Pakistan take lead earlier than rain ends second day’s play after ten overs
Stumps Pakistan 178 for two (Shafique 87*, Masood 51, Babar 28*, Asitha 2-51) lead Sri Lanka 166 by 12 runs
Only ten overs have been potential on the second day of the second Test in Colombo earlier than enormous downpours rolled via the SSC and washed out the day’s play.
In that point, Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam added 33 runs to the in a single day rating with none main challenges to their wickets. This meant Pakistan moved 12 runs into the lead, with eight wickets nonetheless in hand.
By mid-morning, the bottom was completely lined – vital rain had fallen on the boundary areas particularly – as the bottom employees rushed to get the covers in place. And then showers rolled via the venue nicely into the afternoon.
Given the quantity of rain to have fallen on the bottom earlier than the covers got here on, and the time it will take to even take away the covers – there have been swimming pools of water on them – the choice was made to name off play at round 3.15pm.
Before the rain, although, Pakistan pressed their benefit, and each Shafique and Babar gave the impression to be taking part in themselves into rhythm.
Babar specifically was tentative early on in opposition to Prabath Jayasuriya, who bowled 17 dot deliveries to begin his day. But finally, Babar started to take dangers in opposition to the left-arm spinner. In Jayasuriya’s fourth over of the day, Babar flitted down the observe to slam him excessive over the extra-cover boundary.
At the opposite finish, the runs got here extra freely off the seamers. Shafique had hit the primary boundary of the day with a managed hook in opposition to Dilshan Madushanka, and later, Babar struck Asitha Fernando for 2 off-side boundaries in an over, although one in every of them could have been unintentional.
That six off Jayasuriya is the stroke that introduced Pakistan degree with Sri Lanka’s rating. The rains arrived quickly after.