Babar out as Pakistan 222-3 in chase of 342 for Galle win

GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Opener Abdullah Shafique was 112 not out and leading Pakistan at 222-3 in its chase of 342 to beat Sri Lanka in the first test at Galle Stadium on Tuesday.

The fourth day would have belonged entirely to Pakistan but captain Babar Azam was out six overs from the end for 55 after the best partnership of the match.

That gave Sri Lanka a sniff of hope that it can still win, but the odds are with Pakistan, which needs 120 more runs with seven wickets in hand and a full day.

“Happy to score my second hundred in the fourth innings chasing a big target on a pitch that has helped spin,” Shafique said. "But the bigger picture is seeing off the run chase. I have seen lot of games in Galle and it’s not easy to chase big targets here.

“We knew once we tackled (Prabath) Jayasuriya well, we could handle other spinners. I had a few options against him and it worked. It was important for us to have shorter goals and we have done everything right.”

The highest successful run chase in Galle is 268 and Pakistan went about achieving the unlikely showing determination and skill on a pitch that slowed down and lacked bounce.

Sri Lanka made it easy with poor field placements. Despite having almost 350 runs to defend, the host spread the field early in Pakistan’s innings and the batters were happy to knock off the singles and put up a solid foundation.

The openers combined for 87 runs and the start Pakistan needed, although Sri Lanka claimed the wickets of Imam-ul-Haq (35) and Azhar Ali (6) in quick succession.

First-innings century-maker Babar added 101 runs for the third wicket with Shafique to help Pakistan seize the initiative.

Shafique was unbeaten at stumps having batted for close to six hours. He'd faced 289 deliveries and hit just five fours and one six.

The second century of Shafique’s six-test career could be a match-winning one. There was a nervous moment when he was on 4 and a loud lbw shout was turned down. The Sri Lankans reviewed and Shafique was narrowly saved.

Spinner Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka’s main weapon, broke the partnership when he got one to spin from the rough outside Babar's leg stump and the ball clipped the off stump bail much to Babar's bewilderment. A better defensive shot using his feet could have saved him.

Vice-captain Mohammad Rizwan, 7 not out, joined Shafique and the pair ensured there were no further hiccups.

Sri Lanka spin bowling coach Piyal Wijetunga said they still had hope.

“What is important for us is to pick up two wickets in the first hour (tomorrow)," Wijetunga said. "If we do so, we’ll be able to win this game. The wicket has got flatter and we need to keep it tight, create opportunities and grab the chances. It’s a big day tomorrow.”

Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal was left stranded on 94 when their second innings was ended on 337 with the addition of only eight runs. Jayasuriya was the last man out for 4.

The series is being played against the backdrop of an economic and political crisis engulfing Sri Lanka.

The second test, scheduled to start on Sunday, was switched from Colombo to Galle because Sri Lanka Cricket decided not to take any chances with potential political protests in the capital.

The venue switch was confirmed on Monday around the time Ranil Wickremesinghe declared a state of emergency. He became acting president last week after Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled abroad and resigned after months-long mass protests over the country’s economic collapse.

SLC was forced to postpone the Lanka Premier League which was scheduled for next month due to the economic crisis. Officials also admitted the Asia Cup they were scheduled to host in late August is slipping away from them due to the crisis.

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