KARACHI: Sri Lanka ‘A’ were left battling to avert heavy defeat after the touring Pakistan ‘A’ secured a massive 307-run advantage on the first innings in the series-deciding third and final unofficial Test in Dambulla on Friday.

At stumps on the penultimate day of the four-day fixture at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, the hosts limped to 119-3 in their second innings, while still trailing by 188 runs.

Resuming at their overnight total of 377-4, Pakistan ‘A’ eventually declared at 580-8. Opener Shan Masood fell 18 short of a maiden double century after being set to better his highest first-class score of 199.

Shan’s marathon knock of 182 came to an end after the 25-year-old Kuwait-born left-hander had added 37 to his Thursday’s tally of 145. He was caught by Dhananjaya de Silva off the bowling of Sri Lanka ‘A’ skipper Ashan Priyanjan. Shan, who on Thursday was involved in a splendid second-wicket partnership of 204 with Umar Amin (127), shared another productive stand with fellow left-hander Ali Asad. The two of them put on 124 in their fifth-wicket stand.

Shan’s struck 26 fours during his 357-ball stay at the crease.

Ali, the former Pakistan Under-19 player, was closing in on his 12th first-class century when he was dismissed by Nisala Tharaka, the pace-bowling all-rounder who had the 26-year-old held by Kithuruwan Vithanage for a fine 89.

Ali, whose enterprising 147-ball effort included 13 boundaries, tormented the home side further in the company of wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal as the pair added 60 in quick time.

After Ali left, Adnan and Shehzad Azam Rana (21 off 30 balls, three fours) put on 46 when paceman Lahiru Gamage claimed his fourth wicket of the innings by having Shehzad taken by Asela Gunaratne.

Adnan remained undefeated with 54 off 77 balls with five boundaries when Fawad Alam opted to close the innings at the fall of Zia-ul-Haq’s wicket.

Gamage ended with figures of four for 112 in 30 overs but his new ball partner Dushmantha Chameera struggled to take just one wicket – that of tailender Zia – for 88 runs in 23.3 overs. He was constantly troubled by wayward line and gave away seven wides.

Sri Lanka ‘A’ launched their second innings confidently as Udara Jayasundera and de Silva shared a decent opening partnership of 88. But the tourists hit back to take three wickets in the space of 62 deliveries for the addition of only 24 runs.

De Silva was trapped leg-before by fast bowler Tabish Khan for 37 (75 balls, six fours) before Shehzad struck twice from the other end with the scalps of Jayasundera and Madawa Warnapura.

Both were caught behind by Adnan. Jayasundera went after hitting seven boundaries in his 105-ball 56, while Warnapura was dismissed for just eight.

The first two Tests were drawn after weather intervened to disrupt play in both matches.

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA A’ (1st Innings) 273 (M.D.K.J. Perera 90, N. Tharaka 76, K.D.K. Vithanage 48; Fawad Alam 4-40, Shehzad Azam Rana 3-54, Tabish Khan 2-65).

PAKISTAN ‘A’ (1st Innings, overnight 377-4):

Khurram Manzoor c Priyanjan b Gamage13 Shan Masood c de Silva b Priyanjan182 Umar Amin c Priyanjan b Gamage127 Usman Salahuddin lbw b Jayasundera36 Fawad Alam lbw b Gamage12 Ali Asad c Vithanage b Tharaka89 Adnan Akmal not out54 Shehzad Azam Rana c Gunaratne b Gamage21 Zia-ul-Haq c sub b Chameera16

EXTRAS (B-2, LB-10, W-16, NB-2)30

TOTAL (for eight wkts decl, 149.3 overs)580

FALL OF WKTS: 1-20, 2-224, 3-292, 4-315, 5-439, 6-499, 7-545, 8-580.

DID NOT BAT: Tabish Khan, Mir Hamza.

Bowling: Gamage 30-7-112-4 (5w); Chameera 23.3-3-88-1 (1nb, 7w); Tharaka 20-2-70-1 (1w); Pushpakumara 35-4-118-0; de Silva 21-0-102-0 (1w); Priyanjan 18-1-69-1; Jayasundera 2-0-9-1.

Sri Lanka ‘A’ (2nd innings):

M.D.U.S. Jayasundera c Adnan b Shehzad56 D.M. de Silva lbw b Tabish37 M.S. Warnapura c Adnan b Shehzad8 K.D.K. Vithanage not out15 A.S.A. Priyanjan not out0

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-2)3

TOTAL (for three wkts, 40 overs)119

FALL OF WKTS: 1-88, 2-101, 3-112.

BOWLING (to-date): Tabish Khan 11-2-39-1; Zia-ul-Haq 9-1-36-0 (2w); Mir Hamza 8-1-19-0; Shehzad Azam Rana 8-1-12-2; Fawad Alam 4-1-12-0.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2015

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