Sri Lanka reach 132/3 at lunch on day 2

DUBAI: Sri Lanka overcame early setbacks in the morning session and moved steadily towards drawing level with Pakistan's below par first-innings score.

The seam movement that Sri Lanka's quicks had exploited on the first day wasn't there anymore, and after losing two wickets to injudicious shot selection, Kaushal Silva and Mahela Jayawardene consolidated and ensured safe passage through to lunch.

Resuming with the score on 57 for 1, Kumar Sangakkara began briskly, taking a boundary off Bilawal Bhatti and two against Rahat Ali in the opening exchanges. At the start of Rahat's second over though, Sangakkara leaned across his stumps to flick and lost balance against an incoming delivery to be struck plumb in front.

Dinesh Chandimal came in ahead of Mahela, who had injured his hand on the first day, at No. 4 but did not bat with the composure that had helped Sri Lanka save the first Test. With no seam assistance from the surface Pakistan's quicks used the short ball more, and when Junaid Khan sent down a bouncer that was above eye level, Chandimal hooked instinctively and was caught by Rahat at long leg. He had been dismissed in exactly the same fashion in the second innings in Abu Dhabi.

At 88 for 3, Sri Lanka were in danger of letting a significant advantage slip, but Silva and Mahela, who came in at No. 5, averted that through sensible batting. They defended competently and left well outside off, but also put away loose balls. Silva pulled Rahat when he dropped short and glanced him when he strayed down leg.

Mahela showed few signs of discomfort. He had been dismissed by Bhatti twice in Abu Dhabi and the bowler was brought on not long after Mahela entered. An outside edge scurried for four but Mahela also cut with authority. He played the shot of the morning when he got down on one knee and slog-swept Saeed Ajmal to the midwicket boundary. Those were the only runs Ajmal conceded in five overs of accurate spin.