Former Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed suffered a nasty blow on the helmet on Day 3 of second Test against Sri Lanka at Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo. As Sarfaraz suffered concussion, Mohammad Rizwan has been named as his like-for-like replacement.
Sarfaraz walked out to bat after Saud Shakeel’s wicket. On the first ball, he walked down the track against Asitha Fernando. The ball hit him flush on the helmet and went towards the boundary. After the initial concussion test, he continued to bat on.
He hit a couple of boundaries and survived a run out chance as well. In the over after drinks break, he hit Dilshan Madushanka for a boundary as well. But Sarfaraz removed his helmet and called for physio. He had to leave the field as the physio did not think it was safe for him to continue batting. He scored 14 runs from 22 balls.
After Sarfaraz walked off the ground, Agha Salman came in to bat. Abdullah Shafique and Salman shared a 149-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Meanwhile, Rizwan was named as Sarfaraz's concussion substitute.
Shafique scored his maiden Test double ton. He scored 201 runs from 326 deliveries including 19 fours and four sixes. The opener was dismissed by Prabath Jayasuriya in the 114th over of the innings.
After Shafique's wicket, Rizwan came in to bat. He hit a six off Jayasuriya as well. The partnership between Rizwan and Salman took Pakistan past 500. Also, Salman brought up his second Test hundred. He took 123 deliveries to reach the three figures. Rizwan remained unbeaten for 37 off 61 balls at the end of Day 3's play.
Despite rain playing spoilsport on Day 2, Pakistan have taken a sizeable lead of 397 runs over hosts who got all out for 166 as Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed picked up three-fer and four-fer respectively.
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