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Pakistan 551 for six decl - rain proves a spoiler
again:
Sri Lanka still need 282 to avoid follow on
Like on the second day, rain proved a spoiler on the third day and
when play was called off with no play possible after lunch, Sri Lanka
were 70 for one in reply to Pakistan’s 551 for six declared still
requiring 282 to avert the follow on at the SSC here, today.
With the rains ceasing and the covers coming off, the umpires made an
inspection and decided to start play at 3.42 p.m. allowing for 36 overs
to be bowled. But once the announcement for play to start was made, the
rains came down and that was it with the umpires calling off play for
the day.
With two more days remaining and if the weather gods stop crying,
interesting cricket is on the cards and with Pakistan sitting pretty the
onus will be on Sri Lanka to save this game and keep their 1-nil lead
intact going into the final Test in Pallekelle beginning on Saturday.
The Sri Lankans have a long way to go to get out of the woods.
Tillekeratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara along with Mahela Jayawadena,
Thilan Samaraweera, Prasanna Jayawardena and Angelo Matthews will have
to bat with caution to stave off defeat. With Sri Lanka out of the
picture where winning is concerned it will be the responsibility of the
batsmen to stay put at the wicket, being fully aware that the Pakistani
bowlers, especially spinners Ajmal, Hafeez and Rehman will be looking
for whatever spin there is on the wicket to skittle the batsmen.
First hurdle
When Sri Lanka batted, the first hurdle to clear was the 352 required
to evade the disgrace of having to follow on. The batsmen would have
been hesitant and not free to break into their usual aggressive stroke
play.
‘No risks and survival for the rest of the Test’, would have been
Captain Mahela Jayawardena’s orders to his batsmen. But he would have
given Dilshan the license to play his natural aggressive batting. And
Dilshan started like a house on fire. After watching his partner
Tharanga Paranavitarne perish for no score at 11, caught at short leg
off bat and by Ali off Junaid Khan, he cut loose, never allowing the
bowlers to dictate.
Boundaries
He made his intentions clear wading into the pacemen Mohammed Junaid
and Ajeez Cheema whenever they pitched up or short, hitting them for
boundaries and lifting danger man off spinner Saeed Ajmal who is
expected to play a big role in this Test weather permitting, for two
boundaries in his first over. At lunch Sri Lanka ere 70 for one in 15
overs, with Dilshan on 46 in 54 balls with 9 fours off well timed off
drives and lofted strokes. It was 50-over style and his 50-run stand
with Kumar Sangakkara came off 54 deliveries. Sangakkara content to play
second fiddle was on 22 with 3 fours in 24 balls. After making a massive
551 for six, Pakistan declared with Skipper Misbah ul-Haq and Abdur
Rehman remaining unbeaten on 66 and 18 respectively. When play began on
the third day, after a rain shortened second day Pakistan were 488 for
six with Misbah on 29 and Asad Shafiq on one. Shafiq went early run out
for 2 and Adnan Akmal was caught by Tillekeratne Dilshan at mid off
failing to keep down a drive for 5.
Supreme confidence
Misbah who was suspended for the First Test in Galle which Pakistan
lost, batted with supreme confidence and did so with great
responsibility like a captain should. He had 5 fours in his 80 ball
knock.
With left hander Abdur Rehman he added a quick 28 for the seventh
wicket with Rehman blasting 2 huge sixes in 13 balls. When quick runs
were needed Rehman unwound and showed his big hitting powers. As for the
bowling on a wicket offering no help spinners left arm Rangana Herath
and off spinner Suraj Randiv toiled hard and had figures of 3 for 164and
1 for 131 which figures they will want to forget.
With a few minutes for play to stat after lunch and more Dilshan
fireworks to follow, the heavens opened up and a heavy down pour
prevented a prompt start. It was a frustrating wait, watching the ground
staff getting the covers on and in the process getting ducked.
SSC, Monday.
Pakistan 1st innings (overnight 488-4):
Mohammad Hafeez b Herath 196
Taufeeq Umar c Jayawardene b Mathews 65
Azhar Ali c Kulasekara b Randiv 157
Younis Khan lbw b Herath 32
Misbah-ul Haq not out 66
Asad Shafiq run out 2
Adnan Akmal c Dilshan b Herath 5
Abdur Rehman not out 18
Total (for six wickets dec) 551
Fall of wickets: 1-78 (Taufeeq), 2-365 (Hafeez), 3-435 (Younis), 4-486 (Azhar), 5-491 (Shafiq), 6-519 (Akmal).
Bowling: Kulasekara 27-6-84-0, Mathews 15-1-55-1 (nb1), Pradeep 24-3-103-0 (nb3, w1), Randiv 31-0-131-1, Herath 49-5-164-3, Dilshan 1-0-9-0.
Sri Lanka 1st innings:
T. Paranavitana c Azhar b Junaid 0
T. Dilshan not out 46
K. Sangakkara not out 22
Total (for one wicket) 70
Fall of wicket: 1-11 (Paranavitana).
Bowling : Cheema 6-1-31-0, Junaid 6-1-22-1, Ajmal 2-0-11-0, Rehman 1-0-4-0
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