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SL vs PAK | Day 4 Report | Abdullah Shafique 112* helps Pakistan stay in hunt chasing 342 to win

Day 4 of the first Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan saw the visitors take control of the match, chasing 342 to win.

Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam held the fort for Pakistan, stitching up a 101-run stand for the third wicket to deny the Lankans much success.

The day ended with Pakistan on 222 for 3, needing 120 runs to win on the final day of the Galle Test, with Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan batting on 112* and 7*, respectively.

Dominant Pakistan


Sri Lanka added eight runs to their overnight score before Naseem Shah cleaned up Prabath Jayasuriya for 4.


Dinesh Chandimal remained unbeaten on 94 as the Lankan Lions folded for 337, asking Pakistan to chase down 342 to win.


Unlike the first innings, Imam-ul-Haq and Shafique dealt well with Jayasuriya. The pair displayed grit and application, adding 50 runs in 100 deliveries, while surviving close calls.


Shafique neared his fifty with Pakistan heading into lunch at 60 for 0, 276 runs away from a record win.

ALSO READ:  Abdullah Shafique achieves unique feat


An enthralling second session of play


Shafique registered his fifth Test half-century in 94 balls in the fourth over post-lunch.


Imam, who had his earlier dismissal overturned, wasn't lucky the second time, having been stumped against Ramesh Mendis for 35, thus ending an 87-run first-wicket partnership.


Azhar Ali fell after adding just six runs to the chase. Prabath Jayasuriya claimed his first wicket in the form of Azhar.


Centurion from the last innings, Azam came out with an aggressive approach, scoring quite briskly.


Azam, in partnership with Shafique, guided Pakistan into tea without much hassle.


The Azam-Shafique show


They soon notched up their 50-run stand in 106 balls, with Azam contributing the most.


STAT ALERT: Azam also completed 3,000 Test runs in his 41st Test.



The Pakistan skipper went on to achieve his 22nd half-century, with Shafique nearing his century.


The 22-year-old recorded his second Test hundred in 238 deliveries, which included five fours and one six.


Sadly for Sri Lanka, the track turned slow and low, making it easier for the batters to play their prodigious spinners.


Jayasuriya finally managed to rattle Azam's stumps, ending his defiance on 55, thus ending the 101-run partnership with Shafique.


Mohammad Rizwan came out in the middle with six overs remaining.


They added 17 runs before stumps on Day 4, with Pakistan 120 runs away from a record chase.


Brief Scores:

 

Sri Lanka 222 all-out in 66.1 overs (Dinesh Chandimal 76, Maheesh Theekshana 38; Shaheen Afridi 4/58) & 337 all out in 100 overs (Kusal Mendis 76, Dinesh Chandimal 94*; Mohammad Nawaz 5/88)


 Pakistan 218 all-out in 90.5 overs

(Babar Azam 119, Mohammad Rizwan 19; Prabath Jayasuriya 5/82) &  222/3 in 85 overs  ( Abdullah Shafique 111*, Babar Azam 55 ; Prabath Jayasuriya 2/89  )


Sri Lanka lead by 120 runs


READ: ‘If I had about 20 minutes with him,’ Gavaskar positive about helping Kohli


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