Pakistan ‘A’ take the upper hand on rain-hit second day

Vishwa Fernando who top scored for Sri Lanka ‘A’ with a compact 30 not out square drives

Pakistan ‘A’ captain Saud Shakeel hits the ball off his legs

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

On another rain-hit day where only 47 overs were possible, Pakistan ‘A’ having dismissed Sri Lanka ‘A’ for 141, batted themselves into a strong position to be 70 for one by the close of the second day of the first four-day unofficial test played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

At the wickets were Pakistan ‘A’ skipper Saud Shakeel on 35 and Omair Yousuf on 26 having put together an unfinished second wicket stand of 45 after left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya had made the initial breakthrough by having Abdullah Shafique caught by Sri Lanka ‘A’ captain Sadeera Samarawickrama for 9 in the eighth over of the innings.

Sri Lanka ‘A’s last four wickets put up some resistance adding a further 80 runs to the overnight score of 61-6 to be eventually all out for 141 with speedster Naseem Shah being the wrecker in chief finishing with figures of 5 for 53 off 15 overs.

Having taken three of the six wickets to fall on the first day, Naseem added two more to his tally yesterday by dismissing Suminda Lakshan for 17 and wrapping up the innings by having Asitha Fernando caught without scoring.

Sri Lanka Test players Lasith Embuldeniya and Vishwa Fernando resisted the Pakistan pace attack for 14 overs adding a valuable 31 for the ninth wicket before Embuldeniya was trapped lbw by Irfanullah Shah for 22. Fernando who defied for 48 balls remained undefeated on 30 which included 3 fours and 2 sixes – the top score of the innings.

Scores:

Sri Lanka ‘A’ 141 (46) (o/n 61/6) (Kamil Mishara 20, Lahiru Udara 23, Lasith Embuldeniya 22, Vishwa Fernando 30*, Naseem Shah 5/53, Irfanullah Shah 2/40, Khurram Shahzad 3/25)

Pakistan ‘A’ 70-1 (23) at close (Saud Shakeel 35*, Omair Yousuf 26*)