Sri Lanka overnight batters Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva came to the field in high spirits after making Pakistan bowlers toil hard on the previous day at a surface that had started looking increasingly docile. However, things took a wild turn under a grey Rawalpindi sky, which found Sri Lanka at a disadvantage once again.
De Silva’s dismissal was probably a canary in a coal mine. Saqib Khan worked a brilliant line and length and tempted the batter to nick the ball on its way to the keeper. Pakistan found the breakthrough they had searched for during a better part of day three on the fifth delivery of the day.
The first runs of the day came after 2.2 overs, with Sonal Dinusha hitting a very hesitant four, but the pressure seemed to be mounting on Sri Lanka, who were finding it hard to put bat on the ball. Soon after, this pressure got to them, and Kusal Mendis followed de Silva’s suit. His dismissal came just a ball after he was given a life when Saud Shakeel dropped him at first slip. But Saqib Khan produced another incredible delivery, as both of Sri Lanka’s set batters departed.
Saqib completes his seven-wicket haul
A 20-run partnership between Dinusha and Milan Rathnayaka was the only bright spot in an otherwise bleak day for Sri Lanka. Saqib broke the partnership to complete his five-for and went on to take two more scalps to finish with seven wickets. Only Razaullah, besides him, managed to get a wicket on the fourth day for Pakistan. Sri Lanka, who were only 30 runs short of Pakistan’s first-innings score at the end of the third day with six wickets in reserve, were dismissed with only a 12-run lead.
Pakistan build a lead before bad light stops play
Buoyed by the onslaught from Saqib Khan, Pakistan openers got off to a quick start. Azan Awais began the innings with a boundary off Asitha Fernando to rub salt in Sri Lanka’s wounds. To further their woes and remind them of the fiery opening stand from the last innings, Tayyab Arif struck two boundaries in the next over. However, much to the visitors’ pleasure, Tayyab soon found his way back, giving Sri Lanka a glimmer of hope.
The incoming batter Mohammad Taha joined Azan Awais, both of whom extended the lead for Pakistan. Boundaries kept coming with ease. The hosts looked set to put a defendable target on the board before handing the task over to the bowlers to produce a result. But bad light forced players off the field, after which play did not resume, even as an early tea was taken. Both teams will begin play on the final day, but the loss of playing time has significantly reduced the chances of a decisive result.
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