14 July,2009 08:37 AM IST | | PA Sport
Pakistan opener Fawad Alam was thrilled to score a century on debut and help get his side out of trouble in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo yesterday. The tourists were bowled out for just 90 runs in their first innings. Sri Lanka then scored 240, to take a lead of 150 runs.
Alam cracked an unbeaten 102 and was involved in two sizeable partnerships 85 runs for the opening wicket with Khurram Manzoor (38) and an unbeaten 93 runs for the second with captain Younis Khan (35 not out).
Those two partnerships put the visitors ahead by 28 runs at stumps. "I'm delighted to make a century on debut," Alam said.
Alam is not a regular opener and he revealed Younis had convinced him to open the innings. "Initially, the plan was to have Shoaib Malik open the innings. But Younis spoke to me during the practice session on the eve of the Test and he convinced me to open the innings," said Alam.
