Chandimal in command as Sri Lanka dominate in Galle

An unbeaten 86 by Dinesh Chandimal has put Sri Lanka in a commanding position in the first Test against Pakistan as they finished 9-329 on day three in Galle.

Sri Lanka have a comfortable 333-run lead and should feel happy as no team has chased that many to win a Test match at this ground.

The highest successful run chase in Galle is 4-268 by Sri Lanka against New Zealand in 2019.

Former captain Chandimal, who was top scorer with 76 runs in the first innings, was a thorn in Pakistan's side again stitching vital partnerships with the tail.

He brought up his 23rd half-century with a single to covers off Naseem Shah.

Chandimal closed the day with five fours and two sixes from 121 deliveries. Prabath Jayasuriya was on four.

The 32-year-old Chandimal has been in good nick having posted a maiden double hundred against Australia last week as Sri Lanka went onto record a come-from-behind win against the world's top-ranked team.

Pakistan had an opportunity to dismiss Chandimal when he was on 68 but Hasan Ali put down a return catch.

Pakistan also unsuccessfully reviewed a leg-before shout against him.

The game was evenly poised when the day began with Sri Lanka having a lead of 40 runs with nine wickets in hand.

Pakistan knocked off nightwatchman Kasun Rajitha early in the second over of the morning but a 91-run stand for the third wicket between Kusal Mendis (76) and Oshada Fernando (64) steadied the innings.

However, after lunch, Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah produced a delivery that drew comparisons with Shane Warne's 'ball of the century' from 1993.

Yasir dismissed Kusal Mendis with a ball that pitched well outside the leg-stump and then turned sharply and knocked back the top of off-stump beating the batsman's defence.

Yasir has taken five wickets in his comeback game.

Left-arm orthodox spinner Mohammad Nawaz was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan picking up a maiden five-wicket haul in the second innings.

At 7-235, Pakistan were looking to keep Sri Lanka's lead below 250, but yet again the tail hurt them.

Ramesh Mendis (22) added 32 runs with Chandimal for the eighth wicket while Maheesh Theekshana (11) added 41 runs for the ninth wicket to take Sri Lanka's lead beyond 300 and make things almost impossible for the visitors.

They were not done yet as No.11 Prabath Jayasuriya added a further 21 runs for the last wicket with Chandimal.

Play was called off early with six overs remaining due to bad light.

Meanwhile, logistical challenges caused by Sri Lanka's economic and political crisis have forced the second Test against Pakistan to be moved from Colombo to Galle.

Sri Lanka Cricket announced the decision Monday, on day three of the first Test, after deciding not to take any chances with potential political protests in the capital. 

The protests are likely to intensify with Sri Lanka's parliament set to choose a new president later this week.

The second Test was scheduled to start in Colombo next Sunday.

Now both teams will remain in the southern coastal town of Galle after the first Test to play out the series, with Galle hosting its fourth Test in as many weeks following back-to-back matches against Australia.

The hotel in Colombo that had been set to host both cricket teams is close to the Presidential Palace that has been taken over by protesters.