Galle_Sri Lanka’s only bit of success on the third morning was the wicket of Agha Salman, who was stumped off Ramesh Mendis for 83
Lunch Pakistan 313 for 6 (Shakeel 119*, Agha 83, Noman 13*, Jayasuriya 3-110, Ramesh 2-93) lead Sri Lanka 312 (Dhananjaya 122, Mathews 64, Abrar 3-68, Afridi 3-86, Naseem 3-90) by one run
Sri Lanka pulled back the scoring rate in the last hour of the morning session, but Pakistan remained in the ascendancy as Saud Shakeel, with a second Test century in the bag, transformed the overnight deficit of 91 to a one-run lead. At the break, Shakeel was unbeaten on 119 with Noman Ali for company on 13.
Things might have been worse for Sri Lanka had Agha Salman not gifted his wicket away at the tail end of a dominant first hour, something which led to the more subdued final hour. Overnight rain and a wet outfield meant the start of play was delayed by an hour, but Shakeel and Agha did their best to make up for any lost time, taking the attack to the Sri Lankan bowlers from the get-go.
Despite this being a third-day track in Galle, the persistent rain had meant that any turn on offer was of the slow variety. But such was the intent shown by Shakeel and Agha, you suspect even more prodigious turn would have been dealt with in similar manner.
Of the two, Shakeel was the more proactive, unafraid to use his feet be it to the seamers or spinners. Against Kasun Rajitha he frequently walked down the track, outside the line of off stump, to work the ball either side of the wicket. Against Prabath Jayasuriya, he used the depth of the crease to great effect to guide the ball behind square on either side; otherwise, his sound defensive technique ensured that anything fuller was kept out with ease.
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