Left-handed opening batter Shan Masood scored magnificent half-century as Pakistan finished day one at 160-3 in 37 overs on the opening day of two-day warm-up game against Sri Lanka President's (SLP) XI in Hambantota.
Shan and Imam-ul-Haq came to open Pakistan's innings after they bowled out the hosts for paltry 196 runs. After Hasan Ali and Shaheen Afridi's heroics, Shan carried the momentum with the bat and scored worthy runs for the visiting side.
The left-handed opener scored 83 runs whereas Imam made 36 runs before getting out. Young Abdullah Shafique contributed 25 runs before walking off.
Skipper Babar Azam (14*) and Saud Shakeel (0*) will resume Pakistan's innings tomorrow.
Earlier, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hassan Ali took three wickets each to help Pakistan bowl out SLP XI for 196.
After deciding to bowl first, Pakistani bowlers, especially Hassan and Shaheen, showed their dominance by picking up wickets after regular intervals.
Hassan bagged Sandun Weerakkody in no time to provide an early breakthrough to the touring party.
Abrar Ahmed then joined the party after he picked up Nuwanidu Fernando who managed to score just 19 runs.
Oshada Fernando and Kamindu Mendis built up a brief partnership before Shaheen put Mendis in trouble, ending up taking his wicket. He scored 22 including two boundaries and a maximum.
Oshada remained calm and composed as he kept on scoring runs despite losing partners at the other end.
He scored the highest 109 runs off 128 balls. His innings included 18 boundaries.
For Pakistan, apart from Shaheen and Hassan, Abrar and Aamer Jamal took two wickets each.
Earlier, the Pakistan cricket team landed in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sunday ahead of the two-match Test series against the home side.
Former South Africa fast bowler Morne Morkel, who was appointed as Pakistan team's bowling coach, also joined the team in Colombo. He was unable to join the camp in Karachi due to visa issues.
Pakistan team’s training camp concluded on Friday (July 7) at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi.
The first Test of the series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be played at the Galle International Cricket Stadium on July 16 and the two teams will then travel to Colombo for the second Test at the Singhalese Sports Club from July 24 till 28.
Pakistan last toured Sri Lanka in July 2022 and that two-match Test series ended in a 1-1 draw. Pakistan scaled the target of 342 to register the best run chase at the cricket ground and win the first Test by four wickets. However, the hosts bounced back in the second Test to level the series with a 246-run win.
Pakistan Squad
Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (vc & wk), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Afridi and Shan Masood
Sri Lanka Squad
Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Oshada Fernando, Sadun Weerakkody, Kamidu Mendis (c), Ahan Wickremasinghe, Nipun Dananjaya, Nuwanidu Fernando, Lakshitha Marnasinghe, Praveen Jayawickrwme, Shashika Dulshan, Kavishka Anjula, Milan Ratnayake, Asanka Manoj, Mohammed Shiraz
Test series schedule
16-20 July – First Test at Galle International Cricket Stadium
24-28 July – Second Test at Singhalese Sports Club, Colomb
