​SL vs PAK | 2nd Test Day 3 Report | Sri Lanka extends lead past 300 after bundling Pakistan for 231

Day 3 of the second Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan saw the pendulum swing both ways. The visitors were skittled out for 231, handing the hosts a 147-run lead.

Sri Lankan batters could not cash in on their starts as Pakistan crawled their way back into the game until Dhananjaya de Silva and Dimuth Karunaratne put the breaks on for the home side.

Karunaratne forced to bat down the order due to back injury

Ramesh Mendis picks fifer

Pakistan's session started with Yasir Shah and Hasan Ali stitching a 32-run stand in the first hour of play.

Prabath Jayasuriya knocked over Hasan for 21, which opened the floodgates for Sri Lankan bowlers.

Ramesh Mendis latched on to the opportunity of a fifer, getting the wickets of Nauman Ali (1) and Yasir Shah (26) to hand his side a sizeable 147-run lead, with Pakistan bundled out for 231.

Pakistan hit back

Dickwella's stay lasted just 25 balls as Naseem Shah had him nick the ball to the keeper. 

Kusal Mendis did not contribute much to the scoreboard, handing his wicket to Mohammad Nawaz for a 30-ball 15.

Once again, the duo of Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal found themselves in a ditch with their side in trouble.

Mathews, in particular, upped the ante and took the lead past 200.

The former captain looked in great touch before he edged a catch to Babar Azam in the slip. He became Agha Salman's maiden Test wicket.

Karunaratne joined Chandimal in the middle, with Sri Lanka's lead touching 250 at tea.

Sri Lankan batters take control

Naseem claimed his second wicket, dismissing the man in form Chandimal, an over into the final session. 

While Karunaratne was dealing in singles, de Silva found it much better to score boundaries.

The pair added 59 runs in 90 balls, helping Sri Lanka's lead stretch past 300.

Bad light stopped play with an hour remaining, but with conditions not improving, umpires took early stumps with Sri Lanka on 176 for 5, with a lead of 323.

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka 1st inns: 378 (103)

Dinesh Chandimal 80, Niroshan Dickwella 51; 

Naseem Shah 3/58 

Pakistan 1st inns: 231 (88.1)

Agha Salman 62, Imam-ul-Haq 32; 

Ramesh Mendis 5/47

Sri Lanka 2nd inns: 176/5 (50) 

Angelo Mathews 35, Dhananjaya de Silva 30*; 

Naseem Shah 2/29

Sri Lanka lead by 323 runs

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