Late wickets dent Pakistan's progress

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Pakistan still trailed by 137 runs at stumps on day three of the third Test in Sharjah, with Sri Lanka taking three late wickets to undo much of the progress the hosts had made as they dropped to 291 for six.

Pakistan still trailed by 137 runs at stumps on day three of the third Test in Sharjah, with Sri Lanka taking three late wickets to undo much of the progress the hosts had made as they dropped to 291 for six.

After losing no wickets in the morning session, the afternoon saw the dismissal of Khurram Manzoor and Azhar Ali. After Ahmed Shehzad's ton in the evening, Pakistan then lost a further three wickets.

Pakistan began the day on 19 for none, trailing by 409, with Manzoor and Shehzad having seen out six overs after the declaration the day before. The pair went on to add 66 runs in the morning.

Manzoor was on 41 at the break and Shehzad on 42, but the former was going at a steadier clip than the latter, with a strike rate of 47 compared to 34. As such, the Sri Lanka bowlers toiled, and the fans watched, with little reward.

Both batsmen reached their fifties at a relaxed pace, using over 120 deliveries each, but Manzoor was unable to go much further as he fell for 52. He was caught behind off Shaminda Eranga, having struck four boundaries in his knock.

Ali stuck with Shehzad for 10 overs, making his eight runs in that time, before he too was back in the hut. Debutant Dilruwan Perera, who made 95 himself earlier in the game, was the benefiting bowler, caught by Angelo Mathews.

This left Shehzad and Younis Khan to further reduce the deficit, and at tea it had dropped to 259 runs. Younis was on nine at the end of the afternoon session, while Shehzad was six away from his maiden Test ton.

Younis was only able to make 17 though, and was the first of the three evening wickets, removed by Rangana Herath. Shehzad then reached his ton off 230 deliveries, adding it to his solitary Test fifty.

he was eventually out for 147, also to Herath, who bowled him after the batsman had picked up his scoring rate rather dramatically, including a six. The logic of rushing baffled though, as Asad Shafiq's wicket ended the day's play.

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