Salman Agha (62) helps Pakistan reach 191/7 at Stumps on Day 2, trail to Sri Lanka by 187 runs

[Mesozoic]

There goes our remote chance at wtc final.

No. Pakistan had a decent chance had they won this game. Now they have a remote chance. Winning 4/5 tests against NZ/Eng at home is not impossible although very difficult.

 

[Ahmed216]

Agha won't survive here.

He's looked the most compact of our batsmen

 

[Marooned]

Agha Bairstow thinking why not? It's not like I'll be here for long anyway.

 

[sweep_shot]

Aggression from Agha.

Four and six.

 

[Marooned]

No. Pakistan had a decent chance had they won this game. Now they have a remote chance. Winning 4/5 tests against NZ/Eng at home is not impossible although very difficult.

Winning 4/5 means we can afford to lose too? Or just draw?

 

[Titan24]

Welp there goes the chance of a Pakistani win this game. So that means they're going to drop either 8 or 12 of the available 12 points this game.

WTC final chance possibly going as well or atleast have become really difficult. Pakistan has a far from an experienced test outfit excluding past prime Azhar and Yasir. Need to induct some deserving players to try and create a competitive unit for the next WTC. This WTC was a good chance but, Pak team far from the shape it should have been to grab the opportunity.

 

[Ahmed216]

Another player with very good temprament is kamran ghulam

 

[Marooned]

Another player with very good temprament is kamran ghulam

Yeah, he is like 10 year younger fawad. Excellent temperament.

 

[Faisalabadimunda]

Nawaz gone

 

[Marooned]

Nawaz departs. Patience was needed here. Disappointed.

 

[Ahmed216]

That wasn't short enough to cut nawaz

 

[Faisalabadimunda]

Pakistan might not avoid follow on SHAMBLES

 

[Marooned]

WTC final chance possibly going as well or atleast have become really difficult. Pakistan has a far from an experienced test outfit excluding past prime Azhar and Yasir. Need to induct some deserving players to try and create a competitive unit for the next WTC. This WTC was a good chance but, Pak team far from the shape it should have been to grab the opportunity.

Yeah, and that's why it is important to look towards future too while picking players. If we keep on holding to these players, we will never have a settled team in future.

 

[sweep_shot]

33 more runs to avoid follow-on.

 

[Mesozoic]

Winning 4/5 means we can afford to lose too? Or just draw?

Can afford a defeat I think. Bottom line is pak must get at least 50 points in their remaining games no matter how they get them.

 

[Rana]

Even if the follow on option is available, I don’t think SL would take it.

(I personally hope they do)

 

[Titan24]

Another player with very good temprament is kamran ghulam

Should be part of the squad across the formats as said earlier as well. He has improved his game across the formats and temperament I believe is the key at international level which has has shown for couple of seasons.

 

[sweep_shot]

Even if the follow on option is available, I don’t think SL would take it.

(I personally hope they do)

Yeah. Teams don't enforce follow-on much nowadays. It is perhaps to give the bowlers rest.

 

[Marooned]

Yeah. Teams don't enforce follow-on much nowadays. It is perhaps to give the bowlers rest.

We will have 400+ to chase then.

A heroic draw, aided by weather looks like the best outcome.

 

[Marooned]

Agha Bairstow at it again.

 

[Mesozoic]

WTC final chance possibly going as well or atleast have become really difficult. Pakistan has a far from an experienced test outfit excluding past prime Azhar and Yasir. Need to induct some deserving players to try and create a competitive unit for the next WTC. This WTC was a good chance but, Pak team far from the shape it should have been to grab the opportunity.

This cycle was (is) the best opportunity for Pak to go all the way. Their fixtures are a lot tougher until the 2027 cycle.

 

[imshally81]

Could we chase 450 or 500 in 4th innings?

 

[Ahmed216]

Salman has shown impressive footwork against spin. Fully forward or back. Swept the ball cleanly as well so far

 

[Faisalabadimunda]

These 2 need to be positive and play their shots not much to lose. Better than tuk tuking away

 

[sweep_shot]

Could we chase 450 or 500 in 4th innings?

Never say never.

Teams have become very good at chasing. Pakistan have a great chasing record against the Lankans.

 

[Marooned]

Yasir has a habit of farming strike. He did it with babar, what chance does Agha have.

 

[imshally81]

Never say never.

Teams have become very good at chasing. Pakistan have a great chasing record against the Lankans.

But this time... I doubt

 

[Marooned]

Yasir shouldn't have come ahead of Nouman btw. Nouman is a better batsman.

 

[Abdullah]

Need to keep plugging away and keep the Lankans out there.
Yasir Nauman and Hasan need to take this seriously. They are very capable to add 100 runs between them here

 

[Marooned]

Need to keep plugging away and keep the Lankans out there.
Yasir Nauman and Hasan need to take this seriously. They are very capable to add 100 runs between them here

Agree. They need to apply themselves completely and stay for as long as possible.
Hasan is beyond hope though.

 

[sweep_shot]

Well played, Agha.

50 for him.

 

[shariqnoor]

Our batting has always been like this. It's the bowling that is worrisome. It's a completely toothless bowling attack. When your best bowler turns out to be Naseem on a SL wicket, you know your bowling stocks are in shambles. Yasir Shah is a terrible bowler now. Going at 4 rpo in your favourite conditions shows how much past your best you are. This Test is gone.

 

[Titan24]

Good knock from Agha. Needs to do something exceptional to bring Pak back in the game and make a name for himself

 

[sweep_shot]

Trailing by 206 runs now.

 

[Marooned]

Good knock from Agha. Needs to do something exceptional to bring Pak back in the game and make a name for himself

Needs to keep going in the same fashion.

 

[Marooned]

There clearly aren't any demons in the pitch, we've batted really poorly.

 

[imshally81]

There clearly aren't any demons in the pitch, we've batted really poorly.

And bowling and fielding too

 

[Amjid Javed]

pakistans tail needs to some how wag, another 100+ runs needed at least.

 

[imshally81]

Follow on avoided

 

[sweep_shot]

Agha is rescuing Pakistan well here.

They have avoided the follow-on. Trailing by 199 runs.

 

[Titan24]

There clearly aren't any demons in the pitch, we've batted really poorly.

Absolutely. I thought Lankans were giving wickets away with some ordinary shot selections but, we outdid them.

 

[Marooned]

Agha needs to keep more strike. It isn't that difficult.They aren't even trapping him yet like they did with babar.

 

[sweep_shot]

Yasir Shah is on 5* from 52 balls.

He is doing his job. Hanging in there.

 

[Marooned]

Yasir brings out his version of hook shot and almost loses his wicket.
No point giving him so much strike. This is the time to score.

 

[Marooned]

And now Yasir takes one off the last ball. We will go nowhere like this.

 

[sweep_shot]

And now Yasir takes one off the last ball. We will go nowhere like this.

Not much overs left today. 3 overs to go after this. Better to preserve wicket.

 

[Omer2002]

Thats right yasir is not a number 11...he has come 7 down so need to score not block..looking at this wicket its not unplayable even nauman hasan and naseem shud do ok as batters..rest of batters the wickets i have seen were all gifts

 

[sweep_shot]

This is the highest Pakistani partnership in this game so far (38 runs).

 

[Marooned]

Not much overs left today. 3 overs to go after this. Better to preserve wicket.

Yeah, but this went on for a fair bit. I'm not telling them to slog, just play normal cricket.

 

[sweep_shot]

Pakistan are trailing by 189 runs now.

 

[Omer2002]

6 by yasir now thats what is needed...off spinnee gettin wickets is criminal

 

[Marooned]

Yasir goes. Maybe saved yet, that looks down the leg.

Survives!!

 

[sweep_shot]

Yasir survives. Good review.

 

[sweep_shot]

Gone. Agha is out.

Sri Lanka got the key wicket.

191/7.

 

[Marooned]

Salman gone. That's what I was saying. Going into your shell doesn't save you.

 

[Marooned]

What a sad end to the day.

 

[Adnan_Ilyas]

Good innings from Salman

 

[Kroll]

That’s a shame, tail need to dig in now and reduce the deficit.

 

[sweep_shot]

Stumps.

Pakistan are trailing by 187 runs (3 wickets in hand).

 

[Titan24]

Yasir, Nauman and Hassan need to chip in and add 80-100 runs here. Difficult but, not impossible as they all can bat a bit.

 

[Marooned]

Nothing to look forward tomorrow. Pathetic no show by the batting.

 

[Savak]

Pakistan allowed Sri Lanka to score too many runs on this wicket.

 

[Titan24]

Pakistan allowed Sri Lanka to score too many runs on this wicket.

I think it was a pretty good wicket, yes could have tried to restrict Srl to a lesser total but overall Pak batsmen let the opportunity go to score big here with some ordinary batting and lose dismissals.

 

[sweep_shot]

Pakistan allowed Sri Lanka to score too many runs on this wicket.

I think what Sri Lanka scored was a par score. This pitch is not a minefield.

Pakistan just batted a bit poorly.

 

[Marooned]

I think what Sri Lanka scored was a par score. This pitch is not a minefield.

Pakistan just batted a bit poorly.

3 drops were costly. We probably did let them make 50-60 runs too many.

But yeah, batting is the bigger issue here.

 

[Titan24]

I think what Sri Lanka scored was a par score. This pitch is not a minefield.

Pakistan just batted a bit poorly.

Exactly. Its been battle of worse batting so far between both the teams on a surface where the batsmen havent even been beaten much and Pakistan is winning that battle.

 

[MenInG]

 

[Sarwar89]

If pakistan can somehow reduce the deficit to 150. There is a chance. In 2nd innings if our bowlers bowl well & clean them up for 170-180 ( which is possible) that will leave pak to chase 320-330 in 4th innings to chase. They chased 340 + already last week here. So it is not over yet.

 

[Titan24]

3 drops were costly. We probably did let them make 50-60 runs too many.

But yeah, batting is the bigger issue here.

Yes 21 extras and then allowing Dickwella as well as Mathews to score a few extra

 

[Titan24]

If pakistan can somehow reduce the deficit to 150. There is a chance. In 2nd innings if our bowlers bowl well & clean them up for 170-180 ( which is possible) that will leave pak to chase 320-330 in 4th innings to chase. They chased 340 + already last week here. So it is not over yet.

Yes not impossible but, someone needs to produce an outstanding performance from here on to get Pak back in the game. Run of the mill performances wont be enough.

 

[Faiz1978]

too much experiment (Babar at No.3) , playing with 4 batsmen , does not work in test cricket .

 

[Amjid Javed]

Good pitch for batting and our batting has been pathetic.

Recalling fawad was poor, also nawaz at 7 is one spot to high for him to be batting. Sorry but hes not good enough to be seen as one of 6 batters + rizwan. He needs to bat at 8.

Unless tail wags we are in trouble. we gor away with poor team selection in.1st test.

 

[Xoib]

On what grounds Babar was shifted from his set # 4 position and that too for hockey fullback Fawad Alam.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Pakistan potentially could be bowled out in the first 10 overs in the morning with just the tail left.

SL would like to take 150+ runs here and bat deep in their 2nd inns and go past 400 atleast as they saw 344 wasn't enough to defend for them last week.

 

[MenInG]

After posting a strong total, the Sri Lankan spinners spun a web around the Pakistan batters to extend their dominance on day two of the second Test in Galle.

The lower-order resistance

With just four wickets in hand at the start of the day, Sri Lanka did well to add on some useful runs.

They played most of the first session building towards a solid total, adding 63 runs. Niroshan Dickwella, who was on 42* overnight, celebrated his 22nd Test fifty soon after Dunith Wellalage's departure. Dickwella perished for 51 but Sri Lanka still had some fight left in them.

Ramesh Mendis turned on the heat and smashed four fours and a six to help Sri Lanka post a competitive 378.

Pakistan stutter in the chase

Sri Lanka got off to a terrific start with Asitha Fernando removing Abdullah Shafique on the second ball of Pakistan's innings. Shafique, whose brilliant knock in the first Test gave the visitors a comprehensive victory, got a thick inside edge while poking at a good length delivery that rattled his off and middle stumps.

Pakistan went to lunch at 15/1 but soon after the break lost Babar Azam, who also dragged one onto the stumps off Prabath Jayasuriya. At 35/2, Pakistan were in deep trouble. Imam-ul-Haq continued to fight but was the third batter to get bowled after leaving daylight between his bat and pad.

With Pakistan three down, it was Ramesh Mendis' turn to shine with the ball. The bowler spun the ball brilliantly. He got Mohammad Rizwan with a sharp spinning delivery, which Rizwan completely misjudged and was rapped on the pads. He asked for a review but with no inside edge, the lbw was as plumb as they get.

After the tea break, Mendis' attack continued. He broke Fawad Alam's (24) resistance with another plumb lbw and then forced Mohammad Nawaz (12) to edge a flatter delivery to the keeper to reduce Pakistan to 145/6.

Salman Ali Agha's fightback

In only his third Test, 28-year-old Salman Ali Agha played an innings to remember. Coming in at No.6, when Pakistan were 88/4, Agha dropped anchor to frustrate the Sri Lanka bowlers. He had a nervy start and a tough time against Ramesh Mendis and Jayasuriya but as the game progressed, his defending skills got better. He broke free off Jayasuriya, slamming him for a four and a six - the first maximum of the match. He got his maiden Test fifty in 93 balls.

Just on the stroke of stumps, Pakistan were dealt with a body blow with Jayasuriya scalping Agha off what turned out to be the final ball of the day.

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2689332?sf168408412=1

 

[Nasty Naz]

Not sure why Babar made the change to go from #4 to 3. If anything, either Salman or Fawad needed to bat at the 3 position.

Main concerns lie with the batting consistently being too brittle and just not having enough outstanding batsmen.

 

[Saj]

Lousy and lethargic batting effort from Pakistan.

It was almost like we won the 1st Test, this wicket seems flat so we should be ok.

Really, really poor.

 

[shamaan]

Not sure why Babar made the change to go from #4 to 3. If anything, either Salman or Fawad needed to bat at the 3 position.

Main concerns lie with the batting consistently being too brittle and just not having enough outstanding batsmen.

Salman isn't good enough to make the squad and you want him batting at 3 ?

 

[shamaan]

Could we chase 450 or 500 in 4th innings?

No don't think so.

 

[shamaan]

Pakistan allowed Sri Lanka to score too many runs on this wicket.

I thought 350 was a good score.