SL vs PAK | Day 2 Report | Ramesh Mendis stifles Pakistan as Sri Lanka take control

Sri Lankan spinners stifled Pakistan batters on Day 2 of the second Test at Galle. Ramesh Mendis was the catalyst in the visitors' downfall, and helped Sri Lanka strengthen their position in the match.

Agha Salman, playing his second Test, dug deep and kept his side in the hunt. Pakistan at stumps were 191 for 7 with Yasir Shah batting on 13.

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Runs and wickets session

The day started with Naseem Shah scalping his second wicket, getting the better of Dunith Wellalage for 11. Ramesh found himself in the thick of things early on.  

Dickwella completed his 21st half-century in Tests but soon fell to Naseem. He scored a 54-ball 51.

Prabath Jayasuriya added 8 runs before getting dismissed for a LBW off Yasir Shah. 

Ramesh held one end, which enabled Sri Lanka to cross the 350-run mark. Yasir picked up his third wicket in the form of Ramesh, who made a valuable 35.

Asitha Fernando remained unbeaten on 4, as the hosts folded on 378.

Fernando got the wicket of Abdullah Shafique in the first over, removing the match-winner from the first Test for a duck.

Skipper Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq took Pakistan to safety at 15 for 1 at lunch.

Spinners humble Pakistan batters

Jayasuriya broke through skipper Azam’s defense to knock him over in the post-lunch session. 

Mohammad Rizwan came in at number 4 with Pakistan in trouble. He and Imam added 30 runs before Dhananjaya de Silva bowled the latter for 32.

The loss of wickets did not stop Rizwan’s shot-making, as he continued scoring at a brisk pace, with Fawad Alam stonewalling everything.

Rizwan’s knock came to a screeching halt when Ramesh trapped the keeper-batter on the back foot on 24. Salman managed to survive the session as he (13*) and Alam (18*) headed into tea with Pakistan 111 for 4, still trailing by 267 runs. 

STAT ALERT: Alam completed 1,000 Test runs in 13 years and 13 days after making his debut in 2009.

Salman stands tall for Pakistan

Fawad (24) was unlucky to get out to a delivery that kept low, handing Ramesh his second wicket.

Ramesh ended a small partnership between Salman and Mohammad Nawaz that lasted 62 deliveries.

In an attempt to play the cut shot, Nawaz handed a simple catch to the keeper, perishing for 12.

Salman stood his ground and registered his maiden Test fifty in 93 balls.

Yasir supported Salman as the duo ensured Pakistan avoided a follow-on as Sri Lanka’s lead dropped below 200.

The pair snitched a 46-run partnership before Jayasuriya got the wicket of Salman just minutes before stumps.

He scored 62 from 126 deliveries as Pakistan headed into stumps at 191 for 7, still trailing by 187 runs.

Brief Scores

Sri Lanka 378 all out (in 103 overs) 

Oshada Fernando 50, Dinesh Chandimal 80; 

Naseem Shah 3/58 

Pakistan 191 for 7 (in 69.4 overs)

Imam-ul-Haq 32, Agha Salman 62; 

Ramesh Mendis 3/42

Sri Lanka led by 187 runs

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