PAKISTAN took control of the second Test against Sri Lanka yesterday, after being asked to bat first in Colombo. Mahela Jayawardene’s decision to field backfired as the tourists piled on the runs in their bid to square the series, reaching the close at Sinhalese Sports Club on 334 for one, with Mohammed Hafeez (172 not out) and Azhar Ali (92 not out) sharing an unbroken second-wicket partnership of 256 runs, after Taufeeq Amir had contributed 65 to an opening stand of 78.
Opener Taufeeq smashed 12 boundaries in an impressive spell at the crease, bringing up his half-century from just 62 balls, before he eventually came unstuck in the 22nd over, edging Angelo Mathews’ delivery through to wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene to end a 74-ball stay.
Taufeeq combined for an opening stand of 78 with Hafeez, who was in watchful form at the start of this contest.
Hafeez was unbeaten on 105 – an effort which included 13 boundaries – as Pakistan totalled 217 for one at tea from 57 overs.
The misery continued for Sri Lanka in the final session, as Hafeez and Ali turned the screw against the hosts, as Ali brought up his 14th Test half-century in the 62nd over, and a little more than eight overs later the pair’s stand hit the 200-run mark.
Wicketkeeper Jayawardene made a loud appeal for Hafeez to be caught behind in the 88th over but Simon Taufel rejected the appeal.

SCORECARD

PAKISTAN 1st innings
Mohammad Hafeez not out 172
Taufeeq Amir c P Jayawardene b Mathews 65
Azhar Ali not out 92
Extras: (lb-3, nb-2) 5
Total: (for 1 wicket off 90 overs) 334
Fall of wicket: 1-78.
Bowling: K Kulasekara 20-4-60-0, A Matthews 12-1-45-1 (nb-1), N. Pradeep 13-3-52-0 (nb-1), S. Randiv 20-0-83-0, H. Herath 24-3-82-0, T. Dilshan 1-0-9-0