SL stands at 36-1 as second day concludes with Babar's ton
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Babar Azam completed a seventh Test ton, and added 24 runs after tea, to bring Pakistan to just four runs behind Sri Lanka, before Maheesh Theekshana finally slipped one through his defenses and got him lbw. His last-wicket partnership with Naseem Shah was worth 70, and had taken his team from precarity to near-parity. Naseem finished on 5 not out, having seen out a further 10 balls after tea, and 52 deliveries all told.
It didn't take long after tea for Babar to get to his hundred. He got a full toss from Theekshana second ball, which he whipped powerfully wide of mid-on to get to 99. Next ball, he inside-edges one that dribbled away to leg, and the batters scampered through. While Naseem was overjoyed, Babar's own celebration was measured.
Babar struck two more boundaries before getting out - a six over wide long-on off Jayasuriya, and a four through square leg off the same bowler - both with the field well back. Eventually, he missed a legside flick against Theekshana and was struck on the front pad in front of middle and off, with the ball shown to be crashing into the stumps on review.
Sri Lanka made 36 runs at the loss of one wicket when the bad light ended day-2.
Sri Lankan left-arm Prabath Jayasuriya ripped through the Pakistani batting line-up on the second day of the first cricket Test match being played at Galle International Stadium in Galle on Sunday.
The tourists chasing a target of 222 runs, scored 104 runs but lost seven wickets at lunch. Their only resistance came from their captain Babar Azam who was still on the crease with an unbeaten score of 34. With him was leg-spinner Yasir Shah unbeaten on 12.
Jayasuriya claims five wickets for 41 runs in 18 overs.
Pakistan are 104-7 at lunch on Day Two 🍽️
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) July 17, 2022
Skipper @babarazam258 holds the key in the second session as we trail by 118 runs 🏏#SLvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/kxUqBEaXGR
Earlier, rain and a wet outfield delayed the start of the second day of the opening Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Galle.
Pakistan ended day one on 24 for two after their fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi had claimed four wickets as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 222.
The delay was expected to be short with ground staff taking the covers off after sunshine emerged in the port city.
Azhar Ali, on three, and skipper Babar Azam, on one, were batting at close of play after Sri Lanka fast bowler Kasun Rajitha and spinner Prabath Jayasuriya removed the openers.
Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne won the toss and chose to bat at the start of the two-match series.
Dinesh Chandimal made 76 and number 10 Maheesh Theekshana hit 38 to add 89 runs for the final two wickets before the Sri Lanka innings folded in the final session on Saturday.
Left-arm fast bowler Shaheen returned figures of 4-58 while fellow pace bowler Hasan Ali and leg-spinner Yasir Shah took two wickets each.