Dhananjaya de Silva scored 109 runs as Sri Lanka set Pakistan to chase towering 508 runs
GALLE: Pakistan lost opener Abdullah Shafique earlier as they were forced to walk out at Tea with 71-1 on the scoreboard, needing 437 more runs to win.
In search of wickets, under control Sri Lanka got rid of Abdullah who went down the pitch for a big hit but misread the delivery to end up giving a catch. Dunith Wellalage took a well-judged catch off Prabath Jayasuriya to remove Abdullah who scored fighting 160 runs in the previous game to win the match for Pakistan.
Abdullah scored just 16 runs including three boundaries. Skipper Babar Azam joined Imam-ul-Haq at the crease and both the batters fought hard to pass the session.
Imam remained not out for 40 runs whereas Babar for 14 as both the batters will return to resume run-chase for the visitors.
Dhananjaya de Silva scored his ninth Test hundred as Sri Lanka set Pakistan to chase 508 runs to win second Test here on Wednesday.
Dhananjaya (109) stood firm after his well-set partnership with skipper Dimuth Karunaratne was broken before Lunch. The right-handed batter stood with tail enders to help Sri Lanka post 360-8(d) in second innings, taking a lead of 507 runs.
Dhananjaya misread the call on the other end and Yasir Shah threw on the target to smash stumps to remove the well-set batter. After Dhananjaya’s wicket, skipper Karunaratne declared their innings.
Karunaratne and Dhananjaya drove Sri Lanka to a commanding position at Lunch on fourth day.
The left-right-hand combination added 126 runs in morning session before Karunaratne was removed by Nauman Ali. Abdullah Shafique took a blinder at short leg as the skipper had to walk off after scoring 61.
Sri Lanka walked off at 297-7 on Lunch. Dhananjaya was leading the charge despite losing his well-set partner Karunaratne. The right-handed batter remained not out for 84 runs as Sri Lanka went for Lunch with a strong lead of 444 runs.
Dunith Wellalage got out after scoring 18 runs and it brought in number nine batter Ramesh Mendis. He remained not out for eight at lunch.
Nauman Ali and Mohammad Nawaz bagged a wicket each in the first session.
