Azhar and Younis keep Pakistan hopes alive

by Ranjan Anadappa

Pakistan were still six runs adrift in wiping their first innings deficit of 177 runs, when bad light brought an abrupt halt to the third days play around4.25 pm. Pakistan were 171 for 2 in their second innings with Azhar Ali 64 n.o facing 152 deliveries with three fours and Younis Khan 23 n.o. facing 35 balls with three boundaries, Pakistan made quick work in the morning after a thirty minutes delay due to rain. In the space of fifteen minutes and 3.1 overs, Sri Lanka were all out for 315 when Yasir Shah had last man Dushmantha Chameera caught by Younis Khan to present his sixth wicket.

Shah got seven wickets in the first Test at Galle bowled 41.3 overs for his 6 for 96. Pakistan was short of one bowler, paceman Riyaz Wahab who is supposed to be out of the game for three weeks due to injury.

Pakistan began their long trek with a deficit of 177 runs.They began in similar fashion like in the first innings this time losing Mohammed Hafeez caught by Mathews off Prasad. But Azhar Ali the new batsman and Ahmed Shezhad were determined to avoid further embarrassment.

The second wicket pair Azhar Ali and Mohammed Hafeez brought authority to the batting, both looked supremely assured and their shots had all the masterly of batsmen in form.

Ahmed Sheshad ( 64) and Azhar Ali posted 100 runs for the second wicket in 177 minutes facing 227deliveries. In the first ball after tea, Ahmed Shehzad who was shaping well snicked one to wicket keeper Chandimal off hard working Prasad who got the break through after the second wicket pair adding 120 runs.

Rangana Herath who did not bowl in the Pakistan first innings were given the ball in the 12th over in the second innings could not make a significant impact. Skipper Mathews rotated his bowlers Chameera, Tharindu Kaushal but with the pitch slowing down the Pakistan batsmen were not easy to dislodge.

The most experienced Pakistan player and former captain, Younis Khan is at the wicket with Azhar Ali when play was stopped due to bad light around 4.25 pm.

SCOREBOARD
Pakistan 1st innings: 138 
(Mohammad Hafeez 42, Tharindu Kaushal 5-42, Dhammika Prasad 3-43)

Sri Lanka 1st innings (overnight (304-9):
D. Karunaratne c Sarfraz b Junaid		28
K. Silva run out				80  
K. Sangakkara c Shafiq b Babar			34
L. Thirimanne c Azhar b Yasir			07
A. Mathews lbw b Yasir				77
D. Chandimal b Yasir				01
K. Vithanage b Yasir				03
D. Prasad lbw b Hafeez				35
R. Herath not out				18
T. Kaushal c Misbah b Yasir			18
D. Chameera c Younis b Yasir			02   
Extras: (b6, lb4, nb1, w1)			12
Total (all out, 121.3 overs)		       315          

Fall of wickets: 1-47 (Karunaratne), 2-98 (Sangakkara)
		 3-119 (Thirimanne), 4-191 (Silva), 5-194 (Chandimal)
		 6-202 (Vithanage), 7-275 (Prasad), 8-275 (Mathews)
		 9-303 (Kaushal), 10-315 (Chameera)
Bowling: Wahab 9-2-19-0 (nb1)
	 Junaid 29-5-89-1 (w1)
	 Babar 32-8-82-1
	 Yasir 41.3-5-96-6
	 Hafeez 10-2-19-1

Pakistan 2nd innings:
Mohammad Hafeez c Sangakkara b Mathews		08
Ahmed Shehzad c Chandimal b Prasad 		69
Azhar Ali not out				64
Younis Khan not out				23
Extras: (b2, lb1, w2, nb2)			07
Total (for two wickets, 59 overs	       171

Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Hafeez), 2-129 (Shehzad) 
Bowling: Prasad 13.3-0-46-1 (w1)
	 Mathews 5-3-5-1
	 Herath 14-3-33-0
	 Chameera 8.3-1-28-0 (w1)
	 Kaushal 18-2-56-0 (nb2)