GALLE: Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by 246 runs in the second Test on Thursday to level the series 1-1 after a nine-wicket partnership between spinners Parbat Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendes.
Pakistan chasing 508 for victory, were bowled out for 261 in second session on day five, with captain Babar Azam scoring a brilliant 81 runs in Galle.
The star batsman was dismissed lbw by Jayasuriya shortly after the lunch break, putting the team in danger of losing the match.
Earlier, Jesuriya dismissed Agha Salman for four at lunch in Galle to leave Pakistan needing an unimaginable 320 to win, or draw the final two sessions and win the series 1-0.
After the fall of four wickets in the morning session, the tourists had scored 188 runs for five wickets and Azam was batting on 76 runs. Pakistan resumed on 89.
Off-spinner Ramesh Mendes caught Imam-ul-Haq on his first ball of the day, the left-hander adding just three to his last night 46 runs.
Jayasuriya, who picked up a wicket on the fourth day, reduced Mohammad Rizwan’s stay to 35 with his left-arm spin. Fawad Alam was dismissed for one run.
The hosts are racing against time to eliminate the opposition and level the two-Test series as overcast conditions and rain threaten the port city, as poor light continues on days three and four.
Azam survived an LBW call by Jesuriya, which was dismissed by the umpire but successfully reviewed by the batsman.
He batted confidently after opening the day on 26 despite needing some physio help with a sore lower back.
Dhananjaya De Silva, who scored 109 runs in Sri Lanka’s 380-8 declared second innings, stands in as captain, with Dimuth Karunaratne sidelined with lower back pain.