Toddler Sri Lanka proves a tartar

By A. C. de Silva

CRICKET: Sri Lanak's flag flew high that day in March 1982 at Faisalabad with an inspired performance in only its third Test match. The Toddler had Pakistan on the run.

Ranjan Madugalle - 91 not out in Sri Lanka total of 454 in first innings.	Sidath Wettimuny - top score of 157 in Sri Lanka first innings total of 454.	Roy Dias - 98 in Sri Lanka first innings score of 454.	Moshin Khan (Pakistan) - 74 out of Pakistan 2nd innings total of 186 for 7 wickets.

It is a true fact that Pakistan were without their top flight stars, but that in no way should take away the sheen of success the visitors enjoyed. Only three second innings wickets stood between the Sri Lankans and a maiden victory.

It was a match in which Sri Lanka had the upperhand from the beginning, and it was natural the heroes were to be found in the touring team. To start the ball rolling there was Sidath Wettimuny who had the distinction of being the first Sri Lankan to crack a century in Tests. The opener 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, one drop batsman, Wettimuny was concerned in a huge stand of 217 for the second wicket. On a lifeless pitch, the Pakistani bowlers were hoping for the batsmen to make mistake. 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 ropes, while the consistent Dias was unlucky to miss the coveted century by just two runs. Of the letter batsman, Ranjan Madugalle, who generally bats with a straight bat with 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 on 91, missing of a well deserved century by just nine runs, he had done Sri Lanka proud.

D. Somachandra de Silva star-class bowler.- 4 for 103 and 5 for 59	Iqbal Qasim - haul of 6 for 141 off 65 overs with 18 maidens in Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 454. He also had 2 for 52 in Sri Lanka’s 2nd innings total of 154 for 8 wkts dec.	Mahes Gunatilleke - 56 in Sri Lanka second innings total of 154 for 8 wickets declared.

Qasim 6 for 14

Pakistan's left-arm spinner Iqbal Qasim bowled well and kept a leasing line and was rewarded with six wickets for 141 runs off 65 overs. Then Rizwan-uz-Zaman who was brought on late in the innings proved more than handy as he quickly polished off the Sri Lanka `tail' and he ended up with the figures of 3 for 26 off 12 overs with three maidens. But by then, Sri Lanka had made one point clear - that it would not be losing this match. Sri Lanka made the pleasing total of 454 runs. Ashantha de Mel struck and early blow dismissing Rizwan-uz-Zaman and then the De Silva spin twins - Somachandra and Ajith, took over. The misery turned out to be terrible for the home team.

Had it not been for some stubborn batting by Pakistani debutante Ashraff Ali, Pakistan would have been in more trouble. Ashraff batted stubbornly and his determined effort saw Pakistan finish the day at 210 for 8 wickets. They still needed 45 runs to avoid the follow-on.

Pakistan managed to save the ignominy of being asked to bat again. But this they did by the skin of their teeth, thanks to some imaginative hitting by the last wicket pair of Rashid Khan and Tausif Ahmed. Rashid Khan disappointing as a bowler in this match, chanced his arm and his bold methods paid off. Rashid made 43 not out while Tausif Ahmed made 18 precious runs and Pakistan were all out for 270, leaving Sri Lanka in front by 184 runs.

Sri Lanka had to make quick runs when they batted a second time. But with the exception of Mahes Gunatilleke who made a fine 56, one of the other batsmen could force the pace against the Pakistan attack which was once again spearheaded by Iqbal Qasim and Tausif Ahmed chipped in with quick wickets. Sri Lanka declared their second innings at 154 for 8 wickets, after batting for around 30 minutes on the last day.

Somachandra 9 for 162

The targets set for Pakistan was 339 runs in 330 minutes. The Pakistanis didn't appear to be ambitious of going for the runs. Sri Lanka's paceman Ashantha de Mel again scalped Rizwan-uz-Zaman and then got rid of Salim Malik. Pakistan now was playing for survival. Then, when Mianded left after making 36, Pakistan were 132 for 3 wickets and they were in a tight corner. Then Wasim Raja left without addition to the score - 132 for 4 wickets and Sri Lanka had their sights on victory as leg-break bowler Somachandra de Silva claimed four wickets for four runs in a dream spell.

But Moshin Khan batted resolutely to score 74. Then later Ashraf Ali too defended solidly. The 37-run seventh wicket stand the wicket-keeper struck with Tahir Naqqash helped Pakistan to get out of the match in one piece.

Sri Lanka's Somachandra de Silva had 5 wickets in their second innings for just 59 runs and with his first innings haul of 4 for 103 runs, had match figures of 9 for 162.

SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS
S. 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 Mianded b Qasim	  	  4
D. S. de Silva	 			 25
L. Kaluperuma b Rizwan	  		  0
A. de Silva lbw b Rizwan	 	  5
EXTRAS:	 				 25 
TOTAL:					454

FALL OF WICKET: 1-77, 2-294, 3-304, 4-341, 5-341, 6-355, 
		7-385, 8-446, 9-448.

BOWLING: Tahir Naqqash 26-4-108-O; 
	 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 Mianded 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
J. Mianded 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 Naqqash c De Mel b A. de Silva	  1
Iqbal Qasim run out	  		  5
Rashid Khan not out			 43
T. 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
S. 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 Mianded b Tausif	 5
A. de Mel not out			25
D. S. de Silva St. Ashraff 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 Ahamed 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
J. Miandad c Madugalle b D.S. de Silva	 36
Wasim Raja c Wettimuny b D.S. de Silva	  0
Haroom Rashid b D.S. de Silva	  	  0
Asraf Ali not out	 		 29
Tahir Naqqash c Dias b D.S. Silva	 13
Rashid Khan not out	  		  3
EXTRAS:	 				 11
TOTAL: (for 7wkts at close)		186

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.