SL vs PAK | Day 3 Report | Dinesh Chandimal's defiance hands hosts a 333-run lead

Day three of the first Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan saw the pendulum swing both ways, with the hosts gaining a 333-run lead by the end of the day.

Dinesh Chandimal once again stonewalled Pakistani bowlers during his 121-ball stay at the crease. For the visiting side, it was Mohammad Nawaz who dented the flow of runs, claiming his first-ever five-wicket haul in red-ball cricket.

First Session

Sri Lanka started the morning session on the wrong foot, losing the wicket of nightwatchman Kasun Rajitha. It was Nawaz, who nabbed Rajitha on 7, who lasted just 12 deliveries.

Oshada Fernando was joined by Kusal Mendis and together thwarted the Pakistani spinners to perfection.

After playing out a tricky first hour, the pair started to score fluently. Fernando, in particular, came down heavily against Yasir Shah, picking him up for runs while using precise footwork along the way.

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Mendis seeing his partner score runs, provided solidarity at one end, with both adding 91 runs. Fernando registered his sixth Test half-century in 78 balls.

Second session

The post-lunch started well for Pakistan as Shah got the better of Fernando on 64, having him caught at first slip by Babar Azam.

Angelo Mathews could not add significantly to the score, falling for 9 to Nawaz. Shah had the last laugh against Mendis, wrapping up his innings for a well-compiled 76.

Dhananjaya de Silva survived a close leg-before call, but Pakistan did not opt for DRS.

He along with Chandimal extended Sri Lanka’s lead over 200 and added 40 runs in no time. The wily Shah cleaned up de Silva, who scored a run-a-ball 20, his dismissal paid a fitting tribute to his idol, Shane Warne.

Niroshan Dickwella became Nawaz’s fourth scalp, slicing the ball onto his stumps for 12.

Chandimal started from where he left off in the first innings, scoring at a brisk pace with tea approaching.

Third session

The final session of play saw Ramesh Mendis fall for 22 after adding valuable 32 runs along with Chandimal. Nawaz with this wicket picked his first fifer in Test cricket.

Soon, Chandimal registered his 23rd half-century in 71 balls, also his second of the match. He, with Maheesh Theekshana, ensured the Lankan Lions got past 300.

The duo added 41 runs before Hasan Ali induced an edge off Theekshana’s bat, who made 11 from 57 deliveries.

Chandimal (86*) and Prabath Jayasuriya (4*) continued to deny inroads, adding up 21 runs for the final wicket before bad light stopped play. 

The umpires opted for early stumps with Sri Lanka on 329 for nine, with a lead of 333 runs.

It has to be noted that two of the three highest run-chases by Pakistan in Tests have come against Sri Lanka ( 305 at Sharjah, 382 at Pallekele).

Stat Alert: The highest chase at Galle is 268

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka 222 all-out in 66.1 overs (Dinesh Chandimal 76, Maheesh Theekshana 38; Shaheen Afridi 4/58) & 329/9 in 96 overs (Kusal Mendis 76, Dinesh Chandimal 86*; Mohammad Nawaz 5/88)

Pakistan 218 all-out in 90.5 overs

(Babar Azam 119, Mohammad Rizwan 19; Prabath Jayasuriya 5/82) 

Sri Lanka lead by 333 runs

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