Openers Abid Ali and Shan Masood put on a record stand for the first wicket as Pakistan took full control of the second Test against Sri Lanka on Saturday by reaching 395-2 at stumps.
Left-hand batsman Masood made 135 off 198 balls while Abid was dismissed for 174 as the two added 278 runs – the second-highest opening stand by Pakistan openers behind the 298-run partnership between Amir Sohail and Ijaz Ahmed against the West Indies in 1997.
After getting bowled out for 191 in the first innings, the hosts hit back with vengeance in the second as the pitch at the National Stadium eased out. Masood hit seven fours and three sixes during his innings while Abid dealt more in boundaries, hitting 21 boundaries and one six during his 281-ball innings.
Sri Lanka’s first innings bowling hero Lasith Embuldeniya failed in the second outing as he went for nearly four runs an over to end up with figures of 0-136. Pacer Lahiru Kumara was the most effective bowler, picking up both wickets to fall on the day.
Abid thus extended his sensational start to international cricket. In the Rawalpindi Test, he had become the first batsman in history to score a century in his Test and ODI debuts. By reaching three figures in the Karachi Test, the right-hand batsman became the first Pakistan player and the ninth overall to score centuries in his first two Tests.
Not only did Pakistan score runs without losing wickets, they made them at a fair clip of just under four runs an over. Captain Azhar Ali also got some valuable time out in the middle, remaining unbeaten on 57.
Pakistan now have an overall lead of 315 with two full days of cricket left in the second Test. With enough runs in the bank and their bowlers fresh following limited time on the field over the two matches, the hosts will be pushing for victory and valuable World Test Championship points.
