Despite all its intensity and competitiveness, cricket is a communal event. It is a gathering that brings people from different backgrounds together and allows them to have fun. The same was recently seen in the ongoing second Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Despite being on opposite teams, cricketers have a lot in common, something that was seen on the third day of the second Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Before the start of the match, Niroshan Dickwella, Fawad Alam, Harish Rauf and Dimuth Karunaratne were seen sharing a laugh. The four could be seen cracking jokes and sharing a light moment before the start of the play.
Buddies off the field ?#SLvPAK #SpiritofCricket pic.twitter.com/YuwsG50EPf
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) July 26, 2022
Talking of the game, it looks increasingly in favour of the home team. Sri Lanka have taken a lead of 368 runs at the start of the fourth day with five wickets in hand.
Batting first, the home team got a good start from their openers Oshada Fernando (50) and Dimuth Karunaratne (40) and the contribution continued down the order as well. Apart from Kusal Mendis (3) all of the batters were able to make some contribution to the team. Dinesh Chandimal continued his rich vein of form and made 80 with wicketkeeper batter Niroshan Dickwella also contributing a half-century to the Sri Lanka innings.
Naseem Shah and Yasir Shah were the pick of the bowlers taking three wickets each. Coming on to bat in the first innings, Pakistan could not recreate their heroics from the first Test and got out on just 231. Agha Salman was their best batter with a score of 62. Last match’s hero Abdullah Shafique did not open his account.
Ramesh Mendis came up with a fifer to clean by the Pakistan team, getting help from Prabath Jayasuriya who took three wickets as well.
Sri Lanka are currently cruising at 297/7 with Dimuth Karunaratne (84) looking really good. The home team have a lead of 444 runs and would look to reach 500 before declaring with one day of the game to be played.
