Pakistan finished the fourth day of the first Test at 48/3, chasing a target of 131, in the two-match series against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
Pakistan need another 83 runs to win the game and have seven wickets in hand.
Prabath Jayasuriya dismissed Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood early and then Noman Ali was run out to reduce Pakistan to 38/3. But captain Babar Azam (6) and Imam-ul-Haq (25) took Pakistan to safety without further trouble.
Imam faced 45 balls and hit four fours.
Sri Lanka operated with a pace-spin combination at the start of Pakistan’s chase, and Vishwa Fernando even managed to rap Imam on the pads, only for the hosts to lose a review as the impact was outside off. Ramesh Mendis was generating good turn off and troubled both the openers.
Earlier, spinners Abrar Ahmed and Ali claimed three wickets apiece while all-rounder Agha Salman and quick Shaheen Shah Afridi shared four wickets between them to bowl out Sri Lanka for 279 in their second innings.
Sri Lanka, who had conceded a first innings lead of 149 runs, resumed their second innings with the overnight score of 14 and lost three wickets.
Nishan Madushka went on to post a half-century but was dismissed soon after lunch. Dhananjaya de Silva hit two straight sixes off Ali to help Sri Lanka take the lead but there was little support from rest of the batters.
Sri Lanka’s batting had also collapsed in the first innings, where they lost four wickets for 54 runs before De Silva rescued them with his 10th century.
De Silva found an able partner in off-spinner Ramesh Mendis as they added 76 runs for the seventh wicket. Abrar broke the stand when he had Mendis ruled out leg before wicket.
Soon, Pakistan took the new ball and Afridi claimed two wickets in successive overs, including De Silva, to ensure Sri Lanka didn’t stage a late recovery.
De Silva was the top scorer with 82 runs off 118 deliveries with 10 fours and two sixes.
Since January 2022, Pakistan have played 11 Test matches and have won only one. That victory came in Galle.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 312 & 279 (Dhananjaya de Silva 82, Nishan Madushka 52; Abrar Ahmed 3/68, Noman Ali 3/75). Pakistan 461 & 48/3 (Imam-ul-Haq 25 batting; Prabath Jayasuriya 2/17).
Written with inputs from AP/PTI
Asia Cup
Calcutta: The Asia Cup, which begins on August 30, could witness three India-Pakistan clashes.
India open their campaign against Pakistan on September 2 in Kandy. The Super 4 clash is set for September 10. Their third encounter could be in the final.
In the Super 4s, Pakistan will be A1 and India A2. If either of the teams fail to make it, Nepal will fill in that slot.
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