Sri Lanka lose early wicket in second cricket Test

Sri Lanka suffered an early blow when they began their reply to Pakistan's 551-6 declared on the third day of the second Test in Colombo on Monday. Opener Tharanga Paranavitana was snapped up at short-leg off Junaid Khan for zero before the hosts recovered to post 70 for one by lunch at the Sinhalese Sports Club. The experienced duo of Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara led the revival by adding a brisk 59 for the second wicket on a pitch that continued to assist batsmen. Dilshan was unbeaten on 46 with nine hits to the fence and Sangakkara was on 22. Pakistan, who resumed at the overnight score of 488-4, batted for an hour before skipper Misbah-ul Haq declared the innings. Misbah himself remained unbeaten on 66 after Asad Shafiq was run out for two and Adnan Akmal was caught in the covers to give left-arm spinner Rangana Herath his third wicket in the innings. Pakistan, who lost the first Test in Galle by 209 runs, are hoping to level the three-match series here despite forecast of bad weather ahead. Just 44 overs were bowled on Sunday due to heavy showers on either side of lunch, before another wet spell washed out the post-tea session. Pakistan's innings revolved around a second-wicket stand of 287 between Mohammad Hafeez (196) and Azhar Ali (157), the highest partnership by a visiting team on Sri Lankan soil.