GALLE, SRI LANKA (AFP) – Dhananjaya de Silva struck a century as Sri Lanka handed Pakistan a mammoth victory target of 508 before bad weather hit the hosts’ chances of wickets in the second Test yesterday.
Pakistan were 89-1 when bad light stopped play early and stumps were called on day four in Galle with left-handed opener Imam-ul-Haq on 46 and skipper Babar Azam on 26.
The arrival of rain ended any chances of play, adding to Pakistan’s hopes of a draw to clinch the two-match series, which they lead 1-0.
But the tourists will need to make an unprecedented chase – with another 419 runs needed to win – if they are to make it 2-0.
The West Indies hold the record for the highest successful Test chase with 418 against Australia in 2003 at Antigua.
Sri Lanka, who declared their second innings on 360-8 in the second session after resuming on 176-5, need nine wickets on the final day to end the series level.
Spinner Prabath Jayasuriya sent back first-match hero Abdullah Shafique for 16 with debutant Dunith Wellalage taking a good running catch at mid-off before tea.
Imam and Azam took their chances to get quick runs in the final session. The pair hit six boundaries between them and Azam also smashed Jayasuriya’s left-arm spin for a six over the mid-wicket region.
Pakistan’s highest chase in Sri Lanka came in 2015, when they made a target of 377 in Pallekele.
