Much like the first day of this Test match, the second day was also dominated by the bowlers. Although, Ahmed Shehzad and Sarfraz Ahmed scored crucial fifties for Pakistan, the real star of the day was the Sri Lankan spinner, Rangana Herath, who picked up yet another 5 wicket haul, 20th of his career, leaving Pakistan at 244/6 at stumps. A crucial day of Test cricket looms ahead for the visitors as they will look to get themselves as close as possible to the Sri Lankan total. Failure to do so will greatly reduce chances of a favourable result for Pakistan.

By PakPassion.net Staff (15th August, 2014)

Overnight: Sri Lanka 261/8 (85.1 ov) (Dhammika Prasad 4*)


Morning Session

Sri Lanka started day 2 with 8 wickets down with Sri Lankan tailenders frustrating Pakistani bowlers for a few overs. Pakistan finally got the first wicket of day 2 in the 7th over of the day, when Junaid Khan bowled a full, angled delivery that struck Dhammika Prasad on the back pad and he was given out LBW. With the wicket of Dhammika Prasad, Junaid Khan completed his 5 wicket haul, his fifth in Test cricket - he has taken all his 5-fers in Tests against Sri Lanka.

Chanaka Welegedara got some crucial runs for Sri Lanka when he smashed Wahab Riaz for 3 consecutive fours, Sri Lanka were all-out on 320 when Abdur Rehman got the wicket of Rangana Herath who was playing for the turn, but the ball went straight on and took an outside edge through to Younis Khan at first slip. With that catch, Younis became the first Pakistan cricketer to take 100 Test catches.

Pakistani openers came out and batted positively, until Rangana Hertah struck on the stroke of lunch, removing Khurram Manzoor on 23 runs.

At Lunch Pakistan were 47 for 1, with Ahmed Shehzad on 21* and Azhar Ali on 0*


Afternoon Session

Pakistani batsmen continued to bat positively after the lunch break until Ahmed Shehzad looked to sweep from outside off and missed the ball, the umpire raised his finger after a huge appeal from the Sri Lankan fielders, However the decision was reversed after Ahmed Shehzad decided to go for a review as there was no conclusive evidence.

Ahmed Shehzad and Azhar Ali continued to bat solidly as they helped Pakistan recover from the early loss of Khurram Manzoor, Ahmed Shehzad brought up his fifty by playing down the ground to long-on, his second Test match fifty. Rangana Herath struck again when Azhar Ali played a horrible shot and threw away his wicket after he got a good start, Ahmed Shehzad also lost his wicket just before tea when he edged the ball down the leg side, Sri Lankan wicket-keeper Dickwella taking a magnificent catch.

At Tea Pakistan were 126 for 3, with Younis Khan on 10* and Misbah-ul-Haq on 0*


Evening Session

Younis Khan was dismissed soon after tea, as he was caught behind by Herath. Misbah soon followed as he too was caught behind and Herath was in the middle of a dream spell here with his 4th wicket while Pakistan still had a mountain to climb. Sarfraz and Asad looked to be playing with a positive frame of mind as they swept and cut Herath but Pakistan were only half way at this stage in terms of the deficit.

Asad and Sarfraz continued to bat sensibly as the partnership between the two crossed 50 runs.

Sarfraz Ahmed continued his good run of form, and helped Pakistan mount a comeback, when he completed his fifty. Rangana Herath produced a gem of a delivery to break the partnership between Sarfraz and Shafiq, When he picked up his 5th wicket of the day, removing Asad Shafiq on 42, Shafiq played for the turn to a ball that went with the arm.

At stumps Pakistan were 244 for 6, trailing by 76 runs, with Sarfraz Ahmed on 66* and Abdur Rehman on 1* at the crease.


Day Two: Fall Of Wickets

Morning Session

9-284 (Prasad, 92.5 overs)
10-320 (Herath, 99.3 overs)
1-47 (Khurram Manzoor, 8.4 overs)

Afternoon Session

2-110 (Azhar , 31.3 overs)
3-122 (Shehzad 34.4 overs)
4-131 (Younis 38.6 overs)
5-140 (Misbah-ul-Haq 42.1 overs)

Evening Session

6-233 (Asad Shafiq, 66.6 overs)


Summary Day 2

Much like the first day of this Test match, the second day was also dominated by the bowlers. Although, Ahmed Shehzad and Sarfraz Ahmed scored crucial fifties for Pakistan, the real star of the day was the Sri Lankan spinner, Rangana Herath, who picked up yet another 5 wicket haul, 20th of his career, leaving Pakistan at 244/6 at stumps. A crucial day of Test cricket looms ahead for the visitors as they will look to get themselves as close as possible to the Sri Lankan total. Failure to do so will greatly reduce chances of a favourable result for Pakistan.

Discuss!