Pakistan fight back against Sri Lanka after conceding 220-run lead

Pakistan conceded a 220-run lead against Sri Lanka on the third day of the Pink Ball Test in Dubai but fought back admirably to reduce the Lankans to 34/5, with Wahab Riaz taking three wickets.

Sri Lanka, after gaining a big 220-run lead in the first innings, were struggling at 34-5 at close on the third day of the second day-night Test against Pakistan in Dubai.

Wahab Riaz picked up three wickets as Pakistan fought back well against Sri Lanka in the Pink Ball Test after conceding a 220-run lead. (AP)

Dinesh Chandimal was dismissed for nought in the last over before close, with Kusal Mendis not out on five. Sri Lanka, who lead the two-match series 1-0, have an overall lead of 254 runs with five wickets intact.

Earlier, Pakistan were bowled out for 262 in their first innings on the third day of the second day-night Test in Dubai on Sunday, a deficit of 220 runs to Sri Lanka’s 482.

Azhar Ali (59) and Haris Sohail (56) were the leading scorers as Pakistan fell 21 runs short of the follow-on mark, although Sri Lanka decided not to enforce it.

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and off-spinner Dilruwan Perera both claimed three wickets for Sri Lanka.

This is Sri Lanka’s first Pink Ball Test and they are on the cusp of becoming the first team to defeat Pakistan in the UAE since the country became Pakistan’s home away from home in 2010. Sarfraz Ahmed’s side have been forced to play their ‘home’ games in the neutral territory of the UAE after international teams refused to visit Pakistan following a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in March 2009.

Pakistan have secured Test series wins over Australia, England (twice), Sri Lanka (once) and the West Indies during their period in the UAE. This is the second Pink Ball Test in the UAE, with the first between Pakistan and West Indies in 2016, a match which witnessed Azhar Ali become the first player to hit a triple century in a Day-Night Test.

Sri Lanka had won the Abu Dhabi Test thanks to a sensational spell from Rangana Herath, who became the first bowler to take 100 wickets in Tests against Pakistan. It was Pakistan’s first defeat in Abu Dhabi and it was the team’s first defeat ever since the retirement of Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan after the end of the west Indies series in March.