Welegedara lifts Sri Lanka after Younis' hundred
SHARJAH, Nov. 5, (AFP) - Paceman Chanaka Welegedara took two wickets
with the second new ball, including that of centurion Younis Khan, to
give Sri Lanka the edge in the third Test against Pakistan at Sharjah
stadium here on Saturday.
The 30-year-old left-arm paceman dismissed Younis (100) with the
first delivery of the second new-ball and then had Asad Shafiq (16) in
the same spell to leave Pakistan at 282-6 at the close on the third day.
|
Pakistan's cricketer Younis Khan raises his bat and helmet
in celebration after scoring a century (100 runs) during the
third day of the third and final Test match between Pakistan
and Sri Lanka at the cricket stadium in Sharjah on November
5, 2011. (AFP) |
Sri Lanka, who scored 413 in their first innings, still lead by 131
runs and are seeking a big first innings lead to give them a chance of
levelling the series after losing the second Test by nine wickets in
Dubai.
The first Test in Abu Dhabi ended in a draw.
With just two overs to go left-arm spinner Rangana Herath removed
Adnan Akmal, leg before wicket for seven to leave Sri Lanka on top.
At close, skipper Misbah-ul Haq, who reached his 13th half-century in
the penultimate over, was unbeaten on 50 and with him Abdul Rehman on
three not out.
The first two sessions had belonged to Pakistan as Younis added 98
for the third wicket with Azhar Ali (53) and another 100 with Misbah for
the fourth wicket but Welegedara's double strike slumped Pakistan from
233-3 to 258-5.
Younis had completed his 18th Test hundred with a sharp single off
Welegedara in the last over before tea, taking 188 balls studded with
eleven boundaries and a six.
Misbah was mostly blocking before hitting the 53rd delivery he faced
for his first boundary, ensuring Pakistan didn't lose sight of winning
2-0 if they want to replace Sri Lanka at number five and jump one place
up the current test rankings.
After tea, both the batsmen upped the tempo as Younis hit a boundary
and six off Herath to take Pakistan past the follow-on mark of 213,
before notching another four off a reverse sweep as Sri Lanka delayed
the second new ball until the 91st over.
The new ball was effective as Welegedara struck with the first
delivery, bowling Younis with a sharp incoming delivery. Younis hit 12
boundaries and two sixes during his 211-ball knock.
Welegedara, who finished with 3-62 off 25 overs, then had Shafiq
caught behind.
Earlier in the morning, Sri Lanka were a bowler short after frontline
paceman Dhammika Prasad injured a muscle and was unable to bowl after
Pakistan resumed at 35-2.
SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS - 413
PAKISTAN – 1ST INNINGS
M. Hafeez c Jayawardene b Welegedara 06
T. Umar st Silva b Herath 19
A. Ali b Kulasekara 53
Y. Khan b Welegedara 122
Misbah-ul Haq not out 50
A. Shafiq c Silva b Welegedara 16
A. Akmal lbw b Herath 07
A. Rehman not out 03
Extras (nb-3, w-2, lb-1) 06
Total (six wickets, 110 overs) 282
To bat: U. Gul, S. Ajmal, J. Khan.
Fall of wickets: 1-8 2-35 3-133 4-233 5-258 6-277.
Bowling (to date): Welegedara 25-7-62-3 (1w), Prasad 4-0-9-0, Kulasekara 21-7-55-1 (3nb),
Herath 32-10-73-2 (1w), Randiv 21-5-64-0, Dilshan 7-1-18-0. |
