The first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is moving ahead at a tremendous pace. The hosts are on the verge of getting dismissed in their second innings and setting a target for Pakistan to chase. Day 3 of the Test was once again full of action as Sri Lanka batted with an aim to set a challenging total for Pakistan in the fourth innings.
The 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.
Sri Lanka were on the score of 178/4 after 55 overs as Mendis looked set to guide Sri Lanka to a match-winning score. Seeing the game slipping away, Pakistani Leg Spinner Yasir Shah took matters into his hands and bowled a magnificent delivery to clean up Kusal Mendis. The ball pitched outside leg stump and turned a mile as it squared up the batter who ended up missing it altogether losing his off-stump.
Watch the delivery here:
Ripper from Yasir Shah to get rid of Kusal Mendis ?? #SLvPAK pic.twitter.com/Sn6hRBH0iZ
— Estelle Vasudevan (@Estelle_Vasude1) July 18, 2022
The delivery from Shah reminded the cricketing fraternity of the legendary ‘Shane Warne’ who was famous for his ‘ball of the century’ which cleaned up English batter Mike Gatting. Warne was highly impressed with Shah when he burst onto the scene as a newbie and was always seen giving tips to the emerging leg-spinner. With this delivery, Shah gave a perfect tribute to his idol who passed away in March this year.
Coming back to the match, Sri Lanka ended Day 3 on the score of 329/9 with a lead of 333 runs in the second innings. Dinesh Chandimal is unbeaten on 86 with Prabath Jayasuriya who’s batting on four. Chandimal was the highest run-scorer in the first innings as well scoring 76 runs. The batter will be looking to complete his hundred on Day 4 and take the lead past 350 along the way to set a tricky total for Pakistan to chase in the fourth innings.
