The first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at Galle continued to enthral the crowd on Day three. This Test is moving ahead at a tremendous pace. Sri Lanka are on the verge of getting bundled in their second innings and setting a target for Pakistan to chase. The third day of the ongoing game was once again full of action after the two teams got dismissed for almost identical scores in the first innings.
Having a slender lead of four runs, Sri Lankan batters put up an improved performance than their outing in the first innings as Oshada Fernando and Kusal Mendis added 91 runs for the third wicket after losing two wickets at the score of 42. After Fernando got dismissed, Mendis had the task of taking the innings forward. But even he got dismissed at the score of 178/5. The Sri Lankan batters kept chipping in with small but impactful partnerships as they got their scoreboard moving. The top-scorer of the first innings Dinesh Chandimal once again got into the act as he held one end.
Chandimal got involved in a 40-run partnership with Dhananjay De Silva for the sixth wicket, a 32-run partnership with Ramesh Mendis and a 41-run-partnership with Maheesh Theekshana as he took the lead past 300 hundred. The batter is currently involved in a 21-run unbeaten partnership with Prabath Jayasuriya for the last wicket as he’s marching towards his second consecutive hundred in the last two tests.
Sri Lanka will look to take their lead past 350 on Day four and give a monumental total for Pakistan to chase in the fourth innings. Only two countries before have chased a total of 200 plus successfully in Sri Lanka, which are Pakistan and India. Day four promises to be another day full of mind-boggling cricketing action as Pakistan will come out to make history against Sri Lanka. Pakistan’s highest successful chase in Test cricket also came against Sri Lanka at Pallekele in 2015 as they chased down 382 losing just three wickets.
Here’s How Twitter reacted to the action on Day 3:
Fact: Only 2 away teams in the history of Test cricket have scored 200+ in the 4th inns to win a Test match vs Sri Lanka:
1. Pakistan 382/3 in 2015
2. India 264/3 in 2001 & 258/5 in 2010— Rehan Ulhaq (@Rehan_ulhaq) July 17, 2022
Pakistan will need to break the record for the highest ever 4th inns successful run-chase at Galle to win. SL firm favs at the moment.
Previous highest 4th inns total to win a Test match at Galle is Sri Lanka’s 268/4 vs NZ in Aug 2019.
— Rehan Ulhaq (@Rehan_ulhaq) July 18, 2022
Watch: Yasir Shah produces Shane Warne-like ‘Ball of the Century’, clean bowls Mendis in 1st Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Test https://t.co/gq0PXtZeJo
— Icc Cricket Guru (@365_cricket) July 18, 2022
Spin vs spin as Sri Lanka take on Pakistan in Test opener
Read more: https://t.co/ccnPj9he3c#SLvPAK pic.twitter.com/1GgaL0x7dG
— Samaa Sports (@samaasport) July 14, 2022
Dinesh Chandimal Powers Sri Lanka's Lead vs Pakistan Past 300 In First Test https://t.co/i9XVr1ZIju
— agni news (@agninewspower) July 18, 2022
Defiant Babar Azam Ton Leads Pakistan Fight Back In First Test vs Sri Lanka | Cricket News https://t.co/CRR2sFC7j6
— Upc news (@TipsLives) July 17, 2022
Dinesh Chandimal Powers Sri Lanka’s Lead vs Pakistan Past 300 In First Test https://t.co/iQvCSqAu4p
— New4u (@New4u_newz) July 18, 2022
Pakistan Vs Sri Lanka Day 3 https://t.co/WY8uKKkxl9
— zayn (@ZaynMahmood5) July 18, 2022
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan: Yasir Shah’s Shane Warne-Like Delivery To Bamboozle Sri Lanka Batter. Watch | Cricket News https://t.co/PGrYwMPLNW
— Upc news (@TipsLives) July 18, 2022
First Test, End of Day 3 (Stumps), Pakistan ?? vs Sri Lanka ??
Sri Lanka ?? : 329/9 (96.0) [Second Innings]
Sri Lanka ?? lead by 333 runs.
Dinesh Chandimal : 86*(121)
Prabath Jayasuriya : 4*(19)#PAKvsSL #SLvPAK #SLvsPAK #PAKvSL #WTC23— Abhishek ?? (@abk_m_24) July 18, 2022
