SL v Pak - Day 5 Review: Game ends in predictable draw despite Pakistani intent

[Shayan]

Day 5 began with Sri Lanka's first objective being to make the 70+ runs required to avoid the follow on, while Sangakarra was looking for the personal milestone of a double hundred. They did so relatively comfortably, as Sangakarra and Mathews began to form a useful partnership. By lunch, the batting side had reached 365/5, with both batsmen closing on the personal milestones of 50 and 200 respectively.

Wickets were needed in the pot-lunch session, and Pakistan's best bowler of the innings, Junaid Khan, dismissed Mathews for 47, as a thin edge was pouched safely by Adnan Akmal. Sngakarra became the 2nd batsman in the match to be dismissed in the 190s, when he mishit Rehman straight to square leg.

Kulasekara didn't last long, yet another duck in this unusual innings, and a deserved 5th wicket for Junaid Khan. The batsman had no answer to a typical Pakistani yorker that crashed into middle and leg stump. Prasanna Jayawardene was the 9th wicket of the innings when he edged Rehman to the keeper, and the bowler had his 4th as he dismissed Pradeep for 1. Sri Lanka had made 391, giving away a lead of 160, and the stage was set for an short sharp innings from Pakistan before a declaration.

The opening batsmen started aggressively, with both picking up regular boundaries and pushing the singles, more akin to the start of an ODI innings than a test. After 10 overs, Pakistan had reached 50/0, but the aggressive intent from Hafeez led to his wicket as he flicked the ball straight into the hands of square leg.

Abdur Rehman was surprisingly sent in at 3, but it proved to be a masterstroke from Misbah, as the left arm spinner smashed 36 off 22 balls, including 3 fours and 3 sixes. Any doubts about Misbah's aggressive intent was well and truly put to bed. Rehman was bowled just before tea, and the declaration came an over after, leaving Sri Lanka 261 to win in 37 overs. Taufeeq ended an attractive innings unbeaten on 42 off 57 balls.

10 runs off Sri Lanka's first over may have got some nerves jangling, and the batsmen continued to score freely with no real signs of a wicket. Ajmal's introduction yielded nothing either, as Dilshan signalled his intent with a 6 down the ground. After 11 overs, Sri Lanka were 47/0, needing another 214 to win off 25 overs. Not likely but not completely out of the question either. Dilshan's wicket though, looked to have ended the possibility of a Sri Lankan run chase, as Rehman improved his day further by dismissing him leg before.

Paranavitana was also dismissed late on, but with 15 overs remaining, the two captains shook hands and agreed to call it a draw. The series now moves on to Pallakele, where every test played has been a draw. Pakistan will have their work cut out for them if they are to draw the series.

[Saurav]

Cricinfo headline-Sanga misses another double in draw

[kungfu90]

Don't know what was Misbah thinking while declaring 8 balls after tea. He lost 4 overs while doing that
Although it didn't matter in the end, but imagine if SL were 9 down at the end of the play, he would've got blasted for that decision.

[IAJ]

Originally Posted by kungfu90 Don't know what was Misbah thinking while declaring 8 balls after tea. He lost 4 overs while doing that Although it didn't matter in the end, but imagine if SL were 9 down at the end of the play, he would've got blasted for that decision.

Probably he wanted to put preassure on the SL openers thinking they might not not be mentally prepared to rush back to the dressing room to pad up?

[Shayan]

Originally Posted by kungfu90 Don't know what was Misbah thinking while declaring 8 balls after tea. He lost 4 overs while doing that Although it didn't matter in the end, but imagine if SL were 9 down at the end of the play, he would've got blasted for that decision.

I think it's understandable that he was cautious. On this pitch, that was a pretty bold declaration, and with us being 1-0 down, he needed to be careful.

[KingKhanWC]

Rain saved Lanka from defeat. Good effort by the Pakistan boys but will probably face another road with rain in the air next test.

[Square Drive]

Draw as expected, but some positives in this such as the great batting of Hafeez, Taufeeq, Azhar, Misbah, Rehman , and sorta Younis. Even though it was a batting paradise, good to see everyone contribute because for Sri Lanka, only 3 batsmen contributed. Also, excellent bowling by Junaid and Rehman. Seems we've finally found a good bowler alongside Gul now for tests. As for ODIs, Tanvir and Gul along with Junaid/Sami (probably Junaid) seem the way to go.

[cricketworm]

Pakistan should have declared early in first inning. 500 runs were enough, extra 50 runs cost an hour at least. Anyway, it was draw written all over despite the rain.

[mastermind_quad]

Rain acted as a catalyst in the Draw.

[Sherlock]

Rain killed the Test but the road of a pitch did not help.

I never enjoyed similar pitches in Pakistan either. They destroy the spectacle.