Pakistan inches closer to victory

Pakistan reduced Sri Lanka to 69/4 at stumps in second innings of the first Test in Abu Dhabi. Sri Lanka now leads by 66 runs with six more wickets in hand.

Earlier, in the day Pakistan rode on debutant Haris Sohail’s half-century and an aggressive batting from tail-end batsman Hasan Ali to go past Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 419. 

For Sri Lanka, it was once again the veteran Rangana Herath who bagged a fivefor as Sri Lanka bowled out Pakistan for 422. Resuming from its overnight score of 266 for four, Sohail showed no signs of pressure in his maiden Test innings as he made a composed 76 that included seven boundaries and two sixes. Leg-spinner Yasir Shah then picked up two wickets for 25 runs in Sri Lanka’s second innings while Asad Shafiq and Haris Sohail picked up a wicket apiece to keep the visitor’s in check.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka (1st innings) 419 & 2nd innings 69/4 in 40 overs (K Mendis 16*, Yasir Shah 2/25) vs Pakistan (1st innings) 422 (S Masood 59, S Aslam 51, Azhar Ali 85, Haris Sohail 76, Asad Shafiq 39, Hasan Ali 29, R Herath 5/93, S Lakmal 2/42, N Pradeep 2/77, D Perera 1/92).