Sri Lanka looking to square series
A monumental 117 by Azhar Ali may not be sufficient to deprive a probable Sri Lankan victory against Pakistan at the P. Sara Oval as they are in pursuit of 153 runs to win and square the three Test series. The Pakistanis were dismissed for 329 in their second innings at the stroke of tea on the fourth day of the second Test yesterday.
Play was called off before Sri Lanka began their run chase around 4.00 pm due to rain with Sri Lanka needing 153 runs to win. Play is scheduled to commence at 9.45 am today.
Spearheaded by an inspired spell of medium pace bowling by Dammika Prasad who took 4 for 92 in the second innings and 3 wickets in the first innings and also striking an useful 35 runs while batting has contributed immensely towards the success of the team in the on going Test.
The former Pakistan captain Younis Khan, playing in his hundredth Test and Azhar Ali drove, cut and glanced. Dammika Prasad was the pick of the Lankan bowlers backed up by skipper Angelo Mathews who were relying on movement rather than pace in favourable conditions. After Younis Khan and Azhar Ali added 73 runs for the third wicket, Mathews got one to move and Younis edged for Chandimal to take a regulation catch behind the stumps.
Younis’ 40 runs had cost him 107 minutes facing 67 deliveries and had four boundaries. Skipper Misbah -Ul- Haq walked in, may be thinking of a revival. He needed a good innings to save his side after his disastrous run out in the first innings.
Mishbah after facing 49 deliveries for 22 runs was trapped lbw off Prasad who was troubling the batsmen time and again with his occasional bouncer and change of pace.
Azhar Ali who came at number three, was batting skillfully at one end, although the situation demanded some care he neither neglected his opportunities to score. Azhar being dropped once at 68 by Kumar Sangakkara off Prasad in the fourth over of the morning in the slips, capitalised on the lapse and batted on remorselessly to frustrate the Sri Lankan bowlers.
He has been carrying the burden of the Pakistan innings. Azhar Ali was undisturbed by either spin or speed and equally competent and was powerful off the back or front foot. His 100 came in 448 minutes facing 266 deliveries with five fours.
Whie Azhar was performing his heroics trying to build a substantial total for the bowlers to bowl at, wicket started tumbling at regular intervals. Ashad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah and Zulfiquar Babar all fell cheaply.
Azhar Ali who lost his concentration may be for the first time in the match left his creae and was stumped to give Rangana Herath his first wicket in the match.
Categories: Cricket
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