Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, 1st Test Day 2 Highlights: Babar Azam Stars With Century But Sri Lanka Extend Lead At Stumps

We are back with the action. The players are out in the middle. Dimuth Karunaratne and Oshada Fernando are the openers of Sri Lanka. Shaheen Afridi to start with the ball.

...Third Innings...

Sri Lanka will feel they have allowed this game to escape their grasp. That said Sri Lanka have been absolutely on the mark with their bowling performance. They came against a quality batter in Babar Azam and had they put a little more pressure on the Naseem Shah by keeping him on strike, things may have been different. The spinners have been good and picked up 9 wickets between them and Prabath Jayasuriya, as has been the recent trend, was the pick of the lot! One more Test five-fer and he must be feeling Test cricket is easy! Ramesh Mendis and Maheesh Theekshana contributed with two each. They will have to now begin all over again and bat well to set a challenging target. Stay tuned for the third innings.

Pakistan had a difficult time right from the beginning of this innings. No batter other than Babar Azam managed to cross the 20-run mark. It was the last wicket partnership of 70 runs that took them to this total and Babar Azam added 64 of those runs. He reached a remarkable century which was almost flawless and finally departed on a 119 to a standing ovation! An appreciation word for Naseem Shah's effort as well. It was his stubborn batting that allowed the stand to build and Pakistan to cut the deficit almost completely.

What a comeback this has been from Pakistan and all the credit goes to their skipper! This would probably be one of the best innings he has played to single-handedly overcome the spin challenge of Sri Lanka. They finish their innings on 218 and trail by just 4 runs in the first innings!

OUT! LBW! That is plumb! Babar Azam finally departs and his long vigil comes to an end! Maheesh Theekshana serves this slightly full and turning from outside off towards the stumps, Babar Azam looks to work this through square leg in the quest to rotate strike. Misses the line of the ball and gets hit on the pads right in front of the wicket. Pakistan have two reviews in their kitty and opts for it. No bat and three reds confirms the technology and the third umpire confirms it is out and asks the on-field umpire to stay with his decision! What an innings this has been from Babar Azam! An absolute pleasure to watch and its a shame it comes to an end!

Review taken! Babar Azam takes a review after being given LBW! Ultra Edge shows no bat. Ball Tracking shows three reds and finally, the 70-run stand is broken.

Full once again and in line with the stumps, Babar Azam comes forward and smothers this into the pitch.

Serves this really full outside off, Babar Azam digs it back out to Maheesh Theekshana.

Maheesh Theekshana goes full once again on middle, Babar Azam fends this back to the bowler.

Full delivery outside off, Babar Azam hit this through cover and this is good running to pick up a couple of runs.

Flatter and outside off, Naseem Shah lets it go to the keeper.

Full and on off, Babar Azam easily pushes it towards the vacant cover-point region for another single. Sri Lanka needs to stop giving these easy singles to Babar Azam.

On middle, blocked out.

Full and on off, Babar Azam goes for the drive but gets an inside edge onto his pads.

SIX! HUGE! This is tossed up on off, Babar Azam dances down the track and heaves it over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie. They trail by just 7 runs now.

Tossed up on middle, Babar Azam defends it back to the bowler.

Flighted on middle, Naseem Shah defends it well.

Short again outside off, turning in. Naseem Shah blocks it to the off side.

A bit short around off, Babar Azam punches it through point for one.