Dhananjaya helps Lanka reach 263/6 on Day 2 against Pakistan

Rawalpindi : Dhananjaya de Silva remained unbeaten on 72 as Sri Lanka reached 263/6 at stumps on Day 2 in the first innings of the rain-affected historic Test match against Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Stadium here on Thursday.

Only 18.2 overs were possible across 82 minutes as rain played spoilsport and play was eventually called off early on Day 2.

The tourists made some progress through Dhananjaya and Niroshan Dickwella (33) before the latter poked at a ball from Shaheen Shah Afridi and guided it to Babar Azam at gully.

Afridi and Naseem Shah picked up two wickets each as Pakistan did well to keep up the good work with the ball, but the Lankans responded with positive batting, reflected in the 61 runs made on Thursday.

Earlier on Day 1, Sri Lanka made 202/5 at stumps with Dhananjaya batting on 38 alongwith Dickwella on 11. The pair added 67 runs together for the sixth wicket before the stand was broken.

Besides Dhananjaya, skipper Dimuth Karunaratne scored 59 on the first day while fellow opener Oshada Fernando made 40.

The Test is the first in Pakistan since a militant attack on the Sri Lankan team bus killed eight people in March 2009, leading to the suspension of international cricket in the country as foreign teams refused to visit over security fears.

With improved security, Pakistan hosted Zimbabwe, a World XI, West Indies and Sri Lanka in the last four years, but only for limited over matches.

Sri Lanka only agreed to tour after completing a limited over tour (three one-day internationals and as many Twenty20s) in September-October this year under tight security arrangements.

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 263/6 (Dhananjaya de Silva 72 batting, Dimuth Karunaratne 59; Shaheen Shah Afridi 2/47, Naseem Shah 2/75)