Babar Azam and Naseem Shah defend Pakistan against Sri Lanka

• Prabath Jayasuriya took five wickets before lunch for the hosts.
• Naseem Shah, who faced 42 balls and scored five runs.
• Babar progressed to 95 before the conclusion of the session.

Babar Azam produced tough stands with the last three batters to pull Pakistan within 28 runs of Sri Lanka by tea. Prabath Jayasuriya got five wickets before lunch but none thereafter.

Babar and No. 11 Naseem Shah tortured Sri Lanka for 20 overs. Babar helped Pakistan recover from 85 for 7 and 112 for 8 in response to Sri Lanka’s 222.

Babar used 102 of 144 balls to milk the strike with Naseem. Later, he found gaps in early singles. Naseem defended. He never gave chances. Sri Lanka fielded Naseem after Babar. 11 seldom made big shots.

Babar’s singles limited Pakistan’s runs. When Sri Lanka’s fielders returned to the infield, he batted out. He smashed Kasun Rajitha over midwicket and deep backward square leg for three boundaries.

Maheesh Theekshana hit the inning’s lone six. He sent Sri Lanka’s top bowler, Jayasuriya, over the infield. Babar trusted Naseem’s defence against the second new ball in the 80th over.

Jayasuriya smashed Pakistan’s middle order. He dropped Azhar Ali’s opening ball but lbw him two balls later. He fired Agha Salman, Mohammad Nawaz, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

In the first session, Jayasuriya’s straight ball provoked many lbw allegations. In a five-wicket morning session, Ramesh Mendis dismissed Mohammad Rizwan.

Hasan Ali smashed two sixes in 21 balls after Yasir and Babar chatted after lunch. The last-wicket stand changed Sri Lanka’s hopes.

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