Gul And Ajmal Lead The Way For Pakistan

Gul And Ajmal Lead The Way For Pakistan

Umar Gul (second right) took three wickets as Pakistan enjoyed the better of the opening day's play in Dubai

©REUTERS/Nikhil Monteiro (UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - Tags: SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Sri Lanka 239 (Sangakkara 78, Saeed Ajmal 3-45) v
Pakistan 42-0
Second Test, Dubai, day one
Scorecard

Pakistan ended the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Dubai much as they did in the first Test in Abu Dhabi - comfortably on top.

After Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first, they were dismissed for 239 before Pakistan's openers eased to 42 without loss in nine overs.

In another parallel with the series opener, Kumar Sangakkara was the only batsman to reach a half-century, scoring a fluent 78 before Saeed Ajmal and Umar Gul both returned three-wicket hauls.

Gul struck early to remove openers Tharanga Paranavitana (6) and Lahiru Thirimanne (1) - the former caught by Misbah-ul-Haq and the latter trapped in front and he followed that up when Mahela Jayawardene was caught by Misbah at slip for six.

Sri Lanka were then reeling at 45 for four when Tillakaratne Dilshan (7) edged Junaid Khan to Misbah, who took his third catch of the innings.

Angelo Mathews helped Sangakkara stabilise the innings by making 19 before he edged Junaid to wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal. Sangakkara, along with debutant wicket-keeper Kaushal Silva, then took the score past three figures but Silva's bright innings of 20 in 36 balls was ended when he was trapped in front by Abdur Rehman.

Rehman was in the side in place of Aizaz Cheema while Sri Lanka's other change was replacing Nuwan Pradeep with Dammika Prasad, who was the next man to fall when he was well caught by wicket-keeper Akmal off Ajmal.

Sangakkara fell next ball, uncharacteristically chipping Rehman to Asad Shafiq in the deep but some lower-order resistance then frustrated Pakistan as Sri Lanka fought back.

Rangana Herath battled away to make 29 before he played down the wrong line and edged Ajmal to Younus Khan at slip.

Chanaka Welagedara compiled a career best 48 but fell within sight of a maiden half-century when he danced down the pitch to Ajmal and was stumped to be the last man to fall.

Mohammad Hafeez (18 not out) and Taufeeq Umar (20 not out) then helped themselves to three fours apiece as they survived nine overs without alarm to end another day which Pakistan ended with the upper hand.

Despite largely dominating the opening Test in Abu Dhabi, they were held to a draw as Sangakkara scored a double-century in Sri Lanka's second innings.

© Cricket World 2011