Left-arm spinner Nauman Ali was in devastating form as he decimated Sri Lanka’s batting line-up after Pakistan declared their first innings at 575-6, securing a commanding lead of 410 runs.
During the pre-Tea session, Nauman single-handedly took all six wickets, leaving Sri Lanka struggling at 143-6 on the scoreboard. His spin attack proved too much for the Sri Lankan batters, who kept falling at regular intervals.
In the earlier session, Pakistan’s innings saw an early breakthrough provided by Nauman Ali after they declared their first innings on the fourth day of the second Test in Colombo. Resuming at 563-5, Mohammad Rizwan (37*) and Agha Salman (132*) continued their partnership, with Rizwan reaching his half-century in quick fashion before the declaration was called by Babar Azam.
Rizwan’s half-century was his eighth in Test cricket, and he was substituting for Sarfaraz Ahmed, who had to leave the field on the third day after being struck on the helmet by a delivery. Agha Salman’s performance was outstanding, as he scored an unbeaten 132 runs off just 148 balls, including 15 fours and a six. Additionally, Abdullah Shafique achieved his maiden double-hundred, contributing significantly to Pakistan’s dominant position in the match.
Currently, Sri Lanka’s hopes rest on the experienced Angelo Mathews, who is standing not out at 38 runs, accompanied by Ramesh Mendis, who is yet to score. As the match progresses, the focus will be on Sri Lanka’s resistance and Pakistan’s determination to secure victory.
