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SL vs Pak 2nd Test: Ramesh Mendis Bags Fifer As Pakistan Bowled Out For 231

Sri Lanka extended their lead to 169 after spinner Ramesh Mendis took five wickets to help bowl out Pakistan for 231 on day three of the second Test on Tuesday. The hosts had reached 22 at lunch in Galle for their second innings with openers wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella, on 11, and Oshada Fernando, on eight, at the crease. The left-handed Dickwella opened Sri Lanka's batting with skipper Dimuth Karunaratne sitting out due to a lower back injury. The captain did not take the field in the Pakistan innings and will only bat if needed.

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, 2nd Test, Day 3 Live Updates: Hosts On Top

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, 2nd Test, Day 3 Live Updates And Live Cricket Score: On Day 2, Spinner Ramesh Mendis took three wickets to put Sri Lanka in command of the second Test on Monday despite a fighting 62 by Pakistan batsman Agha Salman. Tourists Pakistan, who lead the two-match series 1-0, ended day two on 191-7, still trailing Sri Lanka by 187 runs in their first innings in Galle. Salman resisted the bowling attack with his maiden Test fifty but fell to Prabath Jayasuriya's left-arm spin in the final moments of play before stumps was called. Jayasuriya got Salman caught at slip with a drifter coming into the right-handed batsman. Salman, who made his debut in the previous match, put on 46 runs with Yasir Shah, batting on 13, to lift Pakistan from 145-6. He expects the lower-order to fire come day three. "The way the partnership was going, we wanted to see off the day and come back tomorrow to start afresh, but it's cricket and it happens," said Salman. "Disappointed, but still we have enough batters who can utilise the situation and add to the total," he added. (LIVE SCORECARD)

"Lunatic" Politicians Can't Stop Cricket-Mad Sri Lanka Grandfather

Cricket-obsessed Percy Abeysekera has been a constant presence at Sri Lanka matches since their first Test against England in 1982 -- and even the country's worst economic crisis cannot keep him away. Forty years ago, the man now fondly known as "Uncle Percy" escorted England batsman Chris Tavare on the pitch at the P. Sara Oval in the capital Colombo while holding a Sri Lankan flag. Now 85, he has been a regular feature since, allowed on to the field by Sri Lanka's cricket authorities to accompany the team off after every game, win or lose, still carrying his flag.

Border's advice for Head: Improve against spin to emulate Hayden's success during '01 India tour

Allan Border has advised southpaw Travis Head to improve his technique against spinners if he wants to replicate Matthew Hayden's success when Australia tour India for four-Test series next year. Head was named as the 'Player of the Series' during the last Ashes but his form drastically dipped in sub-continental conditions (against Pakistan and Sri Lanka) where he managed to aggregate only 91 runs with the highest score of 26. "He's (Head) got to sit down and work out a method better than it's going at the moment, that's for sure," Border was quoted as saying in cricket.com.au.

"Needs To Learn How To Play Turning Ball": Ex-Australia Captain On Travis Head

Australian Test great Allan Border has urged middle-order batter Travis Head to look to legendary opener Matthew Hayden for inspiration and develop a gameplan to be used in subcontinent conditions during his side's tour to India, which will take place this year. This comes after the batter experienced some terrible outings in the Test series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. His failures in the subcontinent sit in contrast with a dominant Ashes campaign last summer, in which he scored 357 runs and emerged as the 'Player of the Series'. In his outings in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, he has scored only 91 runs at a poor average of 15.17 and the highest individual score of 26.

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Sri Lanka Sport News

SL vs Pak 2nd Test: Ramesh Mendis Bags Fifer As Pakistan Bowled Out For 231

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, 2nd Test, Day 3 Live Updates: Hosts On Top

"Lunatic" Politicians Can't Stop Cricket-Mad Sri Lanka Grandfather

Border's advice for Head: Improve against spin to emulate Hayden's success during '01 India tour

"Needs To Learn How To Play Turning Ball": Ex-Australia Captain On Travis Head

Late Agha Salman wicket hurts Pakistan as Sri Lanka spinners dominate second Test

Heather Knight faces race against time to be fit for Commonwealth Games

Sri Lanka on top in second Test as Pakistan batters struggle