SL V Pak - 3rd Test Day 3 Review: Perera puts hosts in command despite Junaid 5fer

[Shayan]

After a washout on day 2, early wickets were the order of the day for Pakistan. Some sort of lead was vital if they were to have a chance of forcing a victory in the last couple of days. Paranavitana and Samaraweera, two batsmen that haven't scored heavily so far in the series, survived a testing burst from the impressive Junaid Khan, but the all important breakthrough just didn't come for the visitors. Paranavitana brought up an important half century with a cut through point of the part-time bowling of Younis Khan, and by lunch Sri Lanka had reached 142/3 and Samaraweera was approaching 50 himself.

The first wicket of the day should have come just after lunch, when Umar Gul induced Samaraweera into a false stroke which was edged straigh to Younis Khan at slip, but the former captain was unable to hang on. The partnership continued to flourish after that, with both batsmen picking off boundaries with ease, and Sri Lanka closed in on a first innings lead.

As is so often the case, it was Saeed Ajmal that provided the inspriation for Pakistan, when Samaraweera played a half-hearted defensive push and the ball struck him plumb in front. Angelo Mathews, a player capable of scoring handy runs, played a loose shot to a wide Junaid Khan delivery, and only succeeded in providing a sharp catch to Asad Shafiq in the gully. Still with a lead of 26 and 5 wickets to take, Pakistan were still in with a shot. Ajmal provided further joy when Paranavitana was bowled for 75. By tea, Sri Lanka still trailed by 6 and had just 4 wickets remaining.

After tea, it was clear that Misbah was waiting for the new ball, and continued bowling Ajmal and Hafeez in tandem, allowing Sri Lanka to slowly ease into the lead. His tactic proved correct though, as Gul struck immediately with the new ball, seaming it in to strike Prasanna Jayawardene in front. The bowler should have had another when Perera edged to slip, but this time it was Misbah that dropped a regulation catch. The moment of fortune seemed to spur the batsmen on, as both Perera and Kulasekara took advantage of the hard new ball and began to play some shots. The 50 partnership was brought up in a productive over that yielded 15, and with the lead pushing past 70, the two batsmen appeared to have put the game beyond Pakistan's reach.

Perera reached his 50 off 64 balls, a crucial game changing innings, and Kulasekara had also made a useful 32 before the return of Junaid Khan brought about a wicket., a thick edge carrying comfortably to the keeper. Perera took this opportunity to further up the ante, and the lead crossed 100 when Ajmal was despatched for 2 consecutive sixes, but still the bowler still had time in the over to remove Herath. Junaid then ended the innings by bowling Perera with a peach, to pick up a fully deserved 5 wicket haul. Pakistan were up against it, behind by 111 and facing a tricky 10 overs at the end of the day.

Taufeeq Umar, having kept for 100 overs in place of Adnan Akmal, came out to open the batting with Hafeez, and looked uncomfortable early on, surviving some close LBW appeals from the Sri Lankan bowlers. He was eventually given out leg before by Simon Taufel, despite the ball pitching outside leg stump, providing yet more ammunition for supporters of the Decision Review System. Hafeez and Azhar Ali managed to get through to the close of play unscathed, but it will require a special effort from the batsmen on day 4 if they are to give Ajmal & co a chance of squaring the series.

[Square Drive]

Poor umpiring.

Can't blame Taufeeq here. The inconsistent pair of Hafeez and Younis MUST fire tomorrow. Azhar needs to be cautious and needs to get at least a 50 here. Perera has hurt us very badly, now let's hope we can somehow score another 280-300. Everyone must contribute. 1-2 big partnerships can do it, come on Pakistan!

[Sherlock]

What Misbah was thinking by having Mid-on and Mid-off deep was baffling.

Apart from Junaid and maybe Ajmal the rest were poor.

Gul seems to have a mental block against left-handers and this isn't the first time Perera has smashed him around.

[TaZ]

Dont forget the dropped catches..

[Wristy_Shuffler]

Gotta give it to Sri Lanka, they made us pay for the lapses in the field big time, didn't think they had it in 'em. I could not believe that Taufel of all people gave that out. Both openers would've been coming out tomorrow morning well rested.

Morning cloud cover + overnight rain + new ball to face tomorrow, it will be a testing time for Azhar and Hafeez.

[leatherface58]

Lankans benefited from the dropped chances but they played their hearts out. actually ahead in this test match.i don't count Pakistan out though.

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[doctordamor]

I don't see pak winning infact would have to bat out of our skins to save this game. Umpiring has been horrible.

[KingKhanWC]

Credit to the Lankans who fought very hard today, even with a bit of luck. You can see they are very hungry to win this series.

Pakistan batsmen have to produce some sort of miracle going by past form to get a big enough lead. Any lead over 200 will give Pak a fighting chance.

[AZulfi]

Pakistan are in deep trouble

Sri Lanka have their noses in front

Winning is out of the Q and at best Pakistan can only draw this game

Barring a miracle - rain and/or Pak batters batting out 4 of the 6 remaining sessions - Lanka should win this test and the series 2-0

[AZulfi]

It has to be said though that SLA have been helped by both rain and umpires in this series

Even Taufel is not immune from criticism

Kulasekara to Taufeeq Umar, OUT, he's been given lbw! Did that pitch in line with the stumps? It did not. Taufeeq is desperately unlucky to be given, and you have to feel for someone who's had to stand-in as wicketkeeper for 100 overs and then open the innings. The ball pitched outside leg stump on a good length and struck the pad as Taufeeq moved forward to play across the line. He missed and was hit flush on the pad. Simon Taufel was the umpire.

[zains_rulez]

i think we've lost the hopes of winning this test match .... we will either draw this game or loose

[Amjid Javed]

Pakistans chances of winning games went with SL last 3 wickets putting on 100.

A) In low scoring games leads such as that are vital
b) The tail wagging meant time for pakistan to gain positive result has been lost. Pretty much pakistan need 350 (25 lead) to try and win game. To score that many runs is likely to take out batting 3.5 or 4 sessions. Pakistan are going in reality going to have to score 300 runs in a day tomorrow and maybe bat 6-8 over at most on day 5 as we need enough time to take 10 wickets

I can see us being bowled out for 220 odd and SL winning series with ease here.

[osee_bhai]

I feel for Taufeeq, after so many overs keeping, he came to open and got a bad decision.

The dropped catches really hurt us, but I still feel Pak have a shot here if the rain stays away. We need to get about 300-325, so we basically need to score 300 tomorrow. Looks pretty difficult yes, but YK is a 4th inning hero. Chasing anything close to 200 in the 4th inning is always a challenge.

Also huge congrats to Junaid Khan, he has bowled beautifully this entire series, he beat the bat so many times in the first session, he could have had more.

[zulfiqar]

Think there's enough time to force a result?

[chacha kashmiri]

Pak are bowling fourth innings and that should be a gd adv and so should try and post 300 today and declare

[Ironcat]

Basically, use the morning to erase the deficit. Then score another 200 to 250 during the rest of the day.

Declare or bat till half of the first session of the final day, leaving SL hopefully with 300 to 350 to chase. We will then have ~2.5 sessions to get them out, which I think will put us back in control.

The key is to bat all day on the 4th day.

[Square Drive]

Originally Posted by Ironcat Basically, use the morning to erase the deficit. Then score another 200 to 250 during the rest of the day. Declare or bat till half of the first session of the final day, leaving SL hopefully with 300 to 350 to chase. We will then have ~2.5 sessions to get them out, which I think will put us back in control. The key is to bat all day on the 4th day.

You mean 200-250? I hope that happens, but not very easy. As I've said before, Hafeez and Younis must fire this time. Also, Azhar must make a steady start to the day.

[Ironcat]

Originally Posted by Square Drive You mean 200-250? I hope that happens, but not very easy. As I've said before, Hafeez and Younis must fire this time. Also, Azhar must make a steady start to the day.

Well, I'm hoping if they bat for an hour on the morning of Day 5, they can wham bam their way to adding another 50 to 100 runs. I just hope they score at at least 3 RPO.

[Square Drive]

This is not the time to "wham bam"... They have to play cautiously and make a lead of at least 200. After crossing a lead of 200, they can smack a bit.

[Ironcat]

Originally Posted by Square Drive This is not the time to "wham bam"... They have to play cautiously and make a lead of at least 200. After crossing a lead of 200, they can smack a bit.

Read my post again. I am talking about Day 5.

[Square Drive]

Originally Posted by Ironcat Read my post again. I am talking about Day 5.

Oh, I stand corrected. But even after that, I disagree. Because if Pakistan can bat that long, then the pitch must be a good one for batting.

So in that case, we'd have to have a whole day to bundle Sri Lanka out.

[Ironcat]

Originally Posted by Square Drive Oh, I stand corrected. But even after that, I disagree. Because if Pakistan can bat that long, then the pitch must be a good one for batting. So in that case, we'd have to have a whole day to bundle Sri Lanka out.

Too risky.

The max lead we will have after Day 4 is 250 (more likely 200). That's a walk in the park for their batting lineup in 98 overs. If you are counting on a SL batting collapse, that doesn't need a full day.

Plus, you want to make an aggressive statement at the start of the day to put them on a defensive.

[Square Drive]

Oh well, let's just see what happens.