Sri Lanka dig in after Pakistan score 451

GALLE, Sri Lanka, (Reuters) – Sri Lanka recovered from losing opener Upul Tharanga to reach 99 for one in reply to Pakistan’s 451 at the close on the second day of the first test yesterday.

Kaushal Silva (38) and Kumar Sangakkara (36) added 75 after Tharanga fell lbw to Junaid Khan for 19.

Sri Lanka off-spinner Dilruwan Perera took the last five Pakistan wickets as the tourists were finally dismissed for 451 in their first innings, anchored by a magnificent 177 from Younus Khan.

The 36-year-old had dealt Perera some harsh treatment in the morning session but the spinner delivered some retribution by dismissing him in the fifth over after lunch.

Younus advanced down the pitch but could only lob an easy catch to Kithuruwan Vithanage at short mid-wicket.

Sarfraz Ahmed (55) was next to fall trying to attack Perera, the right hander’s smash through the leg side going straight to silly mid-on fielder Angelo Mathews.

That left the tourists on 388-7 with Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman taking Pakistan past 400 before Perera struck again to remove Ajmal for 12 after he flicked a ball to Mahela Jayawardene at leg slip.

Rehman became the fourth Pakistani to record a half century in the innings with an entertaining knock featuring six fours and a six before he fell for 50, attempting one shot too many as Kumar Sangakkara took a catch at long off.

Perera then ended the innings when Jayawardene held onto another smart catch as Junaid Khan attempted a sweep and the ball grazed his glove.

Scoreboard
Sri Lanka Stage:
Bottom 1st innings
Pakistan 1st innings
(Overnight: 261-4) K. Manzoor lbw
b Prasad                                              3
A. Shehzad b Prasad                            4
Az. Ali b Herath                                30
Y. Khan c Vithanage b D. Perera 177 Misbah-ul-Haq c Dickwella
b Herath                                            31
A. Shafiq lbw b Herath                      75
S. Ahmed c Mathews b D. Perera       55
A. Rehman c Sangakkara
b D. Perera                                        50
S. Ajmal c M. Jayawardene
b D. Perera                                        12
M. Talha not out                                  9
J. Khan c M. Jayawardene
b D. Perera                                          0
Extras: (lb-4 nb-1) 5
Total: (all out, 140.5 overs)             451
Fall of wickets: 1-4 A. Shehzad,2-19 K. Manzoor,3-56 Az. Ali,4-156 Misbah-ul-Haq,5-293 A. Shafiq,6-359 Y. Khan,7-388 S. Ahmed,8-424 S. Ajmal,9-451 A. Rehman,10-451 J. Khan
Bowling: S. Eranga 31 – 13 – 78 – 0 (nb-1) D. Prasad 24 – 3 – 81 – 2 A. Mathews 15 – 7 – 25 – 0 R. Herath 38 – 9 – 116 – 3
D. Perera 31.5 – 1 – 137 – 5 K. Vithanage 1 – 0 – 10 – 0

Sri Lanka 1st innings
U. Tharanga lbw
b J. Khan                                            19
K. Silva not out                                    38
K. Sangakkara not out                         36
Extras: (b-1 w-5) 6 Total (for 1 wickets, 34 overs) 99
Fall of wickets: 1-24 U. Tharanga
To bat: M. Jayawardene, A. Mathews, K. Vithanage, N. Dickwella, D. Perera, D. Prasad, R. Herath, S. Eranga Bowling J. Khan 10 – 3 – 38 – 1 M. Talha 7 – 3 – 26 – 0(w-1) S. Ajmal 12 – 4 – 19 – 0 A. Rehman 5 – 0 – 15 – 0
Referees Umpire: Ian Gould Umpire: Bruce Oxenford
TV umpire: Richard Illingworth Match referee: Andy Pycroft