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Rain halts Pakistan s progress on day two
Monday, 2 July 2012 - 11:35 AM SL Time
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A remarkable fight back by Pakistan in the second Test, after losing the first match by a massive 209 runs in Galle, was cut short as rain allowed only 43 overs on the second day of the second Test match against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club grounds, yesterday.
Pakistan resuming at the overnight total of 334 for one, were 488 for four when a heavy downpour 30 minutes before tea forced the umpires to call off play early.
Opener Mohammad Hafeez joined Kumar Sangakkara as the second Test cricketer to miss out on a double hundred within a week, as he finally lost his patience and was bowled four runs short of the milestone, attempting to sweep Rangana Herath.
His career best score of 196 lasted for over seven hours and he faced 331 deliveries, hitting 20 fours and a six.
Hafeez had added a record 287 runs for the second wicket with Azhar Ali, the highest partnership for the second wicket in Tests between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, breaking the record between Roy Dias and Sidat Wettimuny, who scored 217 runs, way back in 1982, during Sri Lanka s inaugural overseas Test tour, 30 years ago.
Their stand is also a record at the SSC for the second wicket, improving on the 232 run stand between India s Saddagopan Ramesh and Rahul Dravid, during the Asian Test Championship in 1999.
Four balls after Hafeez s dismissal, Azhar Ali reached his third Test hundred with a ferocious cut off Nuwan Pradeep, for four. Having equalled his career best score of 157, Ali was dismissed when he attempted to reverse sweep Suraj Randiv and was caught by Nuwan Kulasekara at backward of point. He faced 295 deliveries for his 157 and hit nine fours.
Former captain Younis Khan missed out on making the most on a flat deck, as he was ruled leg before wicket to Ranagna Herath, attempting a sweep shot. He made 32 and became the fourth cricketer to complete 1500 Test runs against Sri Lanka, joining Sachin Tendulkar (1995), Inzamam-ul-Haq (1559) and Rahul Dravid (1508).
Left-arm spinner Ranagna Herath was tidy, bowling marathon spells and had figures of two for 143 having bowled 45 overs. Off-spinner Suraj Randiv on the other hand, was disappointing, not being able to bowl a single maiden over. His 25 overs went for 107 runs.
Almost four hours of play was lost due to rain yesterday and with Pakistan trailing the three match series, an early declaration is expected today, by the tourists to force a result on a dead wicket.
The third and final Test will be played at Pallekele.
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