Karunaratne (196) helps Lanka pile up in first pink ball Test

Sri Lanka Test opener Dimuth Karunaratne compiled further on his brilliant form when he guided his side to a commanding 355 for 4 at the first break on the second day of their second test at Dubai, yesterday.

At tea (first break) Karunarathna was still batting with an air of confidence and unbeaten on 171 after facing 352 balls with 18 fours and a six which he hit early, yesterday.

With Karunarathna was wicket- keeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella who was also batting with lots confidence and was three runs short of another half century. In his 44 ball stay Dickwella hit five fours and also put on an unbeaten 73 run stand for the 5th wicket with Karunaratne.

The only wicket to fall during the two hour period was of skipper Dinesh Chandimal who was ruled leg before to a ball by leg spinner Yasir Shah for 62. The irony is that the replays showed that the ball may have missed the off stump, but Chandimal opted not to challenge the umpire’s judgement. Dimuth Karunaratne Kaushal Silva