For all the fears that their delayed declaration on day four may not have left them enough time to bowl out Pakistan on the final day of the second Test, Sri Lanka needed just half a day to complete a series-leveling 246-run win, with Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis sharing the spoils.
Two matches of the Dialog Schools Rugby league tournament are down for decision in Colombo today with Isipathana and Science College hosting Dharmaraja and Vidyartha at Havelock Park and Mt. Lavinia respectively with the kick off set for 4.15 p.m.
A late burst by Royal College was too much for St. Joseph’s as back-to-back tries in ten minutes before the long whistle saw them seal the game by 17 points to 3 in the crucial Dialog Schools Rugby tournament encounter played at Havelock Park on Friday (22).
Abdullah Shafique’s unbeaten century ensured Pakistan stood firm in their pursuit of a record-breaking chase in Galle, although Sri Lanka gave themselves some hope of snatching victory in the first Test with the wicket of Babar Azam late on day four.
Prabath Jayasuriya’s impressive start to Test cricket continued with the left-arm spinner taking his third consecutive five-wicket haul, but a seventh Test century for Babar Azam denied Sri Lanka a significant lead in the first Test in Galle.
Dhananjaya de Silva will return to the Sri Lankan side while Pathum Nissanka has been ruled due to Covid-19 for the first Test against Pakistan starting in Galle on Saturday, with captain Dimuth Karunaratne believing that his team will face a tougher test than they did against Australia.
Unbeaten Trinity College will hold a slight edge when they confront St. Joseph’s College at the Trinity Rugby Stadium in Pallekele tomorrow. This will be a much looked forward to encounter in the league as both outfits are so far unbeaten this season.
Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne was full of praise for Dinesh Chandimal and debutant Prabath Jayasuriya whose efforts with bat and ball respectively allowed Sri Lanka to make a sharp turnaround after the team’s sub-par performance in the first Test.
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