Pakistan take slender lead

Pakistan v Sri Lanka: First Test, Day 2
October 21, 2004 at Faisalabad

Pakistan took a slender lead of 13 runs over the visitors' first innings score of 243, to throw the match wide open.

The home side reached 256-8 at the close of play on Day 2, after Sri Lanka had earlier in the day been bowled out within 22 deliveries adding only 10 runs to their overnight score of 233-7.

Thilan Samaraweera, requiring three runs to register his first century away from home, did score them, but was immediately removed after completing the milestone, by Shoaib Akhtar, who completed the innings with figures of 5-60.

Though Pakistan's batting didn't look at its potential best, they did manage to hold the upper hand until tea, at a score of 185-4, with opener Yasir Hameed scoring a half century.

However, a flutter of wickets, four of them, after in the final session brought the match back in balance. Those wickets included Inzamam-ul-Haq for 32, Shoaib Malik just two short of what could have been his maiden Test half century, Moin Khan and Abdul Razzaq for 39 only three overs before stumps.

We're extremely sorry for the unavailability of detailed report from Day 1.

Sri Lanka 243 ao
T T Samaraweera 100, Shoaib Akhtar 5-60, Mohammad Sami 4-71
Pakistan 256-8
Yasir Hameed 58, Shoaib Malik 48, C R D Fernando 2-65, H M R K B Herath 2-66

Pakistan lead by 13 runs with two first innings wickets in hand.

Posted by Sudeep