SL vs Pak | 1st Test | Day 4 Review: SL completes a dominant victory

[SOSami]

Pakistan started the day on 36/3 with Younis Khan (0*) and Saeed Ajmal (11*) overnight, chasing an unlikely target of 510.

The day got off to an untidy start, as the partnership with night-watchman Ajmal lasted just 8 deliveries before he was run out. Ajmal won't have batted with Younis Khan very often and as a result was completely unaccustomed to his tenancy to step down the wicket after playing a shot - Ajmal was sold the dummy and run out by a distance as he was sent back by his colleague.

Asad Shafiq came out to the middle under what must have been considerable, with more experienced heads like Faisal Iqbal in the squad looking to get their chance.

He very nearly lost senior Younis Khan a few overs later as he holed out to mid-off to the electric Dilshan, who took the catch. However, the umpires were unsure and referred the catch to the third umpire and replays, as they quite often do, proved inconclusive.

Pakistan survived the first session and made it to lunch relatively unscathed, with the loss of just Saeed Ajmal. The two batsmen had used their feet well to counter the spinners and Younis Khan supporting his young colleague Asad, much like we have often seen with his tutoring of Azhar Ali.

Lunch: Pakistan 108/4, Younis Khan 34*, Asad Shafiq 36*

The afternoon session started sedately, as Pakistan sought to occupy the crease but the pair continued to collect boundaries off any loose deliveries. Three fours were struck, one by Younis and two Shafiq, in the 67th over, as Fernando erred.

Herath got a delivery to turn and bounce and removed Shafiq in the 73rd over for a well-constructed 80. He will be bitterly disappointed after missing out on century yet again after being well set, but he has shown the ability to bat under pressure in his short career to date and has done enough in this and previous innings to be persisted with. Pakistan were 189/5 when he was out and he had contributed to a fifth partnership of 151 runs. Pakistan had been 38/4 when he arrived at the crease and had batted nearly two sessions with Younis Khan.

Only Don Bradman has a better fourth innings average than Younis Khan, and his mastery of the pressure situation was evident for all today as he played cautiously, but refused to become bogged down by the spinners. His trademark sweep shot was executed well and must have been a valuable learning experience for youngster Asad Shafiq.

Mohammad Ayub Dogar negotiated the final six overs before tea without any alarms, as Pakistan reached 205/5 at the interval, still 305 runs behind.

Tea: Pakistan 205/5, Younis Khan 81*, Mohammad Ayub 5*

After tea, the experienced Younis Khan and the debutant Mohammed Ayub faced a huge task of trying to survive till the end of the day. They were doing a decent job, until Sri Lanka took the second new ball and it didn’t take them long to get Younis Khan to edge one to the keeper, leaving the batsman 13 short off the century, as Kulasekara claimed his third victim.

The Sri Lankan bowlers continued to trouble the batsmen, but Ayub and Akmal battled hard and resisted for 13.5 overs for a partnership of 31 runs, until Fernando picked up his first wicket ever in test cricket, as he got Ayub LBW with an in-ducker for 22. Akmal and Rehman put up some resistance, but then Rehman skied one with Sangakkara taking a good catch. That wicket left Sri Lanka with only two more wickets to get for the victory.

Umar Gul and Adnan Akmal continued the resistance and the play was extended for an extra half an hour. However, Randiv then removed Gul, as he was caught at silly mid-off and left Sri Lanka only one wicket away from that sweet taste of victory. Junaid Khan didn’t last long and was caught at silly mid-on, as Randiv claimed his third wicket and Sri Lanka won the match with a day to spare and 209 runs.

Pakistan showed some resistance on day 4, but by then it was a little too late in the test match. Sri Lanka dominated throughout the test and completed a very solid and deserved victory. Pakistan will go back to the drawing board and will look to come back strongly in the second test and level the series, with captain Misbah back in control of the troops.

End of match: Pakistan 300 all out (Younis Khan 87, Asad Shafiq 80), Sri Lanka won by 209 runs.

[pakcricketfan]

Good batting by Asad Shafiq, Younis Khan and Adnan Akmal today.

Pakistan had two horrible days and then two fairly good days. But the lead that we conceded in the first innings was far too much.

I'm not as disappointed now at the end of this Test as I was when the match started. Good to see Pakistan putting up some fight in the second innings, instead of surrendering meekly.

Oh and I'm not even going to talk about the men of the match.

[duostyle]

Glad I didn't bother to sit through this mess after the retarded umpire(s) raised the finger for YK's first dismissal. Unbelievable.

Grats to SL though, it worked out perfectly for them.

[spaceshot]

btw, how many deliveries/overs were left in the 4th day's play ?

[Runner Up]

ONLY one wrong decision can change the match result and in this match we all know what happened. Well played Pakistan and better luck next time.

[WalkingWiggett]

Pakistan were beaten by Kumar Sangakkara, Nuwan Kulasekara, Steve Davis and Ian Gould!

[Runner Up]

Originally Posted by spaceshot btw, how many deliveries/overs were left in the 4th day's play ?

You were expecting rain in 5th day?

[farazaidi]

I loved the way they gave Umar Gul out in the end there, just to remind everyone how they've rubbed us on the wrong side throughout the game. Fitting end to the farce !

Well played Srilanka and the umpires

[spaceshot]

Originally Posted by Runner Up You were expecting rain in 5th day?

Well, i wasnt expecting the pak batting to last till tea.
Just interested in knowing how many overs had left for the day.

[freelance_cricketer]

Very dominant performance from Sri Lankans. In their backyard they were always gonna be hard to beat.

[Sherlock]

Originally Posted by freelance_cricketer Very dominant performance from Sri Lankans. In their backyard they were always gonna be hard to beat.

Yeah you're right, especially having 13 players to help them

[Amjid Javed]

Good win for SL. Hopefully the return of misbah will boost the team and we wont have two so called retards umpiring in the next game.

[srh]

Lack of DRS is killing Pakistan.

[KingKhanWC]

On paper this will go down as one of the worst test defeats for Pak but in context Lanka got lucky with the toss and then the disgraceful umpiring.

I expect us to come back strong in the next test.

[LegendAli]

will this series go down for having the worst umpiring in pak history?

[Sherlock]

Unfortunately Mr Gould is back for the 2nd Test along with Simon Taufel.

[Dolphins]

Congrats to the umpires for winning the match.

[Random Aussie]

Originally Posted by Dolphins Congrats to the umpires for winning the match.

Sri Lanka won the match, check the records.

Bad but expected loss for Pakistan, the return of Misbah next Test should stabilise the team and bring an improved performance.

However this is SL so you are going to get 2 absolute roads for the remaining Tests now they are 1 up.

[Wassixpakistani]

^^

But no matter how improved the performance , a win is almost impossible if you got 11 to 13 decisions going against you . This test would have much closer if " Uncontrollable " situations were avoided .

I hope we are at the better end of the stick in the next test ... >_< really want some payback .

[Random Aussie]

Originally Posted by Wassixpakistani ^^ But no matter how improved the performance , a win is almost impossible if you got 11 to 13 decisions going against you . This test would have much closer if " Uncontrollable " situations were avoided . I hope we are at the better end of the stick in the next test ... >_< really want some payback .

Sure - but then again if you are hitting the ball in the middle of the bat and not with the edge or your pad it is a lot easier for decisions not to influence a game.

Not saying the umpiring was good, just that the record will show SL 1, Pak 0 regardless of what people say about the umpires.

[Ironcat]

The positive from this game was that our batsmen eventually found a way to bat against their bowlers. And our bowlers bowl against their batsmen.

SL had a plan for Pakistan, and they executed it well. I hope the next 2 matches are not on paved roads to shut us out.

[Wassixpakistani]

Originally Posted by Random Aussie Sure - but then again if you are hitting the ball in the middle of the bat and not with the edge or your pad it is a lot easier for decisions not to influence a game. Not saying the umpiring was good, just that the record will show SL 1, Pak 0 regardless of what people say about the umpires.

Agreed , Although I am more of a cricket lover then a patriot fan but the umpiring had just left a bad taste in the mouth . Well regardless of the result there was quality batting and bowling from both sides and I hope we see much more of that in the next tests as well .

[Imy]

One great positive would be if they realise that having two pace bowlers is not enough against teams that are not incompetent against spin we will be hammered every where else

[imshally81]

Originally Posted by Wassixpakistani ^^ But no matter how improved the performance , a win is almost impossible if you got 11 to 13 decisions going against you . This test would have much closer if " Uncontrollable " situations were avoided . I hope we are at the better end of the stick in the next test ... >_< really want some payback .

this... i totally agreed.....
Result will be different.... if these decisions went in our way...