Rain mars second Test as Pakistan take lead

Colombo, July 26: Pakistan took a 12-run lead over Sri Lanka in the second test on Tuesday with eight first-innings wickets left after only 10 overs were bowled on the rain-hit second day.

Pakistan was 178-2 at stumps at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

All the play was in the morning session with an early lunch taken because of heavy rain. The rain had stopped by the afternoon but the outfield was wet and, after tea, the umpires decided to call off play for the day and resume 15 minutes early on Wednesday.

Resuming on the overnight score of 145-2, Pakistan moved past Sri Lanka's first-innings total of 166 before a downpour forced the players off the field.

Pakistan scored 33 runs during the 43 minutes of play. Opener Abdullah Shaffique has reached 87 while captain Babar Azam is 28 not out in a 57-run unbroken partnership for the third wicket.

Pakistan needed only 48.4 overs to dismiss Sri Lanka on Monday's opening day after the visitors opted to bat first having won the toss. Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed claimed four wickets while Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi shared four wickets between them.

Pakistan won the first test in Galle by four wickets and needs only a draw to clinch the two-match series.

India wins Caribbean series 

The West Indies and India drew the second test at Queen's Park Oval after the fifth and last day Monday was washed out.

India won the series 1-0 after an innings win in Dominica.

India secured a fifth successive series win in the Caribbean. It hasn't lost a test to West Indies in 21 years.

West Indies was 76-2 in the second innings, trailing India by 289 runs. The odds heavily favored India, which was far keener for play to get underway. On Sunday, India wrapped up the West Indies first innings in the first eight overs, taking five wickets for 26 runs.

Play on Monday was scheduled to start earlier to make up for previous rain delays but despite breaks in the showers and the covers being removed, another heavy downpour forced the umpires to call it in mid-afternoon after nearly five hours of inaction.

India scored 438 with 121 from Virat Kohli and 181-2 declared, and West Indies made 255 with a career-best 5-60 by seamer Mohammed Siraj.

The teams turn to white-ball cricket starting in Barbados with three one-day internationals from Thursday. (AP)