Shafique, Gunasekara share the spoils on day one

Friday, 5 November 2021 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Abdullah Shafique stands on his toes as he plays a stroke during his unbeaten innings of 89

Chamika Gunasekara celebrates a wicket on the opening day of the second unofficial test between Sri Lanka ‘A’ and Pakistan ‘A’ at Pallekele yesterday

Second four-day unofficial cricket ‘Test’ at Pallekele

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Abdullah Shafique and Chamika Gunasekara, both 21, shared the spoils on a rain-affected opening day of the second four-day unofficial cricket ‘Test’ between Sri Lanka ‘A’ and Pakistan ‘A’ at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Shafique, a right-hand opener from Sialkot with a first-class century under his belt, held the Pakistan ‘A’ first innings together with an unbeaten half-century as Gunasekara threatened to run through their batting. By stumps, Pakistan ‘A’ had scored 180/4 with Shafique unbeaten on 89*, and Gunasekara having captured 3/42.

Just before the first interruption for rain, Sri Lanka ‘A’ dismissed a threatening Khamran Ghulam for a well-made 45 off 59 balls (nine fours) with Gunasekara affecting the dismissal off the first ball of a new spell to take his second wicket of the innings. At that stage Pakistan ‘A’ were 117/3.

Ghulam had put together a stand of 78 for the third wicket with Shafique after Pakistan ‘A’, winning the toss and batting first, had lost two early wickets for 39 runs that of skipper Saud Shakeel for nine, trapped LBW by Gunasekara, and Omair Yousuf for five caught behind by wicket-keeper Nishan Madushka off Himesh Ramanayake. It was Shakeel (118) and Yousuf (93) who had made the bulk of the runs for Pakistan ‘A’ in the drawn first ‘Test’.

On resumption after the rain, Sri Lanka ‘A’ captured a further wicket when Gunasekara, the 21-year-old right-arm medium fast bowler from NCC, had Usman Salahuddin caught by Mohamed Shiraz for nine to have Pakistan ‘A’ 4/137.

However, Shafique, who batted staunchly for 156 balls, hitting 14 fours and one six ,and Agha Salman (14*) took the score to 180 without any further loss before another shower of rain ended play for the day.

The match continues today at 9:45 am.

Scores:

Pakistan ‘A’ 180-4 (50.1) at close (Abdullah Shafique 89*, Kamran Ghulam 45, Chamika Gunasekara 3/42) v Sri Lanka ‘A’

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