Pakistan Extended Their Lead To 134 In The Second Cricket Test

DUBAI: Pakistan extended their lead to 134 in the second cricket Test against Sri Lanka, despite a double strike by paceman Chanaka Welegedara on the third day at Dubai Stadium here on Friday.

The left-arm paceman gave Sri Lanka th early edge by dismissing Misbah-ul Haq (41) in the second over of the day and nightwatchman Saeed Ajmal (20) after Pakistan resumed at 281-4.

Asad Shafiq, 50 at the break, and Adnan Akmal with an unbeaten 22 took Pakistan to 373-6 in their first innings by lunch, and with four wickets in hand they looked set for another 200-plus lead.

Pakistan, who dismissed Sri Lanka for another low score of 239 on day one, had looked to their captain Misbah to steer them to big lead, but the experienced batsman fell caught behind, chasing a wide delivery from Welegedara.

Misbah hit two boundaries and a six.

Ajmal frustrated Sri Lankan bowlers, adding an invaluable 41 for the sixth wicket before Welegedara produced a sharp outgoing delivery and the ensuing edge was well taken by Angelo Mathews in the slip.

Shafiq, initially cautious, then opened up by hoisting left-arm spinner Rangana Herath over long-on for a six and ath other end Akmal drove Welegedara twice to cover boundaries.

In the same Welegedara over Shafiq hit another boundary to get Pakistan lead past 100-mark and then with a couple in Herath’s over reached his third Test half-century. He has so far hit four boundaries and a six.

The first Test of the three-match series in Abu Dhabi ended in a draw. The third and final Test will be played in Sharjah from 3-7 November.

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