Sri Lanka lead by 333 after Chandimal heroics

Rex Clementine in Galle

An unbeaten 86 by Dinesh Chandimal put Sri Lanka in a commanding position in the first Test against Pakistan as they finished day three on 329 for nine in Galle on Monday. Sri Lanka have a comfortable lead of 333 runs and should feel happy as no team has chased this many in this ground to win a Test match. The highest successful run chasse in Galle is 268 for four by Sri Lanka against New Zealand in 2019.

Former captain Chandimal, who had top scored with 76 runs in the first innings was a thorn in Pakistan’s flesh again stitching vital partnerships with the tail. He brought up his 23rd half-century with a single to covers off Naseem Shah.

Chandimal was unbeaten on 86 at close on day three having faced 121 deliveries and hit five fours and two sixes. Prabath Jayasuriya was on four.

The 32-year-old Chandimal has been in good nick having posted a maiden double hundred against Australia last week as Sri Lanka went onto record a come from behind win against world’s number one ranked team.

Pakistan had an opportunity to dismiss Chandimal when he was on 68 but Hasan Ali put down a return catch. Pakistan also unsuccessfully reviewed a leg-before shout against him.

The game was evenly poised when the day began with Sri Lanka having a lead of 40 runs with nine wickets in hand. Pakistan knocked off night-watchman Kasun Rajitha early in the second over of the morning but a 91 run stand for the third wicket between Kusal Mendis (76) and Oshada Fernando (64) steadied the innings.

However, after lunch, Pakistan claimed a few quick wickets to bounce back.

Yasir Shah dismissed Kusal Mendis with a beauty with a ball that pitched well outside the leg-stump and then turned sharply and knocked top of off-stump beating the batsman’s defence. The leg-spinner in his comeback game finished with five wickets.

Left-arm orthodox spinner Mohammad Nawaz was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan picking up a maiden five wicket haul.

At 235 for seven, Pakistan were looking to keep Sri Lanka’s lead below 250, but yet again the tail hurt them.

Ramesh Mendis (22) added 32 runs with Chandimal for the eighth wicket while Maheesh Theekshana (11) added 41 runs for the ninth wicket to take Sri Lanka’s lead beyond 300 and make things almost impossible for the tourists. They were not done yet as number 11 Prabath Jayasuriya added 29 runs for the last wicket.