July 18 (Reuters) – Saud Shakeel’s career-best 208 not surpassed gave Pakistan a significant first-innings lead of 149 in the opening Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on Tuesday.
In response to Sri Lanka’s 312-innings total, Pakistan had fallen to 101-5 on Monday before Shakeel combined in a 177-run position with Agha Salman, who made 83, to revive the visitors.
Shakeel remained unbeaten after his 361-ball strike that included 19 fours, while Pakistan searched for 461.
Sri Lanka ended the third day with 14 clean and 135 behind after openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Nishan Maudushka beat the last 3.4 overs in light of the fade.
Earlier, after Pakistan resumed at 221-5, Salman knocked his wicket coming down the rink against Ramesh Mendis (5-136) only to lose the ball and be stumped.
By lunch, Pakistan had passed Sri Lanka and the lead kept growing as Shakeel forged over 50 partnerships with Noman Ali (25) and Naseem Shah, who netted just nine but survived 78 balls to frustrate the hosts.
Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya finished with figures of 3-145.
Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; Edited by Christian Radnedge
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