Shehzad, Azhar lead Pakistan fightback

A 120-run, second-wicket partnership between Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shehzad led Pakistan's fightback on the third day of the second Test in Colombo. Both batsmen struck fifties and Pakistan were seven runs short of taking the lead on the third day when bad light stopped play an hour into the final session. With eight wickets in hand and the track losing bounce, Pakistan's chances will depend on how well Azhar, Younis Khan and the rest of the middle order capitalise on the opportunity.

After a dismal total of 138 in the first innings, Pakistan needed discipline and grit at the crease to ensure they kept their chances in the match alive after conceding a first-innings lead of 177 runs, and Shehzad and Azhar fulfilled that role well. They were disciplined and cautious against the good balls but ensured they were not bogged down by turning the strike over regularly. Only two boundaries were hit over 28 overs in the entire second session, and the last of Shehzad's four fours came in the first session.

With the cushion of a substantial lead, Sri Lanka further strengthened their position when Angelo Mathews induced an uncertain poke from Mohammad Hafeez in the fourth over which was safely caught by Kumar Sangakkara at slip. Despite the early wicket, Shehzad stayed fluent at the start, with beautifully-timed fours off Mathews and Dhammika Prasad either side of the wicket early in his innings.

Rangana Herath came on to bowl for the first time in the match - in Pakistan's 12th over - and beat Shehzad with a ripper that turned past the outside edge. In Herath's next over, however, the opener showed intent, stepped out and cleared the long-on boundary with ease. In the early stages of the partnership, Pakistan's scoring rate stayed close to the 3.5 runs per over.

For the most part, both batsmen were comfortable against Herath, although Shehzad had a few close calls. In the second over after lunch, Shehzad came down the track to an incoming drifter from Herath and rapped on the pads, but replays showed an inside edge, and cost Sri Lanka a review. After he had passed 50, he stepped out again and made it back into the crease just in time to beat a throw from silly point. Shehzad was also pinged on the helmet by Dushmantha Chameera, ducking to a short ball that came up slow off the surface. Against the spinners, however, he used his feet well, a tactic that Azhar also made good use of.

Azhar, who struggled against Herath in the Galle Test, had a better measure of the spinner in this innings, stepping down to block the spin and that forced the spinner to bowl flatter. Azhar continued in the stolid vein even after Pakistan lost Shehzad in the first over after tea, the opener playing a top-edge to the keeper off Prasad. Younis Khan's arrival at the crease broke the boundary drought, and while the senior batsman collected three fours in a 35-ball stay at the crease, Azhar was content to gather the singles and twos, and move to 64 off 152 deliveries.

Sri Lanka for their part tried shuffling the attack around, and the spinners tried lines over and round the wicket without much purchase. They will also have to keep an eye on Chameera. The young fast bowler left the field in the first session to tend to a niggle and was used in short spells on his return, before bad light intervened.

Weather conditions had book-ended the day, after the start was delayed by 30 minutes following heavy overnight rain and a brief spell in the moments leading to start time. It took Pakistan only 3.1 overs and 15 minutes to take the final Sri Lankan wicket, and Yasir Shah wrapped up the innings to finish with returns of 6 for 96.