Pakistan Continue To Plunder Sri Lanka's Attack

Pakistan Continue To Plunder Sri Lanka's Attack

Azhar Ali equalled his Test best of 157 on the second day at the SSC.

©REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte. Picture Supplied by Action Images

Pakistan 488-4 (Hafeez 196, Ali 158) v
Sri Lanka
Second Test, SSC, day two
Scorecard | Day One

The rain and Pakistan’s batsmen meant that the second Test between them and Sri Lanka in Colombo still looks destined to be a draw at the close of the second day.

Only 44.2 overs were possible as two rain delays - the second of which ended play for the day at 3.20pm local time - meant more than half the day was lost to the weather.

Pakistan began tentatively in the morning session as Azhar Ali, resuming on 92, spent 45 balls in the nineties - including facing eight dots each while on 98 and 99 - before bringing up his third Test century.

Hafeez fell four short of what would have been his maiden Test double hundred as Rangana Herath claimed what would be the first of his two wickets for the day. The pair had put on 287 for the second wicket - the highest partnership for any wicket against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka - and had batted through more than 82 overs together.

Younus Khan joined Ali at the crease and had progressed to 14 when the first of the rain delays forced lunch to be taken 12 minutes early. After the break, Ali upped the tempo and scored 54 off the final 75 balls that he faced before handing Suraj Randiv his maiden scalp shortly before the close. He made 158 from 295 balls - bettering the 442-ball innings of 157 that he made against England earlier this year - as he added 70 with Younus Khan, who had earlier fallen to Herath for 32 to a dubious leg-before decision, for the third wicket.

Pakistan closed the day on 448 for four and must surely be considering an overnight declaration if they are to get anything other than a draw out of this game.

© Cricket World 2012