Toddler Sri Lanka had Pakistan on the run

By A. C. De Silva

CRICKET: Sri Lanka, a toddler where the game of cricket was concerned in March 1982, turned somewhat to a tartar in only its third Test at Faisalabad in Pakistan with an inspired performance that drew rounds and rounds of applause from the very appreciative crowd that gathered there.

It was known to all present that Pakistan continued to be without their top stars, but that in no way should take away the fine performance of the Sri Lankans. Only three second innings wickets stood between the Lankans and a maiden victory.

In a match in which Sri Lanka had the upper-hand from the start, it was but natural that many of the heroes were to be found in the touring team. Sidath Wettimuny, for instance, had the distinction of being the first Sri Lankan to crack a century in Tests. He batted all through the opening day to remain unbeaten on 143 - a knock that revealed his admirable temperament and repertoire of strokes.

With Roy Dias, the one drop batsman, Wettimuny was associated in a huge stand of 217 runs for the second wicket.

On a lifeless pitch, the Pakistani bowlers were hoping for the batsman to commit mistakes. But both Wettimuny and Dias went from strength to strength, frustrating the seven-man Pakistani attack for nearly 10 hours.

Wettimuny went on to make 157 that included 21 hits to the fence, while the consistent Dias was unlucky to miss the coveted century by just two runs. Of the latter batsman, Ranjan Madugalle, who generally bats with a straight blade with strict emphasis on defence, was the only one to offer resistance as the Pakistani slow bowlers grabbed some quick wickets.

Madugalle ran short of partners and when he returned to the pavilion, unconquered, he was only nine short of what would have been a well deserved century. Left-arm spinner Iqbal Qasim, who kept a teasing line - which was the only way to succeed on such a placid pitch - pegged away to be rewarded with six wickets.

Rizwan-uz-Zaman, a late introduction to the attack, proved more than handy as he quickly polished off the tail. But by then, Sri Lanka had made one point clear - that it would not be losing this match.

Pakistan’s reply was steady, if not attractive, and by the close on the second day, it had made 47 for the loss of Moshin Khan who was dismissed by the lively medium-pacer Ashantha de Mel. With the pitch remaining hard and true, one did not visualise a Pakistan collapse.

Sri Lanka in picture

Came the third day, and things began to happen and the game swung very much away from the home team. Pakistan lost six more wickets for the addition of only 163 runs when play was halted because of poor light, about 30 minutes before the draw of stumps.

De Mel struck an early blow dismissing Rizwan and then spin twins Ajit de Silva and Somachandra took over the proceedings and presented many problems to the home team.

Right-arm leg-spinner Somachandra de Silva struck a wonderful line and length to trouble all the Pakistani batsmen including skipper Javed Miandad who perished while attempting a big hit. Ajit de Silva, was always economical and runs were hard to be obtained off him.

Had it not been for some stubborn batting by debutante Ashraf Ali, Pakistan would have been in more trouble. Ashraf batted competently and his determined effort saw Pakistan finishing the day on 210 for 8 wickets. It still needed 45 runs to avoid the follow-on.

Pakistan managed to save the follow-on. But this they did by the skin of its teeth - thanks to some old and imaginative hitting by the last-wicket pair of Rashid Khan and Tausif Ahmed. Rashid, disappointed as a bowler in this match, chanced his arm and his bold methods paid off. Rashid remained unbeaten with 43 while Tausif made 18 precious runs as Pakistan were all out for 270 which left Sri Lanka in front by 184 runs.

Understandably, quick runs were the order of the day for the Sri Lankan batsmen when they batted the second time. But save for Mahesh Gunatilleke, who made a fine 56, none of the other batsmen could force the pace against an attack in which Iqbal Qasim was once again the spearhead. Tausif chipped in with quick wickets as Sri Lanka declared at 152 for 8 wickets, after batting for about 30 minutes early on the final day.

The target of 339 in 330 minutes was never the ambition of Pakistan was clear seen after its began. Ashantha de Mel again had the wicket of Rizwan and then got rid of Salim Malik. Pakistan was playing for survival. And when Miandad left after making 36, Pakistan, at 132 for 3, was in a tight corner.

Wasim Raja left without addition to the total and things were really looking up for the Sri Lankans as Somachandra de Silva claimed four wickets for four runs in a dream spell.

However, Moshin Khan batted resolutely for Pakistan to compile 74. Then later on Ashraf Ali too defended stoutly.

The 37-run seventh wicket stand between wicket-keeper and Tahir Naqqash helped Pakistan to get out of the trouble spot in one piece. Somachandra de Silva picked up five wickets in the second innings for a match haul of nine wickets.

SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS 
Sidath Wettimuny b Raja 	157 
M. Gunatilleke c Malik b Qasim 	 27 
R. Dias c Malik b Qasim 	 98 
D. Mendis b Qasim 		 16 
R. S. Madugalle not out 	 91 
A. Ranatunga b Qasim 		  0 
A. Ranasinghe c Miandad b Qasim   6 
A. de Mel c Miandad b Qasim 	  4 
D. S. de Silva lbw b Rizwan 	 25 
L. Kaluperuma b Rizwan 		  0 
A. de Silva lbw b Rizwan 	  5 
EXTRAS 				 25 
TOTAL 				454 
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-77, 2-294, 3-304, 4-341, 5-341, 
6-355, 7-385, 8-446, 9-448. 
BOWLING: Tahir Naqqash 26-4-108-0, Rashid Khan 13-3-52-0, 
Iqbal Qasim 65-18-141-6, Tausif Ahmed 12-3-35-0, Wasim Raja 26-6-66-1, 
Rizwan-uz-Zaman 12-3-26-3, Javed Miandad 1-0-1-0. 

PAKISTAN 1ST INNINGS 
Rizwan-uz-Zaman b A. de Silva 			36 
Moshin Khan c Wettimuny b De Mel 		12 
Salim Malik b De Mel 				23 
Javed Miandad c Ranatunga b D. S. de Silva 	18 
Wasim Raja c Madugalle b D. S. de Silva 	22 
Haroon Rashid c De Mel b D. S. de Silva 	25 
Ashraf Ali b Ranasinghe 			58 
Tahir Nzqqash c De Mel b A. de Silva 		 1 
Iqbal Qasim run out 				 5 
Rashid Khan not out 				43 
Tausif Ahmed c Madugalle b D. S. de Silva 	18 
EXTRAS 						 9 
TOTAL 						270 
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-19, 2-54, 3-83, 4-116, 5-124, 
6-124, 7-154, 8-156, 9-220. 
BOWLING: A. de Mel 23-4-73-2, A. Ranasinghe 7-1-23-1, 
D. S. de Silva 32.5-2-103-4, A. de Silva 24-10-38-2, L. Kaluperuma 6-0-24-0. 

SRI LANKA 2ND INNINGS 
Sidath Wettimuny c Ashraf b Tahir 	13 
M. Gunatilleke b Qasim 			56 
R. Dias c Moshin b Tahir 		 7 
D. Mendis run out 			 0 
R. S. Madugalle lbw b Qasim 		12 
A. Ranatunga c Ashraf b Tausif 		 2 
A. Ranasinghe c Miandad b Tausif 	 5 
A. de Mel not out 			25 
D. S. de Silva st. Ashraf b Tausif 	 8 
L. Kaluperuma not out 			11 
EXTRAS 					15 
TOTAL (for 8 wkts dec) 			154 
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-19, 2-43, 3-62, 4-82, 5-86, 6-104, 7-114, 8-114. 
BOWLING: Tahir Naqqash 12-3-52-2, Rashid Khan 1-0-4-0, Iqbal Qasim 30-9-52-2, 
Tausif Ahmed 14-4-18-3, Rizwan-uz-Zaman 5-2-13-0. 

PAKISTAN 2ND INNINGS 
Rizwan-uz-Zaman b De Mel 			16 
Moshin Khan c De Mel b D. S. de Silva 		74 
Salim Malik lbw b De Mel 			 4 
Javed Miandad c Madugalle b D. S. de Silva 	36 
Wasim Raja c Wettimuny b D. S. de Silva 	 0 
Haroon Rashid b D. S. de Silva 			 0 
Ashraf Ali not out 				29 
Tahir Naqqash c Dias b D. S. de Silva 		13 
Rashid Khan not out 				 3 
EXTRAS 						11 
TOTAL (for seven wkts at close) 		186 
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-24, 2-40, 3-132, 4-132, 5-132, 6-137, 7-174. 
BOWLING: A. de Mel 17-2-71-2, A. Ranasinghe 5-0-17-0, 
D. S. de Silva 18-2-59-5, A. de Silva 19-4-28-0.