RAWALPINDI: Test fast bowler Khurram Shahzad continued with his brilliant bowling for Pakistan Shaheens on Monday when he grabbed six wickets against Sri Lanka ‘A’ on the opening day of the second four-day match here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Khurram, who played main role in Shaheens’ victory in the first four-day match with nine for 102, exhibited another magnificent performance with figures of 10-2-30-6.

Despite Khurram’s fiery show that reduced Sri Lanka ‘A’ to 35 for five and later 150 for seven, a rearguard action led by Sonal Dinusha helped the visitors reach a respectable 293-8 at stumps after being put into bat.

No. 7 batter Dinusha came to his side’s rescue with a resilient knock 81 off 169 balls, laced with seven fours. Wanuja Sahan, batting at number nine, provided invaluable support with a 79-ball 63 including six fours and a six, as the duo stitched a crucial 98-run partnership for the eighth wicket.

Dinusha was also involved in three other useful stands.

He shared a 59-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Pavan Rathnayake (35), followed by a 56-run stand for the seventh wicket with Dinura Kalupahana (30).

An unbeaten ninth-wicket stand with No. 10 Isitha Wijesundara had so far yielded 45 runs, with Wijesundara blazing his way to 38 not out off just 26 balls, including four fours and three sixes.

Apart from Khurram, Ahmed Safi Abdullah was the only other bowler to make an impact with figures of 2-100.

Scores in brief:

SRI LANKA 293-8 in 75 overs (Sonal Dinusha 81 not out, Wanuja Sahan 63, Isitha Wijesundara 38 not out, Pavan Rathnayake 35, Ahan Wickramsinghe 30, Dinura Kalupahana 30; Khurram Shahzad 6-30, Ahmed Safi Abdullah 2-100) vs PAKISTAN SHAHEENS.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2024