Sri Lanka removed Pakistan's openers early to gain an upper hand on the second day of the third and final cricket Test against Pakistan at Sharjah stadium here Friday. Sri Lanka, seeking a series-leveling win after losing the second Test by nine wickets in Dubai, removed Mohammad Hafeez (six) and Taufiq Umar (19) as Pakistan closed on 35-2 in reply to its rivals' first innings total of 413. The first Test in Abu Dhabi ended as a draw. Pakistan looked shaky from the start as Hafeez was dismissed in the fifth over of the innings, edging an outgoing delivery from left-arm paceman Chanaka Welegedara to slip for Mahela Jayawardene to take a simple catch. Left-arm spinner Rangana then struck in his third over, inducing Umar to come out of the crease and had him stumped by wicketkeeper Kaushal Silva, much to the disappointment of a holiday crowd of near 8,000 made up of Pakistan expats.At close, Azhar was unbeaten on ten and Younis Khan yet to get off the mark, as Pakistan still trail by 378 runs. Earlier, Saeed Ajmal led Pakistan's fightback with 4-132 after Sri Lanka, well placed at 300-3, lost five wickets in the space of 59 runs before it was guided past 400 by a ninth wicket stand of 54 between Silva (39) and Herath 34 not out. Tough task for Zimbabwe Zimbabwe trailed New Zealand by 305 runs with eight wickets in hand at stumps on the fourth day Friday of their one-off cricket Test at Queens Sports Club. After New Zealand declared at 252-8 in its second innings, seamer Doug Bracewell took two wickets to reduce Zimbabwe to 61-2 at the close of play. Earlier, Zimbabwe pace bowler Kyle Jarvis claimed 5-64.
