Sri Lanka ended the third day of the third Test in all sorts of trouble against England at Colombo, while Pakistan have built a big first innings score as they seek to level the series against New Zealand.
Sri Lanka vs England, 3rd Test, Colombo
England lost their first four second-innings wickets for just 39 runs on the third morning before Ben Stokes (42 runs off 63 balls, 4×4) and Jos Buttler (64 off 79, 3×4) added 89 runs for the fifth wicket off only 109 balls.
Moeen Ali (22), Ben Foakes (36 not out) and Adil Rashid (24) all added vital runs as England were bowled out for 230 off 69.5 overs. Dilruwan Perera took 5-88 to add to his first inning three-for, with Malinda Pushpakumara (3-28) and Lakshan Sandakan (2-76) both chipping in with wickets.
Ali removed both Sri Lankan openers (2-16), while Jack Leach (1-12) and Stokes (1-14) each picked up a wicket as Sri Lanka ended the day in disarray with their score on 53-4, still 274 runs behind with two days to play.
England are well on course to finish their highly successful tour on another winning note and are likely to secure the three-match Test series 3-0 after securing the ODI series 3-1.
England 336 & 230
Sri Lanka 240 & 53-4
Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images
Pakistan vs New Zealand, 2nd Test, Dubai
Haris Sohail and Babar Azam resumed Pakistan’s innings in the morning with the goal of amassing a substantial first innings total, and the pair took their fifth wicket partnership to 186 off a circumspect 421 balls.
Their stand came to an end when Trent Boult induced Sohail to edge a delivery to wicketkeeper BJ Watling, who completed the regulation catch without fanfare. Sohail’s epic innings of 147 was scored off 421 balls with 13 fours and it was the left-hander’s highest Test score as well as his second Test century.
Azam went on to record his maiden Test century four balls after Sohail’s dismissal. His century followed hard on the heels of his agonising 99 against Australia in October. Azam and Sarfraz Ahmed (30 off 45 balls) added an undefeated 58 for the sixth wicket before Ahmed declared with his side’s score on 418-5, with Azam 127 not out (263 balls, 12×4, 2×6).
Colin de Grandhomme was superb in trying circumstances, registering figures of 30-11-44-2 (econ 1.46), while Neil Wagner went wicketless despite putting in a great shift with the ball (37-12-63-0, econ 1.70).
New Zealand were 24 without loss at the close and trail by 394 runs on the first innings with three days left to play.
Pakistan 418-5 decl
New Zealand 24-0
