Pakistan left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz carved through Sri Lanka’s top order
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Pakistan took five quick wickets after conceding a 220-run lead to leave Sri Lanka in a spot of bother at the end of the third day of the second Test in Dubai.
Starting off the day on 51/0, Pakistan only added 10 runs to their overnight score before opener Shan Masood was clean bowled by debutant Lahiru Gamage for 16.
Masood’s opening partner, Sami Aslam, was on his way back to the pavilion the very next over as he was given out lbw off the bowling of Dilruwan Perera for 39.
Asad Shafiq and Babar Azam failed to have an impact with the bat as they were dismissed by Suranga Lakmal and Rangana Herath for 12 and eight runs respectively.
Azhar Ali and Haris Sohail stabilised the innings for the hosts as they amassed a 71-run partnership, during which Azhar brought up his half-century.
Azhar Ali struck his 27th half-century in Test cricket
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
However, he was unable to make the most of it as he was trapped lbw off the bowling of Herath for 59, which came off 128 balls and included six boundaries.
Pakistan continued to lose wickets at regular intervals after Azhar’s dismissal, including that of Sohail, who scored 56 off 135 deliveries, which included four boundaries and two sixes.
Haris Sohail scored his second Test fifty
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Despite Azhar and Sohail’s efforts, Pakistan were bowled out for 262, which gave Sri Lanka a 220-run lead.
Dilruwan and Herath picked up three wickets apiece, while Gamage and Lakmal chipped in with two wickets each.
With a 220-run lead in hand, Sri Lanka crumbled in spectacular fashion in their second innings, starting with opener Kaushal Silva, who was caught behind off the bowling of Mohammad Abbas for three runs.
Dimuth Karunaratne, who made a career-best 196 in the first innings, was unable to replicate his performance as he was clean bowled by Wahab Riaz for seven runs.
Riaz then removed debutant Sadeera Samarawickrama for 13 before Yasir Shah took out Lakmal, who was sent in as the nightwatchman.
To make matters worse, Sri Lanka lost captain Dinesh Chandimal in the last over of the day as he was given out lbw off the bowling of Riaz for a duck.
Chandimal opted to review, but it didn’t save him as replays showed that the ball was pitching in line and going on to hit the stumps.
As soon as Chandimal was out, the umpires brought play to an end for the day, which left Kusal Mendis unbeaten on eight off 20 balls.
Riaz was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Abbas and Yasir claimed one wicket each.
Sri Lanka ended day three on 34/5 and will continue batting on Monday at 15:30 local time or 11:30 GMT.