Sri Lankans have their backs to the wall :

Malik’s majestic century helps Pakistan to a 366 lead

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE reporting from the SSC

The Pakistanis who would have earned the tag ‘Collapso Boys’, had they collapsed again like they did in the first Two Tests, batted with determination and purpose to end day three in a strong position in the Third and final Test against Sri Lanka at the SSC here today.

They were helped to this position by two determined stands, first for the 5th wicket between Misbah Ul-Haq 65 and Shoaib Malik – 119 and a 6th wicket unbroken stand of 114 between Malik and Kamran Akmal 60 not out.

In between Shoaib Malik executed a majestic century undefeated 106, his second in Tests. He went to his century when he lofted Herath over mid off for six to go from 95 to 101.Considering the circumstances,it was a great effort.

At the close the Pakistanis were 300 for 5 wickets – a lead of 366 with five wickets remaining and two days to go. Pakistan made 299 in the first innings and Sri Lanka replied with 233.

For the first time in the series, the Lankans find themselves with their backs to the wall and will have to produce a tremendous batting performance, if they are to stave off defeat and score an epic victory.

The Pakistani spin twins of Danesh Kaneira and Saeed Ajmal will have a fourth innings wicket giving them help and they will revel on it.

The ground was bathed in sunshine when play began on the third day with Pakistan 16 for the loss of Khurram Mansoor’s wicket with the not out batsmen being Fawd Alam on 14 and Younus Khan yet to open his account and a lead of 82 runs. For Pakistan who had lost the previous two Test matches, the option was to bat better than they did in the earlier Tests, accumulate runs and getting Sri Lanka to chase a formidable total for victory

From Sri Lanka’s point of view they had to quickly get the remaining opponent’s batsmen cheaply and not have to chase a difficult score on the pitch that is tending to deteriorate and help spinners as the game progresses.

With that being the scenario, Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara immediately went on the attack with pace from Thusara Mirando and spin from Rangana Herath. He gave Herath who has been Sri Lanka’s match winner in the Tests in Galle and the P. Sara Oval an attacking field of a slip, a gully, short leg and silly point.

With just six runs added, Mirando got one to bounce and Alam failed to keep it down and lollied a return catch to the bowler.

Alam made 16.22 for 2. Khan and Mohammed Yousuf added 32 for the next wicket with some careful batting and birthday boy Nuwan Kulasekera coming on for Herath had Khan LBW for 19 with the score on 54.

Yousuf seemed to be going well, but lunged lazily forward and snicked Herath to wicket keeper Sangakkara for 23 with the score on 67.

During the Misbah Ul-Haq and Shoaib Malik stand, spinner Herath seemed to sacrifice spin for pace, and instead of flighting, looking for spin and attempting to buy his wickets which spinners are expected to do, he looked innocuous and the batsmen were playing him with consummate ease.

Misbah and Malik two very experienced batsmen, showed patience, good technique and concentration as they stayed put at the wickets for the entire session between lunch and tea and never allowed the bowlers to break through.

They pushed the singles and once they got their eyes in used their feet well to counter the spin from Herath who was the only bowler who looked like taking a wicket.

They had him under control lifting him for two sixes.They added 82 between lunch and tea.

With the other bowlers being up and down, how skipper Sangakkara would have been wishing for another tweaker. Going in with one spinner and four pacies was poor selection.
 

Pakistan 
1st innings: 299 
Sri Lanka
1st innings: 233

PAKISTAN 2nd innings (overnight 16-1)

Khurram Manzoor b Herath		 2
Fawad Alam c and b Thushara		16
Younus Khan lbw b Kulasekera		19
Mohammad Yousuf c Sangakkara b Herath	23
Misbah-ul Haq c Sangakkara b Mathews	65
Shoaib Malik not out			106
Kamran Akmal not out			60
Extras: (b6, lb2, w1)			 9
TOTAL (for 5 wkts, 95 overs)		300
Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Manzoor), 2-22 (Alam), 3-54 (Younus), 4-67 (Yousuf), 5-186 (Misbah).
Bowling: Kulasekera 15-5-33-1 (w1), Thushara 19-2-84-1, Herath 37-6-113-2, 
Vaas 14-6-29-0, Mathews 10-1-33-1.