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Lunch Pakistan 404 for 2 (Ali 121*, Younis 14*) v Sri Lanka
Mohammad Hafeez missed out on a maiden double-century © Getty Images
Azhar Ali took his time to reach his third Test century, Mohammad Hafeez didn't show similar patience and thus missed out on a maiden double-century, and Pakistan made slow progress in the first session. Resuming at 334 for 1, Pakistan added just 70 before lunch. Those hoping for a result will hope they open up in the later sessions as they did on day one.
Ali, dismissed in the 90s twice before this, faced eight dots each on 98 and 99. In keeping with the theme of the partnership, Hafeez added 24 to his overnight 172 while Ali moved from 92 to 99. Hafeez seemed bent on beating Ali to the landmark, but missed with a slog to a Rangana Herath delivery that was fuller than expected. As the ball hit the leg stump, Herath avoided conceding 100 runs without a wicket, something he has been guilty of only once in his career. Ever the workhorse, he bowled unchanged through the session for just 26 runs.
Ali wasn't to be ruffled, though. He remained patient, waited till the field came up, and went after one wide delivery, and went from 99 to 103, his second century against Sri Lanka. That boundary was the morning's 37th run in 14.2 overs, and it didn't owe to the conditions, which were about as friendly as on day one. Nuwan Kulasekara once beat the edge, and Herath got one to spin past the edge, but that was about all the assistance the bowlers received on the second morning. There was an obligatory outside edge that fell well short.
Ali steadily picked up the pace after reaching his hundred even as Younis Khan felt his way into the innings. Ali scored 22 off the last 30 balls he faced, but an afternoon shower interrupted that progress and advanced the lunch break by about 10 minutes.
Mohammad Hafeez missed out on a maiden double-century © Getty Images
Azhar Ali took his time to reach his third Test century, Mohammad Hafeez didn't show similar patience and thus missed out on a maiden double-century, and Pakistan made slow progress in the first session. Resuming at 334 for 1, Pakistan added just 70 before lunch. Those hoping for a result will hope they open up in the later sessions as they did on day one.
Ali, dismissed in the 90s twice before this, faced eight dots each on 98 and 99. In keeping with the theme of the partnership, Hafeez added 24 to his overnight 172 while Ali moved from 92 to 99. Hafeez seemed bent on beating Ali to the landmark, but missed with a slog to a Rangana Herath delivery that was fuller than expected. As the ball hit the leg stump, Herath avoided conceding 100 runs without a wicket, something he has been guilty of only once in his career. Ever the workhorse, he bowled unchanged through the session for just 26 runs.
Ali wasn't to be ruffled, though. He remained patient, waited till the field came up, and went after one wide delivery, and went from 99 to 103, his second century against Sri Lanka. That boundary was the morning's 37th run in 14.2 overs, and it didn't owe to the conditions, which were about as friendly as on day one. Nuwan Kulasekara once beat the edge, and Herath got one to spin past the edge, but that was about all the assistance the bowlers received on the second morning. There was an obligatory outside edge that fell well short.
Ali steadily picked up the pace after reaching his hundred even as Younis Khan felt his way into the innings. Ali scored 22 off the last 30 balls he faced, but an afternoon shower interrupted that progress and advanced the lunch break by about 10 minutes.