Pak in SL: Pakistan trail by 69 as Pradeep, Prasad put Sri Lanka on top

Pakistan ended at 202-9 in reply to Sri Lanka’s total of 278, as they trailed 69 runs behind the first innings total at stumps on the second day of the third and final Test at Pallekele today (4).   Wicketkeeper/batsman Sarfraz Ahmed top scored for Pakistan as he remained unbeaten on 72 after facing 94 deliveries and hitting six fours.   Azhar Ali stroked 52 off 96 deliveries with eight fours as other batsmen failed to impress with the bat.   Pacemen Nuwan Pradeep and Dhammika Prasad claimed three wickets each as off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal grabbed two scalps.   Sri Lanka, resuming from their overnight total of 272-8 lost the remaining two wickets after six runs.   Opener Dimuth Karunaratne scored his third Test century with 130 runs off 230 deliveries inclusive of 14 boundaries.   Upul Tharanga who made a comeback to Tests, replacing Kumar Sangakkara who made himself unavailable, was the next top scorer, stroking 46 off 92 with six fours.   Jehan Mubarak (25) and Dinesh Chandimal (24) chipped in with valuable knocks while off-spinning allrounder Tharindu Kaushal remained unbeaten on 17 when stumps were drawn.   Leg-spinner Yasir Shah claimed five wickets as Rahat Ali took three and Azhar Ali grabbed two wickets.   Pakistan won the toss and put Sri Lanka into bat.   The three-match Test series is leveled at 1-1.   Sri Lanka 278 all out (89.5) (Dimuth Karunaratne 130, Upul Tharanga 46, Dinesh Chandimal 24, Jehan Mubarak 25, Tharindu Kaushal 18, Yasir Shah 5/78, Rahat Ali 3/74, Azhar Ali 2/35)   Pakistan 209 for 9 wickets (64) at stumps on Day 2 (Ahmed Shehzad 21, Azhar Ali 52, Asad Shafiq 15, Sarfraz Ahmed 72, Yasir Shah 18, Nuwan Pradeep 3/26, Dhammika Prasad 3/78, Tharindu Kaushal 2/34)