Lanka bounce back to take control of SSC Test

Sa'adi Thawfeeq

Sri Lanka bounced back into the first cricket Test against Pakistan and took control of it when they grabbed an unlikely first innings lead of nine runs and by the close on the third day had built on it to be 242 for two wickets at the SSC grounds yesterday.

Pakistan were dismissed in their first innings for 176 in reply to Sri Lanka's 185.

Sri Lanka's top order which has been found wanting for the lack of runs they put on the board came good on this occasion with Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara and skipper Mahela Jayawardene all stroking contrasting half-centuries on a pitch that was ideal for batting.

Pakistan was left to rue at missing out on a good opportunity to bat Sri Lanka out of the match after their bowlers had dismissed the home country for 185.

They were undone by some casual batting coupled with some excellent bowling from Farveez Maharoof who returned career best figures of four for 52 and Muttiah Muralitharan whose three wickets for 41 runs gave hint that there are more wickets for him on this strip later in the match.

One of the pleasing aspects from Sri Lanka's point of view are the leading roles played in the Test so far by youngsters Maharoof and Tharanga, both aged 21. Maharoof has shown his hand as turning out into a fine all-rounder capable of filling the no. 7 slot, which has been long overdue.

He not only displayed qualities as a batsman when Sri Lanka were in trouble but came back to bring his team right on track by grabbing four top order wickets.

Tharanga may have a limited range of shots but he makes up for that inadequacy with a temperament and mental strength that will see him play bigger innings in the future than the 72 he scored in nearly three hours yesterday. He had a century starring at him in the face but blew it when impetuosity got the better of him.

After Tharanga and Jayasuriya had provided a reasonable start with an opening partnership of 53, Sangakkara played the sheet anchor role to figure in stands of 72 with Tharanga and 115 (unbroken) with Jayawardene to turn the screws on Pakistan.

Sangakkara was unbeaten on 77 scored in four hours with eight fours and Jayawardene was on 69, which had taken him 126 minutes (10 fours, 1 six). Sangakkara became the seventh Sri Lankan batsman to pass 4000 runs in Test cricket during his knock.

At the end of the third day Sri Lanka lead by 251 runs with eight second innings wickets in hand. Pakistan missed Jayasuriya at seven and Jayawardene at 54 with leg-spinner Danish Kaneria being the unfortunate bowler on both occasions.

Pakistan resuming at 124-4 and hoping to build on a big first innings had their hopes shattered by Maharoof who within the space of 13 balls sent back both overnight batsmen as they were dismissed for 176 within a matter of 103 minutes conceding a nine-run first innings lead to Sri Lanka.

Skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq gave a catch behind to be dismissed for 31. A ball that cut back off the seam to castle him for eight bowled Razzaq. It was Maharoof's inspired morning spell that brought Sri Lanka back into the Test after their disappointing first innings performance. So far Maharoof has been the dominant figure scoring a fighting 46 to help his side recover from a shaky 32-5 to 185 and then come back to send the Pakistani batsmen packing for 176.

Muralitharan kept the pressure on the Pakistani batsmen by getting the wickets of Afridi (14) and Gul (2). He eventually finished the innings off when Akmal was dismissed in an unusual fashion. His powerful sweep saw the ball lodged in between short leg fielder Tharanga's helmet and left shoulder as the fielder took evasive action.

Malinga also picked up three when he bowled Asif with a swinging yorker.

SRI LANKA - 1ST INNINGS 185 
PAKISTAN 1ST - INNINGS  (Overnight 124-4) 

Shoaib Malik c Bandara b Maharoof           	13 
Imran Farhat c Bandara b Malinga           	69 
Younis Khan c Sangakkara b Maharoof    		00 
Faisal Iqbal c Maharoof b Malinga           	02 
Inzamam-ul-Haq c Sangakkara b Maharoof .	31 
Abdul Razzaq b Maharoof           		08 
Shahid Afridi b Muralitharan           		14 
Kamran Akmal c Tharanga b Muralitharan  	27 
Umar Gul lbw b Muralitharan           		02 
Mohammed Asif b Malinga           		00 
Danish Kaneria not out      			00 
Extras (b-1, nb-8, w-1)           		10 
TOTAL (al out, 54.4 overs, 252 mins)     	176 
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-25 (Malik), 2-25 (Younis), 3-28 (Faisal),
4-122 (Farhat), 5-127 (Inzmam), 6-138 (Razzaq), 7-154 (Afridi),
8-160  (Gul), 9-172 (Asif), 10-176 (Akmal). 
BOWLING: Malinga 12-3-30-3 (1w, 2nb), Maharoof 15-2-52-4(3nb),
Fernando 3-0-20-0(3nb), Bandara 7-1-32-0,Muralitharan 17.4-4-41-3. 

SRI LANKA - 2ND INNINGS 
W. U. Tharanga c Farhat b Kaneria           	72   
S.T. Jayasuriya c Akmal b Asif   		13 
K.C. Sangakkara not out           		77 
D.P.M.D. Jayawardene not out           		69 
Extras (b-10, lb-1)           			11  
TOTAL (2 wkts at close, 73 overs, 302 mins) 	242  
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-53 (Jayasuriya), 2-127  (Tharanga). 
BOWLING: Asif 14-2-37-1, Gul 15-1-60-0, Kaneria  21-4-78-1,
Malik 10-2-24-0, Afridi 6-0-15-0, Razzaq 6-1-15-0, Farhat 1-0-2-0.