• Sri Lanka ‘A’ leads by 221 runs over Pakistan Shaheens on third day of first four-day match.
• Batters lead Sri Lanka’s fightback against Pakistan Shaheens
• At the close of play, the touring side had amassed 364/9.

RAWALPINDI: Sri Lanka ‘A’ built a strong 221-run lead over Pakistan Shaheens by stumps on the third day of the first four-day match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, reaching 364/9 with Sonal Dinusha and Vishwa Fernando still at the crease.

The visitors began their second innings from an overnight score of 77/1, led by Nipun Dhananjaya and Ahan Wickramasinghe. However, both were dismissed quickly after adding just 10 runs to their partnership, reducing Sri Lanka ‘A’ to 87/3. Wickramasinghe contributed 53 from 95 balls, while Dhananjaya scored a determined 28.

Captain Pasindu Sooriyabandara and Pavan Rathnayake then steered a recovery, forming a solid 126-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Their efforts were briefly thwarted by a middle-order collapse, which saw Sri Lanka ‘A’ tumble from 213/3 to 226/7 with the departures of both set batters. Rathnayake scored a quick 60 off 69 balls, and Sooriyabandara added 64 from 95 deliveries.

Amid the setback, No.9 batter Wanuja Sahan and Dinusha anchored the innings, putting together a vital 130-run stand for the eighth wicket. Sahan top-scored with a notable 73 off 99 balls, while Dinusha remained unbeaten on a patient 62 off 125 balls at the close of play.

For Pakistan Shaheens, Test pacer Khurram Shahzad took four wickets, with Kashif Ali and Mohammad Suleman claiming two wickets each.

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