SL vs PAK | Sri Lanka in the driving seat as Pakistan look to chase record 508

With a chance to level the series, Sri Lanka set a world-record 508-run chase for Pakistan. Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne and Dhananjaya de Silva ransacked the visitor’s bowling attack, which enabled the hosts to declare their second innings on 360 for 8.

Chasing 508, Pakistan were 89 for 1 with captain Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq at the crease before bad light interrupted play as umpires called for early stumps. 

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Dimuth Karunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva boss around

Overnight batters Karunartane and de Silva came out with a positive approach.

The pair efficiently managed to play out the Pakistani fast bowlers, who could not find much support from the wicket.

Amidst all this, Karunaratne went past 6,000 Test runs, becoming the sixth Lankan batter to achieve this milestone.

The skipper notched up his 31st Test fifty that came under testing conditions. De Silva followed his skipper and slammed his 11th Test half-century in 102 balls.

Yasir Shah provided his side with a much-needed breakthrough, getting Karunartane caught at short-leg for 61, thus ending the 126-run sixth-wicket partnership.

De Silva continued his merry ways, playing aggressive cricket despite losing partners, taking Sri Lanka’s lead over 400 at lunch on Day 4.

Sri Lanka set 508 runs on the board for Pakistan

The Sri Lankan vice-captain brought up his ninth Test century in 159 balls as Sri Lanka continued to pile on runs in the post-lunch session.

De Silva, in alliance with Ramesh Mendis (45*) added 82 runs before the former unfortunately ran himself out on 109.

Sri Lanka declared their innings at 360 for 8, asking Pakistan to chase down 508 runs.

Pakistan openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq provided the team with a solid start, adding 42 runs.

Prabath Jayasuriya broke their stand, getting Shafique caught at mid-off for 16.

Babar Azam joined Imam in the middle as scoring became quite fluent. They denied the Sri Lankan spinners any more inroads, taking Pakistan to tea at 71 for 1, adding 29 runs together.

Only six overs into the final session on Day 4, the play was halted after Azam (26*) and Imam (46*) complained of bad light to the on-field umpires with 26-odd overs remaining in the day.

With no sight of improvement, early stumps were taken.

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: 360/8d (91.5) 

Dhananjaya de Silva 109, Dimuth Karunaratne 61

Naseem Shah 2/44

Pakistan 2nd inns: 89/1 (28)

Imam-ul-Haq 46*, Babar Azam 26*;

Prabath Jayasuriya 1/46

Sri Lanka lead by 419 runs

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