Second Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan delicately poised:

Sri Lanka leads by 165 runs

By Ranjan Anandappa

Kumar Sangakkara (51 n..o) and Mahela Jayawardena( 49 n.o) shared an unfinished 98 run partnership for the third wicket to put the second cricket Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan delicately poised with Sri Lanka leading by 165 runs with 8 wickets in hand and two more days left at the end of the third day's play yesterday at the SSC grounds.

In reply to Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 320, Pakistan replied with 332 obtaining a slender 12 run first innings lead. Sri Lanka in their second innings were 177 for 2 at close.

Sangakkara faced118 deliveries and hit four boundaries while Mahela Jayawardena was one run short for his half century at the end of the third day.

Sri Lanka in their second innings after a reasonably good start given by openers Upul Tharanga (45) and Kaushal Silva (17) putting on 54 runs for the first wicket were at the end of the days play.

Upul Tharanga struck a fifty three ball 45 with four boundaries looked the aggressor , Kaushal Silva played second fiddle. Tharanga who was shaping well was bowled by Rehman and Kaushal Silva who gave the indication of accecelaration with the arrival of Sangakkara edged one to Younus Khan in the slips who took a tumbling catch. Around 2.25 p.m Mahela Jayawardena entered the arena to join Kumar Sangakkara at the crease for the last occasion in a Test match.

Both have been batting together on numerous occasions, but yesterday it was something special.

In the opinion of cricket followers Jayawardena is one of the most talented and the most consistent players in world cricket today. The bowler’s gesture to the departing batsman was an open space in the mid- wicket area and Jayawardena quickly pushed and was off for a single to open his account There after both, Sangakkara and Jayawardena settled into their grove and played some elegant shots.

Pakistan were without their strike bowler Junaid Khan who was hit on the head by a Dammika Prasad delivery while batting and not taking the field, Pakistan skipper Mishbah-Ul-Haq had very little options with only three frontline bowlers Riaz, Rehman and Ajmal at his disposal with Sangakkara and Jayawardena assuming command. They came together at 79 for 2 and was quickly on their way towards a century stand for the third wicket. Sangakkara when he scored his 26th run in the second innings of the second Test became the fifth highest run getter in Test cricket with an aggregate of 11955 playing three Tests less than West Indian Lara’s (11953) 131 Tests to Sangakkara’s 128.

Topping the highest run getters list, in Test cricket is India’s Sachin Tendulkar (15921), then Australia’s Ricky Ponting (13378, South Africa’ Jacques Kallis (13289), India’s Rahul Dravi d (13288), Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara and West Indian Brian Lara (11953)

Pakistan continuing from their overnight 244 for 6 with Sarfraz Ahmed unbeaten on 66 and Abdur Rehman gave a vigorous shake to their middle order. Sarfraz Ahmed in particular batted with growing confidence added 40 invaluable runs for the sixth wicket with Rehman.. They showed that the Sri Lankan attack could be mastered. Skipper Angelo Mathews switched his bowlers from one end to the other in vain attempt to dislodge the sixth wicket pair which was showing signs of reaching menacing proportions.

Pakistan certainly had a very successful morning with Sarfraz Ahmed standing in between the Sri Lankans who were trying hard for a breakthrough. But finally the stout hearted stand came to an end when skipper Mathews putting his trust on Herath on the assumption that the wicket would offer something which was a good decision, the ever reliable Rangana Herath broke the stand having Abdur Rehman caught by Mahela Jayawardena in the slips to give his 203 Test match catch in his final Test match.

Herath went on to take all four wickets which fell in the morning to give his best Test match bowling analysis of of 9 for 127. Herath turned the ball very little on a slow surface, but his variations brought some doubt in the batsmen’s mind and the remaining four Pakistani batsmen added only 88 runs in the morning session. Pakistan were all out for 332 taking a 12 run lead. Sarfraz Ahmed’s gallant 103 really helped Pakistan to go past the Sri Lankan first innings total of 320 obtaining a 12 run lead. He had faced 127 deliveries and struck seven fours and a six when Herath struck once again to have him caught behind by Dickwella his fifth catch behind the stumps. It was a good inning by a fine player seeking to establish himself in the Test team.

It was also a remarkable effort by Niroshan Dickwella the Sri Lankan wicket keeper playing only in his third Test match not to concede a single bye and to be instrumental in five dismissals in the Pakistan total of 332.

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka 1st Innings 320 
(Upul Tharanga 92, Kaushal Silva 41,
Junaid Khan 5 for 87, Wahab Riaz 3 for 88)
Pakistan 1st Innings 244 for 6 overnight

Khurram Manzoor c Dickwella b Herath 		23
Ahmed Shehzad c Dickwella b Perera 		58
Azhar Ali c Mathews b Herath 			32
Younus Khan c Dickwella b Herath 		13
Mishbah Ul Haq c Dickwella b Herath 		05
Asad Shafiq b Herath 				42
Sarfraz Ahmed c Dickwella b Herath 	       103
Abdur Rehman c Jayawardena b Herath 		18
Wahab Riaz c Welegedera b Herath 		17
Saeed Ajmal b Herath 				04
Junaid Khan not out 				13
Extras. Lb 3, Nb. 3 			     	06
Total. ( All out in 93.1 oversin 427 minutes)  332

Fall of wickets. 47, 110, 122,131, 140, 233, 273, 301, 315, 332
Bowling.Damiika Prasad 16-4-53-0
	Chanaka Welegedera 18-2-65-0
	Rangana Herath 33.1 – 3-127-9
	Angelo Mathews 9-1-21-0
	Dilruwan Perera 17-1-63-1

Sri Lanka 2nd Innings

Upul Tharanga b Rehman 				45
Kaushal Silva c Younus Khan b Rehman 		17
Kumar Sangakkara not out 			54
Mahela Jayawardena not out 			49
Extras.b9,lb.1, nb1, w1 			12
Total.( For 2wickets in 69 overs) 	       177 

Fall of wickets.54, 79
Bowling.Wahab Riaz14-1-50-0
	Abdur Rehman 24-3-65-2
	Saeed Ajmal23-5-47-0
	Ahmed Shehzad 2-0-50