Oshada Fernando and Kusal Mendis of Sri Lanka add to an early wicket

• First Test at Galle: 21 wickets in two days.
• Kusal Mendis and Oshada Fernando exploited Pakistan’s poor spin.
• Oshada Fernando had 64 of 123 deliveries and Mendis 45 of 88.

First Test at Galle: 21 wickets in two days. Kusal Mendis and Oshada Fernando took advantage of Pakistan’s indiscipline spin bowling to have the finest batting session thus far.

By lunch, Fernando had 64 of 123 deliveries and Mendis 45 of 88. The duo put up 91 for the third wicket after coming together in the third over. Sri Lanka scored 96, losing nightwatchman Kasun Rajitha.

Pakistan’s spinners smashed the bat often, but the hitters refused to pursue length balls and waited for stray deliveries. Mendis liked to use backfoot strokes to cut behind point or dump the ball towards midwicket gaps. Two off cuts, two off conventional sweeps, and one off Hasan Ali beyond gully.

Fernando preferred to walk. He shuffled down to locate singles either side of the pitch, yet sometimes used forceful strokes. He raced towards Yasir Shah and hoisted him into the sightscreen midway through the session. A few overs later, he blasted a long boundary off the same bowler.

Where Yasir was successful in the opening innings, this combination was patient, letting plenty go and defending (typically on the frontfoot) until the shorter ones arrived. Mohammad Nawaz, who removed Rajitha with a slider in the second over of the day, was playing comfortably by the conclusion of the session.

Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali can’t reverse swing. After lunch, they and Naseem Shah may look for it.

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