Noman ripper breaks resolute opening stand for SL after Pakistan declare
LunchSri Lanka 166 and 81 for 1 (Karunaratne 36*, Okay Mendis 11*, Noman 1-9) path Pakistan 576 for five dec (Shafique 201, Salman 132*, Asitha 3-133) by 329 runs
Pakistan batted two additional overs on day three, seemingly to get Mohammad Rizwan to his half-century, then claimed the wicket of Nishan Madushka earlier than lunch. Sri Lanka resisted their march, primarily via captain Dimuth Karunaratne, who strode to 36 not out off 53.
But Pakistan are nonetheless marching in direction of a giant victory. They had established a mammoth first-innings lead of 410. And though the pitch has not began spitting for the spinners but, the occasional supply does leap off the floor, such because the one Noman Ali bowled to dismiss Madushka half hour earlier than the session ended.
Sri Lanka have 9 wickets in hand, and are nonetheless 329 runs behind. But they may hope that Karunaratne, particularly, can proceed as he did within the opening session. He was sturdy via the legside as traditional, and though considerably uncomfortable in opposition to Shaheen Afridi, was assured sufficient on the crease to choose up the scoring alternatives on provide. He was particularly good in opposition to the legspin of Abrar Ahmed, whose 5 overs value 22 runs – each Karunaratne and Madushka utilizing their toes effectively in opposition to him. Until the wicket-taking supply got here, Sri Lanka’s batters had appeared to have settled right into a rhythm.
Noman’s first ball, although, was a stunner. It first drifted to leg, dipped on Madushka, then having pitched on about center and leg, gripped the pitch to beat the batter’s outdoors edge and clip off stump. The batter was out for 33 off 72 balls.
Kusal Mendis tried to get on high of Noman early, coming down the observe to launch him twice for fours down the bottom in Noman’s second over. But no additional dangers had been taken with lunch so shut.
Earlier, Rizwan had resumed his innings on 37, and struck three boundaries and a single off one Prabath Jayasuriya over to finish his eighth Test fifty.