At the end of their innings in Galle, Pakistan were 48-3, needing a further 83 runs to take the lead in the two-game series.
On day four of the rain-affected opening Test, Pakistan lost three wickets chasing 131 runs after spinners Noman Ali and Abrar Ahmed had bowled Sri Lanka out for 279. At stumps in Galle, the visitors’ score was 48-3; they needed another 83 runs to take the series lead. Both Babar Azam (captain) and Imam-ul-Haq (25 runs) were at the crease. Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya took two wickets, catching Abdullah Shafique (eight runs) and Shan Masood (seven runs) in the same over.
The night watchman, Noman, was sent in for nothing.
Dhananjaya de Silva hit 82 runs as the highest scorer for Sri Lanka in their first innings before the Pakistani bowlers took care of business in the evening.
Along with Agha Salman’s two wickets, left-arm spinner Noman and fellow spinner Abrar, each got three.
Shaheen Shah Afridi, the leader of the pace, caught two more to finish off the last of the stragglers.
De Silva, who scored 122 in Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 312, played a crucial role in putting together partnerships, such as a seventh-wicket stand of 76 runs with Ramesh Mendis, who scored 42.
After Pakistan collected the second new ball, the left-arm quick Shaheen had de Silva caught behind off a rising delivery.
Before Abrar could end the inning, Shaheen had scored again.
Dinesh Chandimal’s dismissal for 28 by Salman ended a 60-run stand between him and de Silva, and then Samarawickrama’s dismissal for 11 placed Sri Lanka in a bind, but de Silva held firm.
Before the rest of Sri Lanka could get going, Abrar struck first with his leg spin, sending back the team’s captain, Dimuth Karunaratne, for 20.
The Pakistani batting performance thus far has been led by Saud Shakeel, who scored 208 runs unbeaten in the first innings to help his team reach 461 runs before being bowled out on day three.
As play was halted for three days due to weather, Shakeel’s marathon knock gave Pakistan a comfortable lead of 149.
The fourth day, which got underway behind schedule because of a soggy spot on the pitch, was dry.
