Hafeez 196 and Ali 157 on a rain shortened second day:

Pakistan in the driving seat

Elmo Rodrigopulle

Helped by two well carved out centuries from Mohammed Hafeez 196 and Azhar Ali 157 and who were involved in a grand stand of 287 for the second wicket has placed Pakistan in the driving seat in the Second Test against Sri Lanka at the SSC. On a rain shortened day Pakistan were 488 for 4 when play was called off at 4.15 p.m after a second stoppage for rain with Captain Misbah Ul-Haq 29 and Asad Shafiq one. Spinners Suraj Randv had 1 for 107 in 25 and Rangana Herath 2 for 143 in 45 overs. When play begins on the third day, Pakistan will be looking to get to 550 or 600 before closing and asking Sri Lanka to sink or swim.

The Lankan batsmen from the point of the declaration will have to bat with great responsibility for the rest of the days if they are to save the game and keep their 1-nil lead intact.

Can they survive the biting and vicious spin of three of the best spinners in the game today – Saeed Ajmal, Mohammed Hafeez and Abdur Rehman? That will be the question that could be answered only when the game ends.

To recap

After winning the toss and asking Pakistan to bat and allowing them a first day score 334 for one, a win for Sri Lanka was out of the question.

Because the Pakistanis with a lot more batting to come, will build and take the game away from Sri Lanka.

The only saving grace is a draw and if the Lankan were to lose, it would make winning the Pallekelle Test match that much more difficult.

Skipper Mahela Jayawardena obviously misread the wicket. Maybe the little grass and the early morning moisture on the wicket may have prompted the decision makers in the team to ask Pakistan to bat.

Considering the spin strength in Pakistan bowling, batting a second time is going to be a nightmare. When a team is sent in, it is essential that at least four wickets be captured before lunch. If that fails, the purpose is sending in the opponents is lost and that is how it happened as Pakistan made merry with the kind offer.

It was overcast

It was overcast when play began on the second day and one expected Nuwan Kulesekera and Nuwan Pradeep to bowl better in these conditions. But that was not to be and batsmen Mohammed Hafeez and Azhar Ali moved on. Sri Lanka had success when Hafeez four short of a first double hundred, swung wildly at a tossed up delivery from Herath and was bowled. It was his impetuosity to reach the double hundred that cost him his wicket.

His innings was all concentration, discipline, timing and studded with some lovely stroke play on the off side. He hit 20 fours and a six and put on a massive stand of 287 with Azhar Ali for wicket two.

The partnership helped Pakistan build and frustrated the Sri Lankans. Younus Khan who had good game in Galle came in and playing patiently and carefully as he usually does,consolidated with Azhar Ali.

Nervous nineties

Ali did not take any undue risks and after struggling in the nervous nineties, especially searching for that elusive run from 99, finally square cut for four to reach his third century. It came in 221 balls with 7 fours.

For a one downer, he showed good temperament, has a tight defence and waits for the loose balls to score his runs. He has a highest score of 157.

From morning it was cloudy and threatening to rain. After Ali and Khan had added 39 runs for the third wicket and with 10 minutes to lunch, the rains came down forcing the players in and an early lunch. At that stage Pakistan were 404 for 2 with Ali on 121 and Khan on 14. With hardly any help from the wicket, the Lankan bowlers could do nothing, but wait for the batsmen to make mistakes. Left arm spinner Rangana Herath varied his deliveries and was the only bowler to worry the batsmen.

Play resumes

When play resumed at 2 p.m. it was decided to have tea at 3.40 p.m and play to continue until 6 p.m. light and weather permitting in which time 56 overs had to be bowed.

After the break Ali and Khan stepped on it as the Pakistanis were looking for quick runs Khan attempting to sweep Herath missed and was adjudged LBW by umpire Simon Taufell for 32. He added 70 with Ali for the third wicket.

Next man out was Azhar Ali who was taken by Nuwan Kulesekera at short fine leg reverse sweeping Suraj Randiv for 157. Ali ‘was floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee’, until he lost concentration, played the reverse sweep that should he no place at this level of cricket. He faced 295 balls and hit 9 fours.

With Sri Lanka’s chances of forcing a win slowly, but surely fading from the picture, Jayawardena quite rightly resorted to employing defensive fields to stem the flow of runs. SSC, Sunday.

Pakistan 1st innings (overnight 334-1):
Mohammad Hafeez b Herath		196
Taufeeq Umar c P. Jayawardene b Mathews	 65 
Azhar Ali c Kulasekara b Randiv		157
Younis Khan lbw b Herath		 32
Misbah-ul Haq not out			 29 
Asad Shafiq not out			  1 
Extras: (lb4, nb3, w1)			  8 
Total (for four wickets) 		488
Fall of wickets: 1-78 (Taufeeq), 2-365 (Hafeez), 3-435 (Younis), 4-486 (Azhar). 

Bowling: Kulasekara 27-6-84-0, Mathews 15-1-55-1 (nb1), Pradeep 21.2-3-86-0 (nb2, w1), 
Randiv 25-0-107-1, Herath 45-5-143-2, Dilshan 1-0-9-0.

Umpires: Ian Gould (ENG) and Simon Taufel (AUS) TV umpire: Ruchira Palliyaguruge (SRI)