KARACHI, April 11: The touring Pakistan ‘A’ lost three top batsmen after bowling out Sri Lanka ‘A’ for 225 early on the second day of the second and final ‘Test’ at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Monday. Skipper Misbahul Haq fell to the fourth ball of the innings to paceman Dilhara Fernando without a run on the board. Fernando then removed the left-handed Ashar Zaidi for eight.

Off-spinner Suraj Mohamed brought the hosts right back into the match by trapping Faisal Athar leg-before-wicket for one.

However, Bazid Khan, who scored a superb century in the drawn first Test at Kandy last week, was batting on 22

and Hasan Raza was yet

to get off the mark with Pakistan ‘A’ struggling at 37 for three.

Earlier, medium-pacer Mohammad Asif narrowly missed a hat trick after the

hosts resumed at the overnight 175 for six. Asif got rid of Prasanna Jayawardene, who failed to add to his Sunday’s tally of 59, and Malinga Bandara on successive deliveries.

Asif was denied a third wicket of the very next ball when Faisal Iqbal reprieved Suraj Mohamed at third slip. Suraj went onto make 30 off 37 balls with five boundaries during a last-wicket partnership of 42 with Fernando.

Asif finished with five for 46. He received good support from left-arm seamer Najaf (three for 58) and leg-spinner Imran Tahir (two for 56).

Jayawardene, whose defiant 114-ball knock included seven fours, shared a crucial 93-run partnership with Gayan Ramyakumara, who made 41 off 100 balls with five boundaries

The seventh-wicket pair came to the crease at 82 for six on Sunday after Jehan Mubarak had won the toss.