Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test, Day 2 preview: Tough task ahead for Pakistan bowlers as Sri Lanka batsmen gear up

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test, Day 2 preview: Tough task ahead for Pakistan bowlers as Sri Lanka batsmen gear up

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Day 1 of the second Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka ended in a tricky situation. Pakistan failed to impress with batting as the visitors also could not take the drivers’ seat at the end.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first. It was an absolute massacre as they were reduced to 65/3 within 21 overs with the captain getting dismissed for a duck. Then Babar Azam and Asad Shafiq stabilized the innings and recorded their individual half-centuries. After Babar Azam’s dismissal, Shafiq kept on fighting all alone. He took the score from 127/4 to 185/9 as the rest of the batsmen could accumulate only 19. Lahiru Kumara and Lasith Embuldeniya ran through Pakistan batting line up to scalp four wickets each.

Shaheen Shah Afridi gave the initial blow to Sri Lankan innings and the Mohammad Abbas took the charge. Abbas took another two quick wickets and Sri Lanka finally could add 64 for the loss of three wickets at the stumps.

A lot depends on day 2 now. The tourists are trailing by 127 runs and in all likelihood, are going to surpass the same to get a good amount of lead. For the hosts, the key is to take the remaining wickets of Sri Lanka at the earliest. Pakistan should stop Sri Lanka from getting huge lead to be in the game.

Key players

Mohammad Abbas (Pakistan) – Mohammad abbas had a great start of his Test career in 2017-18 and he was identified as one of the brightest pace bowling talents of the world. After a terrible 2019 now he is trying hard to get back his form. He has already picked up Dimuth Karunaratne and Kushal Mendis. He must continue the good work to ensure a quick wrap up of Sri Lankan innings.

Dhananjaya de Silva (Sri Lanka) – Dhananjaya de Silva is in a great form and has recorded two back-to-back hundreds in his last two Test matches. In the first Test of the series, he became the latest Test player to bat in all five days of the Test match. Sri Lanka will expect him to play a key role in their attempt to get a significant lead to push Pakistan away from the game.

Prediction

Sri Lanka to take upper hand.