Pakistan showed good fight to lose just four wickets in the day but Pakistan will need a another strong effort to prevent a loss on day five.

By PakPassion Staff (11th January, 2013)

Toss: Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to field.

Teams:

Pakistan: 1. Khurram Manzoor, 2. Ahmed Shehzad, 3. Mohammad Hafeez, 4. Younis Khan, 5. Misbah-ul-Haq (c), 6. Asad Shafiq, 7. Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 8. Bilawal Bhatti, 9. Rahat Ali, 10. Saeed Ajmal, 11. Junaid Khan


Sri Lanka: 1. Dimuth Karunaratne, 2. Kaushal Silva, 3. Kumar Sangakkara, 4. Mahela Jayawardene, 5. Dinesh Chandimal, 6. Angelo Mathews, 7. Prasanna Jayawardene, 8. Rangana Herath, 9. Shaminda Eranga 10. Suranga Lakmal, 11. Nuwan Pradeep

Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq had ended day 3 with a 113 run unbroken partnership but Pakistan's hope of survival in this game rested on this pair continuing their work during the day.

Whilst Misbah-ul-Haq started off slowly - not scoring his first run of the day until over 40 deliveries, it was a lose push by Younis Khan that resulted in the first wicket of the day for Sri Lanka and possibly opened the door for further damage to Pakistan. Younis departed for 77 which brought in Asad Shafiq who started off in a positive fashion. Pakistan went into lunch looking to be in some sort of control at 188/4, still trailing by 35.

Misbah-ul-Haq who seemed to be scoring with relative ease was adjudged lbw by umpire Ravi but the DRS review overturned this decision - much to the delight of Pakistani supporters. However, this bit of good fortune was not to last for too long as Sri Lanka struck with the new ball in the 80th over of the innings. Asad Shafiq departed to Eranga as he was caught at 2nd slip and Pakistan sunk deeper into the mire at 200-5.

Wicket keeper Sarfraz Ahmed then joined his captain Misbah-ul-Haq to try and put some shape to the fightback. From the word go, Ahmed appeared to be on a mission to help Misbah wipe out the deficit - an objective that was dealt by Pakistan in the 87th over. The positive intent that Sarfraz brought to the crease seem to put Sri Lanka on the backfoot. The wicket-keeper was quick to take on the spinner but just as Pakistan were looking to take some form of ascendency, Misbah was clean bowled by a beautiful delivery by Herath.

Pakistan's chances of a possible fightback were seriously dented by Misbah's departure. Bilawal Bhatti joined Sarfraz at the crease with the prime objective of survival and also building a lead. Although hampered by a hamstring injury, Bhatti looked to be providing excellent support to Sarfraz as he showed no signs of letting up on his aggression against Sri Lankan bowlers as he fearlessly lifted Herath for a boundary in the final over before tea. Pakistan ended the afternoon session with 265/6 and a lead of 42.

Sarfraz and Bhatti continued to fight hard in a gloomy overhead session in which rain threatened but never materialised. The two batted positively and added 57 more runs after tea before Bhatti played-on to an Eranga yorker for a well-made 32. Bhatti, whose positive attitude has impressed in his short international career, couldn't hide his disappointment as he dragged himself off the field. The Sarfraz-Bhatti partnership was the fourth highest of the match.

The light was getting progressively worse and the umpires had their light meters out before Sri Lanka opted to bowl Kumar Sangakkara. His over, the penultimate one of the day, cost seven, including five for Ajmal as the Pakistani lead went past 100. Sarfraz, who has handled star spinner Herath well, smashed him for a four off the penultimate ball of the day before drizzle forced play to be ended 15 overs early.

Pakistan ended the day on 330/7, a lead of 107, with Sarfraz Ahmed on 70 and Saeed Ajmal 7.


Day four: Fall Of Wickets

Morning Session

4-148 Younis Khan, 59.1 overs

Afternoon Session

5-200 Asad Shafiq, 81.3 overs
6-245 Misbah-ul-Haq, 95.3 overs

Evening Session

7-312 Bilawal Bhatti, 116.6 overs

Pakistan showed good fight to lose just four wickets in the day, and equally the Sri Lankan bowlers stuck to their task well to remove Younis and Misbah on a placid pitch.

The Bilawal and Sarfraz partnership helped Pakistan build a small lead but with just Ajmal, Rahat and Junaid to support the wicket-keeper, Pakistan will need a another strong effort to prevent a loss on day five.

Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka in Dubai, 2nd Test, Day 5, play to commence at 5:36AM GMT on 11 January 2013.

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