Sri Lanka seal nine-wicket victory in Dubai after chasing down 137 in the fourth innings

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

Pakistan started the day leading by 107 runs with just three wickets in hand. Sarfraz Ahmed in his press conference yesterday mentioned that the first hour would be crucial if his team were to add the 100 more runs required to bring Pakistan back into contention.

Saeed Ajmal and Sarfraz Ahmed came to the crease with the lights on and conditions a little gloomy, but no threat of the rain that had been forecast.

Sri Lanka had an early review for an lbw against Saeed Ajmal off Eranga who found some nip off the pitch, but the umpire upheld the on-field call.With Lakmal and Eranga finding appreciable movement, there were a few half-shouts before Lakmal bowled Sarfraz in the fifth over of the day with a delivery that swung in, resulting in the batsmen leaving a big gap between bat and pad. Sarfraz (74) had added just four runs to his overnight score and Pakistan chances of posting a competitive departed with him.

Rahat and Ajmal occupied the crease and collected a few boundaries before Rahat (8) edged a Lakmal delivery behind to Prasanna Jayawardene, who took his ninth catch of the match.

Saeed Ajmal was the last man to go for a crafty 21, bowled by a yorker by Lakmal who was the pick of the bowlers with 4/78 as Pakistan were bowled out for 359, setting Sri Lanka 137 for victory.

Pakistan opted to open the bowling with Mohammad Hafeez and Junaid Khan but the Sri Lankan openers Karunaratne and Silva have given their side some good starts in the series so far, and they looked unperturbed by the fourth-innings chase as Sri Lanka reached 35/0 at lunch.

Saeed Ajmal was brought into the attack after lunch and with Sri Lanka on 51, induced an uppish drive from Silva which was dropped by Asad Shafiq at cover. He's has had a poor series with the bat, the drop by the normally reliable Shafiq perhaps indicative of the pressure he is under.

At the other end Junaid Khan conceded consecutive boundaries to Karunaratne in the 23rd and Silva in the 25th as he struggled to find the length which has served him so well against Sri Lanka on previous occasions.

Ajmal had an lbw shout against Karunaratne but the ball was projected by Hawkeye to be clipping leg stump and the on-field umpires decision of not-out was upheld. The off-spinner, who was finding appreciable spin, finally got a wicket after he trapped Silva (58) lbw, but it was all too late with Sri Lanka on 124, just 15 runs short of victory. Silva has looked in touch and has been involved in two of the top three partnerships in the match, his 139-run fourth wicket stand with Mahela Jayawardene paving the way for the Sri Lankan victory.

Kumar Sangakkara struck the winning runs as Sri Lanka won by nine wickets.

Day five: Fall Of Wickets

Morning Session

8-334 Sarfraz Ahmed, 127.4 overs
9-354 Rahat Ali, 135.3 overs,
10-359 Saeed Ajmal, 137.3 overs

Afternoon Session

1-124 Silva, 40.3 overs
 

The Sri Lankan bowlers sowed the seeds of victory on the first day, when they skittled Pakistan for just 165 with some disciplined bowling and the batsmen, particularly Silva and centurion Mahela Jayawardene, ensured the advantage was maintained as they posted a first innings lead of over 200.

Pakistan fought hard in the third innings but the Sri Lankans maintained control throughout and once they had removed Misbah and Younis on a placid pitch, the match was in their grasp.

For Sri Lanka, a lot of positives to focus on, including nine catches for Prasanna Jayawardene, runs for the openers, Mahela Jayawardene coming back into form and the pacers taking wickets after key man Herath struggled.

Pakistan have a lot of thinking to do before the next match, which is due to commence in just four days time, with the top order woes being the prime area of focus.

Mahela Jayawardene

Pakistan v Sri Lanka in Sharjah, 3rd Test to commence at 6:00AM GMT on 16th January, 2014.

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