Twitter Reactions: Oshada Fernando’s ton make Pakistan fight for victory in Karachi

Naseem Shah was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers with the wickets of Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews and Dilruwan Perera.

By Sabyasachi Chowdhury

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Oshada Fernando
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Oshada Fernando. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Pakistan got themselves on the driver’s seat in the Karachi Test by the end of the third’s play. The hosts carried on the good work in the fourth day as well. But some resistance from the Sri Lankan batsmen in the final session made sure that Azhar Ali and Co had to put in the hard yards to secure victory. Going into the fifth day, the visitors need 264 runs to win with three wickets in the kitty.

Azhar and Babar make hay

With a lead of 315 runs, Babar Azam and Azhar Ali had the task of helping Pakistan tighten their grip on the match. The duo almost played out the entire pre-lunch session, putting on a stand of 148 runs for the third wicket. In that session, the hosts amassed 108 runs. Azhar got to his 16th Test ton off 142 balls. The skipper eventually perished to Lasith Embuldeniya after he got 118 with 13 fours.

In the same session, Babar also racked up his fourth century in Test cricket off 131 balls. His knock was laced with seven fours and a solitary six. Mohammad Rizwan came out with intent and got a quickfire 21 off 19 balls with a couple of fours. Pakistan didn’t come out to bat in the second session and declared at 555/3 in 131 overs. The Lankans were set a rather daunting target of 466 runs.

Fernando keeps Pakistan waiting

Sri Lanka made a steady start to the chase as Dimuth Karunaratne (16) and Oshada Fernando (102*) kept the scoreboard ticking. To their dismay, Mohammad Abbas found Karunaratne’s outside edge to separate the duo. Naseem Shah nipped out Kusal Mendis for a duck to exert more pressure on the opposition. Shaheen Shah Afridi added to the wickets’ column, getting rid of Angelo Mathews.

Thereafter, Shah picked up his second wicket in the form of Dinesh Chandimal. Yasir Shah nipped out Dhananjaya de Silva to dismiss half the Lankan side. Niroshan Dickwella (65) and Fernando added 104 to steady the ship for the visitors. A poor shot led to Dickwella’s dismissal. Fernando got his maiden Test ton off 102 balls. Shah got rid of Dilruwan Perera to cap off a fitting day for Pakistan

Here’s how Twitter reacted on the day’s play

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