Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 205 runs

by A.C. De Silva

FLASHBACK: As in politics, so in sport. The time-tested theory of political history has it that the best way to quell internal rebellion is by scoring a popular international victory.

Javed Miandad, the somewhat, controversial Pakistan cricket captain in the 1980s achieved a fine victory over Sri Lanka by 205 runs at Karachi in the Test played on March 5,6,7,9 and 10 in 1982.

For Sri Lanka, its second venture into a Test match, was no different than the first. On both occasions, the first against England and now against Pakistan, the Sri Lankans did somewhat well in patches, but on the long run failed.

A few days before the Test was due to begin, there was somewhat like a revolt in the Pakistan team that had the Pakistan officials worried.

Majid Khan, Imran Khan, Zaheer Abbas, Wasim Bari, Sarfraz Nawaz, Wasim Raja, Sikhander Bakht and Muddasar Nazar - almost the entire Pakistan Test side issued a press statement that they were unwilling to play under the leadership of Miandad.

The Pakistan Cricket Board came out strongly and said that the rebel-eight would not be considered for the Test against Sri Lanka.Four of the cricketers - Qassim, Raja, Bakht and Bari relented. But only the first two were picked for the match.Miandad won the toss and batted and they came up against some spirited bowling by Sri Lanka paceman Ashantha de Mel and leg-spinner Somachandra de Silva. Pakistan were tottering at 126 for 6 wickets. But comeback man Haroon Rashid (153) and Tahir Naqqash (57) were associated in a seventh wicket partnership of 105 runs, taking the score from that pathetic 126 for 6 to 231 for 7 wickets, for Pakistan to be safely through.

That was not all. Rashid then was joined by Rashid Khan (59) and this pair added 127 runs for the 9th wicket to take the score from 232 for 8 wickets to 359 for 9 wickets at which stage Rashid was run out for 153. So, finally Pakistan did well to get to 396 in their first innings.

Sri Lanka started well enough and a second-wicket partnership of 96 runs between Sidath Wettimuny (71) and Roy Dias (53) were able to steady the innings. Later skipper Duleep Mendis (54) batted attractively to help push Sri Lanka to 344 all out to be just 52 runs behind Pakistan.

Came day number four and Pakistan forged ahead with young débutant Salim Malik and skipper Miandad taking them in front to a position of strength. Miandad made 92, but Salim Malik was 100 not out and the Pakistanis made 301 for 4 wickets at which score they closed their innings.

Sri Lanka's right-arm leg spinner Somachandra de Silva bowled well in the second innings too, as he did in the first innings and took 3 for 99 and his 4 for 102 in the first innings, gave him a tally of 7 wickets in the match for 201 runs.So, Sri Lanka needed 354 runs to win the match.But Sri Lanka's resistance never came in the second innings and they were all out for 149. Pakistan's new ball bowlers Tahir Naqqash and Rashid Khan had the Lankans cornered at lunch at 41 for 3 wickets fell quickly and Sri Lanka were all out for 149 in the second innings.

Iqbal Qasim picked up 4 for 27.

Arjuna Ranatunga, though batting with grief with the death of his father the previous day, showed nerves of steel to defy the Pakistan attack for a well made 33.