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Sri Lanka in firm control in a bad Test for DRS

by Krish Sripada Friday 26 June 2015

Yasir Shah celebrating the wicket of Tharindu Kaushal during the second day of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

©REUTERS / Action Images

Sri Lanka 304-9 (Silva 80) v
Pakistan 138 (Mohammad Hafeez 42)
Second Test, Colombo, day two
Scorecard

Yasir Shah took a five-wicket haul to become the fastest Pakistan bowler to 50 Test wickets, but couldn’t stop Sri Lanka from taking a 166-run lead with one wicket remaining, at stumps on day two of the second Test in Colombo.

Sri Lanka resumed the day on 73 for one. Pakistan’s review the previous day was reinstated after it was clarified that their DRS review against Kaushal Silva (80) was indeed not wrong.

They would have felt hard done by, given Silva’s crucial innings. Pakistan had more bad news in the form of Wahab Riaz’s (0-19) absence who was found to have a fracture after being hit on the fingers while batting.

The first breakthrough of the day came after an hour when Kumar Sangakkara (34) threw away his wicket, timing a lofted shot sweetly, but straight to long on.

Silva took Sri Lanka to 103 for two in the 48th over with a smash over the bowler’s head for four.

Azhar Ali dropped Lahiru Thirimanne (7) on five at short leg but the latter didn’t last long, inside edging one again to Ali off Shah (5-95) who became the fastest Pakistan bowler to 50 Test wickets in his ninth game.

Sri Lanka took the lead in the 60th over with Silva hitting a four, as they reached 147 for three going into lunch.

Pakistan were one bowler short and Shah was attacked early in the post-lunch session, hit for a four by either batsman in the 66th over.

Shah dropped a tough chance from Angelo Mathews (77) on 32 at mid-on. On the other end, Silva was eventually run-out trying an impossible run to be sent back and found way out of the crease.

Dinesh Chandimal (1) was gone the next over yorked by Shah. The leg-spinner also castled the stumps of Kithuruwan Vithanage (3) to reduce Sri Lanka to 202 for six after 81 overs.

The new ball was taken after 85 overs and Mathews brought up his half century off Zulfiqar Babar (1-82). Sri Lanka went into tea at 231 for six with the lead on 92.

Mathews added a gritty 73 runs with Dhammika Prasad (35) but both batsmen fell within a span of five deliveries. First, Prasad was trapped lbw by Mohammad Hafeez (1-19) and the next over, Shah trapped Mathews lbw for his 50th Test wicket.

After a 28-run stand, the ninth wicket partnership was broken as Shah registered a second consecutive five-for getting Tharindu Kaushal (18) to mistime a slog to mid-off.

Rain brought the day’s play to a close with Sri Lanka on 304 for nine after 118.2 overs leading by 166 runs.

Pakistan have a lot of work to do in their second innings, although they must thank their leg-spinner Shah for bowling 33 overs for his five wicket haul.

Pakistan were unfortunate with couple of controversial DRS decisions not going their way and lost their premier fast bowler Riaz, who will not be available for the rest of the Test series.

© Cricket World 2015