Sri Lanka struggles as Pakistan scent victory in final test

Sri Lanka need 274 runs to win against Pakistan in the last day of second test in National Stadium Karachi.

According to the details, The islanders will start their innings at  217 for 7, however, Karunaratne XI will need to score more 274 runs in 92.5 overs to snatch victory from Pakistan.

Pakistan on the other hand, scents the victory aiming to get three more wickets.

Sri Lanka Pakistan 4th Day Stats

Earlier, Pakistan has declared their second innings at 555 runs for the loss of three wickets.

Pakistan set a record in its Test history that four of its top-order batsmen  struck back-to-back centuries.

Skipper Azhar Ali struck a hundred, and was at 118 runs from 157 balls with 13 boundaries until Sri Lankan wicket keeper Niroshan Dickwella made a successful stump-out off spinner Lasith Embuldeniya.

Meanwhile, Babar Azam also scored a century, and was not out at lunch. Azam struck 7 fours and a six to achieve 100 runs from 131 balls.

Earlier, when Pakistan resumed at 395-2 Azhar smashed three boundaries and then took two runs to complete his first century in 12 months.

Azhar added 148 for the third wicket with Azam as Sri Lankan bowlers toiled on a National stadium pitch which has eased out for batting.

These batsmen took Pakistan towards a comprehensive lead of 475 runs against Sri Lanka on Sunday.

Yesterday, Pakistan openers Abid Ali and Shan Masood smashed hundreds and forged a 278-run stand to flatten Sri Lanka.

 Day 3 stats

Pakistan finished day three on 395-2, with a commanding lead of 315 runs.

Abid, followed his century on debut in the drawn Rawalpindi test with a career-best 174, which included 21 boundaries and a six.

Shan’s 135 also his highest test score, studded with three sixes and seven boundaries.

Skipper Azhar Ali (57) and Babar Azam (22) returned on Sunday hoping to bat Sri Lanka out of the contest.

Abid and Shan batted fluently to deny the Sri Lankans when they scored at a four-and-half per over rate.

The last time both Pakistan openers smashed centuries in the same innings was in 2001.

At that time Saeed Anwar and Taufeeq Umar got hundreds in a Multan test against Bangladesh.

Lahiru Kumara separated the duo when Shan attempted a pull shot and the top-edge found Oshada Fernando at deep square leg.

It was the end of Pakistan’s highest second-innings stand for any wicket.

Abid was looking good for a double century but he perished lbw trying to flick Kumara.

The two-match series marks Pakistan’s first tests since the 2009 attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore city of Punjab.