RAWALPINDI – Sri Lanka ‘A’ were 180 runs ahead in their second innings after they had managed 157-4 in 45.2 overs by close of play on day three in the second four-dayer against Pakistan Shaheens at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
After Sri Lanka earned a 23-run first innings lead early in the day, they slipped to 46-4 in 15 overs as Ahmed Bashir snapped two wickets while Hussain Talat and Kashif Ali picked up one wicket each.
Pavan Rathnayake (64) and Sonal Dinusha (51) stitched an unbeaten 111-run partnership for the fifth wicket to help Sri Lanka ‘A’ recover from the early setbacks.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan Shaheens resumed their first innings from the overnight score of 212-5 in 71 overs and managed 287 all out in 98 overs. After Hussain Talat (25) and Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (15) fell early, Ahmed Safi Abdullah and Kashif Ali put on a crucial 53-run eighth-wicket stand to erase much of the deficit.
Ahmed Safi hit five fours in his 61-ball 39 before falling to Wanuja Sahan in the 96th over. Wanuja picked up his 12th first-class five-wicket haul as he returned figures of 5-74 in 27 overs.
Only 72.2 overs of play was possible on day three as bad light forced an early close of play.
