Chandimal scores ton as Sri Lanka frustrate Pakistan bowling

Pacer Hasan Ali dismissed Dickwella for 83 earlier to finally end a longstanding fourth-wicket partnership, as Sri Lanka batsmen continued to frustrate Pakistan bowling on another slow day of play.

Sri Lanka were 295-5 after Dickwella departed, as Pakistan looked to make use of some green patches to build pressure, without much result.

Opener Dimuth Karunaratne fell seven runs short of a deserved century as he anchored Sri Lanka´s fightback on the opening day of the Test on Thursday.

The left-hander was run out for 93 but helped his team recover from a precarious 61-3 to reach 227-4 at close after Sri Lanka won the toss and batted on a greenish Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch.

Karunaratne added an invaluable 100-run partnership with skipper Dinesh Chandimal, as Pakistan failed to break through with the second new ball.

Chandimal was given leg before to Yasir Shah on 42, a decision which was overturned on review. Shah returned figures of 2-59 at the end of day’s play but didn´t get much turn from the pitch while seamer Hasan Ali took 1-58.

Yasir Shah matched fellow countryman Waqar Younis as the joint second fastest to 150 wickets — both achieving the milestone in their 27th Test.

Australia´s Sydney Barnes holds the record after reaching the landmark in just 24 Tests.

The Test is Pakistan´s first since the retirement of legendary batsman Younis Khan and their most successful Test skipper, Misbah-ul-Haq.

Pakistan handed a Test cap to batsman Haris Sohail, while Sri Lanka went into the game with three spinners and two seamers.

 Teams

Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (capt), Azhar Ali, Shan Masood, Sami Aslam, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas

Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kaushal Silva, Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Rangana Herath, Lakshan Sandakan, Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep

Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (ENG) and Nigel Llong (ENG)

TV umpire: Ahsan Raza (PAK)

ICC match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)

Article source: http://www.suchtv.pk/sports/item/60579-abu-dhabi-test-sri-lanka-win-toss-elect-to-bat-first.html