal of 47.1.

With the pad of a considerable lead, Sri Lanka further fortified their position when Angelo Mathews affected a questionable jab from Mohammad Hafeez in the fourth over which was securely gotten by Kumar Sangakkara at slip. Notwithstanding the early wicket, Shehzad stayed familiar toward the begin, with pleasantly timed fours off Mathews and Dhammika Prasad either side of the wicket right off the bat in his innings.

Rangana Herath hit on dish without precedent for the match - in Pakistan's 12th over - and beat Shehzad with a ripper that turned past the outside edge. In Herath's next over, nonetheless, the opener indicated expectation, ventured out and cleared the long-on limit smoothly. In the early phases of the association, Pakistan's scoring rate remained nearby to the 3.5 runs for each over.

Generally, both batsmen were agreeable against Herath, in spite of the fact that Shehzad had a couple near fiascoes. In the second over after lunch, Shehzad descended the track to an approaching wanderer from Herath and rapped on the cushions, yet replays demonstrated an inside edge, and expense Sri Lanka an audit. After he had passed 50, he ventured out again and made it once more into the wrinkle without a moment to spare to beat a toss from senseless point. Shehzad was likewise pinged on the protective cap by Dushmantha Chameera, ducking to a short ball that surfaced moderate off the surface. Against the spinners, be that as it may, he utilized his feet well, a strategy that Azhar additionally made great utilization of.

Azhar, who battled against Herath in the Galle Test, had a superior measure of the spinner in this innings, venturing down to piece the twist and that constrained the spinner to bowl compliment. Azhar proceeded in the stolid vein even after Pakistan lost Shehzad in the first over after tea, the opener playing a top-edge to the guardian off Prasad. Younis Khan's landing in the wrinkle broke the limit dry spell, keeping in mind the senior batsman gathered three fours in a 35-ball stay at the wrinkle, Azhar was substance to assemble the singles and twos, and move to 64 off 152 conveyances.

Sri Lanka as far as it matters for them had a go at rearranging the assault around, and the spinners attempted lines over and round the wicket without much buy. They will likewise need to watch Chameera. The young quick bowler left the field in the first session to keep an eye on a niggle and was utilized as a part of short spells on his arrival, before terrible light mediated.

Climate conditions had book-finished the day, after the begin was postponed by 30 minutes taking after overwhelming overnight rain and a brief spell in the minutes prompting begin time. It took Pakistan just 3.1 overs and 15 minutes to take the last Sri Lankan wicket, and Yasir Shah covered up the innings to complete with returns of 6 for 96.


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