Stumps report
In pictures: Pakistan v Sri Lanka second Test
Highlights from the second day of play between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Dubai.
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Sri Lanka are weighing up their bowling options. Read article
DUBAI // Talented Azhar Ali finally got a maiden Test century as Pakistan piled pressure on Sri Lanka on the second day of the second Test at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
A three-figure score had eluded the 26-year-old right-hander in the past 14 Tests but he finally reached the mark in the closing stages to guide Pakistan to a dominating 281 for four, gaining a lead of 42 over Sri Lankan first innings of 239.
Azhar, the only bright spot from last year's fixing-marred tour of England, put on a 94-run stand for the fourth wicket with captain Misbah-ul Haq (40 not out) and 117 for the third wicket with Younis Khan (55) to lift his team.
Azhar finally fell for 100 in the penultimate over of the day, leaving Misbah and nightwatchman Saeed Ajmal (5) at the crease.
Surviving two confident leg-before shouts against paceman Suranga Lakmal, Azhar straight drove the same bowler to reach 96 and then at 98 miscued a sweep off left-arm spinner Rangana Herath but got the much needed two runs.
Azhar, who reached his century in 309 minutes with nine boundaries, held his bat high in delight before kissing the ground in respect on getting the much-eluded hundred.
Azhar's two stands helped Pakistan overcome the early loss of openers Taufeeq Umar (27) and Mohammad Hafeez (33) to Sri Lankan paceman Dhammika Prasad who finished with two for 73.
Azhar also became the 49th Pakistani batsman to complete 1,000 Test runs when he reached 46.
Younis, when he reached 17, crossed Salim Malik's aggregate of 5,768 (103 Tests) to become the fourth highest Test run getters for Pakistan behind Javed Miandad (8,832 in 104 Tests), Inzamam-ul Haq (8,829 in 119) and Mohammad Yousuf (7,530 in 90).
Younis hit Dilshan over deep mid-wicket boundary for a six to complete his 26th fifty, but in the Sri Lankan captain's next over he played onto his stumps. His 55 also included two boundaries.
Pakistan started slowly after resuming at 42 without loss and benefited from two drop catches off successive deliveries from Lakmal, who bowled exceptionally well in the morning session.
It was the fifth over of the day when Lakmal got one to jump on Hafeez whose tentative push ballooned towards cover where Dilshan failed to catch the ball which fell behind him. Hafeez, on 25, went for a single.
Next ball, Mahela Jayawardene floored a regulation catch when Taufeeq, batting on 24, failed to keep an edge down.
But both openers failed to take advantage of the lapses, with Taufeeq edging Prasad to wicketkeeper Kaushal Silva for his first catch in Tests while Hafeez was adjudged leg-before in Prasad's next over.
The first Test ended in a draw at Abu Dhabi. The third and final Test of the series will be played in Sharjah from November 3-7.
Tea Report
Fast-rising Azhar Ali and veteran Younus Khan hit half-centuries in the middle session to put Pakistan on course for taking a big lead in the second Test against Sri Lanka.
The pair put on 117 for the third wicket to take Pakistan to 182 for three in their first innings by tea on the second day, needing just 57 runs to overhaul Sri Lanka's 239 with seven wickets intact.
Azhar was on 58 at the interval and Misbah-ul-Haq, the captain, unbeaten on one after Dhammika Prasad led Sri Lanka’s fightback by dismissing openers Taufiq Umar (27) and Mohammad Hafeez (33) in successive overs.
Azhar was the first to reach his half-century as he lifted Rangana Herath, the left-arm spinner, twice in as many overs to the extra-cover boundary before back paddling the same bowler for his sixth boundary overall to cross 50.
He now has 11 half-centuries in 15 Tests, without converting any of them into hundreds. Azhar also became the 49th Pakistani batsman to complete 1,000 Test runs when he reached 46.
Younus, when he reached 17, passed Salim Malik’s total of 5768 (103 Tests) to become the fourth highest Test run scorer for Pakistan behind Javed Miandad (8832 in 104 Tests), Inzamam-ul Haq (8829 in 119) and Mohammad Yousuf (7530 in 90).
Younis hit Tillakaratne Dilshan over deep midwicket boundary for a six to complete his fifty, but in the Sri Lankan captain’s next over he played onto his stumps. His 55 also included two boundaries.
Lunch report
Dhammika Prasad took two wickets off successive overs to lead the Sri Lankan fightback against Pakistan in the second Test at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The 28-year-old quick bowler removed openers Taufiq Umar (27) and Mohammad Hafeez (33) in the space of one run before Pakistan consolidated and went into lunch on 95 for two, still 144 runs behind Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 239 with eight wickets intact.
At the break Azhar Ali (17) and Younus Khan, the former captain, (13) were at the crease.
Pakistan started slowly after resuming at 42 without loss and benefited from two drop catches off successive deliveries from Suranga Lakmal, who was exceptional in the morning session.
It was the fifth over of the day when Lakmal got one to jump on Hafeez whose tentative push ballooned towards the covers where Tillakaratne Dilshan, the touring captain, failed to take the catch which fell behind him. Hafeez, on 25, went for a single.
On the next ball, Mahela Jayawardene dropped a regulation catch when Umar, on 24, edged.
But both openers failed to take advantage of the fielding lapses, when Umar edged Prasad to Kaushal Silva, the wicketkeeper, for his first dismissal in Tests while Hafeez was adjudged lbw in Prasad’s next over.
Umar, who made a career-best 236 in the drawn first Test in Abu Dhabi last week, hit three boundaries while Hafeez’s score had four to the ropes.
The third and final Test of the series will be played in Sharjah from November 3-7.
