Silva stands tall at Galle – SL vs Pakistan 1st Test at Galle

Opener Kaushal Silva played another rock solid inning of 80 not out as Sri Lanka finished the second day on 178 for 3 against Pakistan in their rain affected first Test match continued at Galle yesterday.
The short right hander, Silva played with his usual tempo being solid upfront, and capitalized on his luck in his 197 balls 80 which included 12 fours. Kaushal was benefitted from a dropped catch by Yasir Shah at backward point off Wahab Riaz in the 8th over when he was on 6 runs. Silva did not look back after that and went on to score his half century in 122 balls, and added 30 more in 55 balls thereafter.
After the first wicket fell for 30 runs, Sri Lanka’s batting great Kumar Sangakkara did what he does best along with the Kaushal Silva at the other end, as the pair rebuilt the inning with a steady 112 run partnership for the second wicket. Century stand of the pair came in 208 balls at the end of 46.4 overs before Sangakkara’s departure for 50 in the 50th over.
Sangakkara who came to the crease in the 13th over, opened scoring with a boundary straight down the ground off the first ball he faced against left arm
paceman Wahab Riaz, who replied with a few furious bouncers thereafter. Sangakkara was benefitted through a dropped catch by Azar Ali at short leg in the 37th over when he was on 24 against the bowling of Yasir Shah. The left hander scored his 52nd half century in 103 balls in the 48th over and faced only three more balls in the next over. Wahab Riaz claimed his second wicket when he bowled a tight length fuller ball just outside off stump, and Sangakkara nicked a straight forward catch to Younis Khan at first slip, who caught it with ease giving a much needed breakthrough to the visitors.
Sri Lanka’s first wicket fell in the 13th over when Wahab Riaz who came back into the attack after changing ends foxed Dimuth Karunaratne as he nicked the second ball of the 13th over and was caught behind by wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed with ease. Karunaratne was given a reprieve when he was caught earlier at slip in the second over of the day, which turned out to be a no-ball (the second of that over) by Wahab Riaz. Number four batsman Lahiru Thirimanne did not last long as he gave away his wicket as usual with a loose shot in the 56th over. Thirimanne hit straight to Zulfiqar Babar at mid-on against the bowling of Mohammad Hafeez.
The match was delayed due to wet ground conditions and started at 12.00 noon. Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq decided to bowl first after winning the toss.