Openers provide solid start for Pakistan

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Opener Taufeeq Umar hit an aggressive half-century as Pakistan went to lunch on 94 for one wicket on the first day of the second test against Sri Lanka on Saturday.

Umar (65) made his intentions clear from the start taking the attack to the bowlers after Pakistan were put in to bat first on a pitch which offered some help for the seamers.

The left-hander raced away to his half-century off 62 balls with the aid of eight fours and looked good for a hundred before he was out caught behind.

Umar attempted to cut seamer Angelo Mathews but clipped a fine edge to wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene, who was standing up to the stumps.

Umar and fellow opener Mohammad Hafeez put on 78 for the first wicket to give Pakistan, who trail 1-0 in the three-match series, a solid start.

Hafeez was watchful during his stay at the crease and hit only one boundary in the entire morning session to remain unbeaten on 20. Azhar Ali kept him company on eight before the break.

Sri Lanka fielded an unchanged side from the first test which they won by 209 runs.

Captain Mahela Jayawardene turned to spin in the 13th over and though Suraj Randiv and Rangana Herath managed to beat the batsmen on several occasions, they failed to make a breakthrough.