Pakistan started the day with 9 wickets in hand and a deficit of 76 runs . It was always going to be a difficult day for Pakistan as the night watchman Ajmal was removed early. Pakistan was very slow in their approach and never looked like scoring runs. Sarfraz was the only positive who scored 55* to give Pakistan some hope towards the end. In the final analysis, one can only praise Sri Lanka for their drive to win this game against all odds.

The next and final Test begins on 14th August and Pakistan have a mountain to climb if they are to square the series - Can they do another Sharjah there? Only time will tell.

By PakPassion.net Staff (10th August, 2014)

Day 5: Sri Lanka - 99/3 in 16.2 overs (DPMD Jayawardene 26, AD Mathews 25*), Pakistan - 180 in 80.2 overs (Sarfraz 52*, Azhar 41)

[(Overnight: Pakistan 6/1 - in 7.1 overs (Ahmed Shahzad 3*, Saeed Ajmal 0*)]

Morning Session

Pakistan started the tricky morning at 6-1 with Shehzad and nightwatchman Saeed Ajmal at the crease. Both batmen blocked their way out until Ajmal was caught behind off Prasad to make it 11-2. Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shehzad struggled against the spin duo of Herath and Parera whose partnership lasted 74 balls for only 16 runs till Shehzad was given LBW to Parera.

It was Pakistan's savior in the first innings (and many other matches) , Younis Khan the next man in who opened his account with a cracking boundary through the covers. The pressure was mounting on Pakistan to wipe off the deficit. The situation got worse when Herath bowled Younis Khan through the gate for 13. Once again it was skipper Misbah-ul-Haq who had to pick up the pieces.

At Lunch Pakistan were 66-4 with Azhar Ali on 18* and Misbah-ul-Haq on 7*


Afternoon Session

Pakistan were still 16 runs behind when Azhar and Misbah walked in. They blocked and defended almost everything that came their way until Misbah broke lose to slog sweep Parera for SIX followed by a four as Pakistan took the lead.

Azhar Ali got another special delivery from Rangana Herath just like the first innings as he was caught behind for 41. The lead was only 29 runs at this stage when Asad Shafiq walked in to join Misbah. Misbah was struck on the back pad the very next over and given LBW to give Parera his 2nd wicket. Asad Shafiq soon followed as Herath struck when umpire raised his finger to a LBW shout. The Lead was only 51 runs and Pakistan was in deep deep trouble as Rehman walked in to join Sarfraz.

Sarfraz looked positive as he picked up boundaries and moved the field around by running between the wickets. There was more drama when Eranga was given the ball to bowl the last over before Tea. He had Abdur Rehman caught behind to leave Pakistan 8 down.

At Tea Pakistan were 153-8 with Sarfraz on 29*


Evening Session

Mohammad Talha and Sarfraz walked out after tea hoping to survive the remaining overs. Sarfraz looked positive again fetching a few boundaries and also keeping Talha away from the strike.

Sarfraz bought up his 50 which took the lead to 96 runs. Talha was caught behind giving Herath his 5th wicket of the innings and leaving Pakistan in even more trouble. Junaid Khan didn't last long and was out LBW to Herath who finished with excellent figures of 6-48 and Pakistan were all out for 180.

Jayawardene opened for Sri Lanka (his last Test at Galle) with Tharanga whereas it was Ajmal who shared the new ball with Junaid Khan for Pakistan. Sri Lanka begun positively picking up boundaries and keeping up with the asking rate.

Junaid Khan clean bowled Tharanga which brought Sangakkara at the crease at 28-1. There was a cloud cover hovering near the ground and there was a chance of rain sooner or later which prompted Sangakkara and Jayawardene to hurry things up.

Sri Lanka needed 40 runs from 55 balls when Junaid got another breakthrough as he bowled Jayawardene with a fuller length delivery which bought the skipper Mathews at the crease.

The light was getting worse and the clouds were spreading all over the ground, Pakistan had a change in bowling with Talha replacing Ajmal with 9 overs to go. Talha got Sangakkara who top edged a short delivery which meant Mathews was the key man in the chase. It was still very dark as Sri Lanka require 24 to win off 6 overs and it was Junaid Khan to bowl. First ball was smacked over cow corner by Mathews for a massive 6 to bring the required runs down to 18. Junaid conceded 17 runs in the over and the game was pretty much over by then as Sri Lanka needed only 7 more runs to win.

Mathews hit another six in the next over which completed a brilliant win for the home team to go 1-0 up in the series. In the end it was sixes that rained from Mathew's bat and Pakistan have only themselves to blame for this loss.

Result: Sri Lanka 99-3 won by 7 wickets


Day Four: Fall Of Wickets

Morning Session

2-11 (Saeed Ajmal, 11.2 overs)
3-39 (Ahmed Shehzad, 26.5 overs)
4-55 (Younis Khan, 36.3 overs)


Afternoon Session

5-111 (Azhar Ali,57.5 overs)
6-111 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 59.1 overs)
7-133 (Asad Shafiq, 63.5 overs)
8-153 (Abdu Rehman, 71.5 overs)


Evening Session

9-178 (Mohammad Talha, 78.2 overs)
10-180 (Junaid Khan, 80.2 overs)

1-28 (Upal Tharanga, 7.2 overs)
2-59 (Mahela Jayawadene, 11.5 overs)
3-73 (Kumar Sangakkara, 14.1 overs)


Summary Day 5

Pakistan started the day with 9 wickets in hand and a deficit of 76 runs. It was always going to be a difficult day for Pakistan as the night watchman Ajmal was removed early. Pakistan was very slow in their approach and never looked like scoring runs. Sarfraz was the only positive who scored 55* to give Pakistan some hope towards the end. In the final analysis, one can only praise Sri Lanka for their drive to win this game against all odds.

The next and final Test begins on 14th August and Pakistan have a mountain to climb if they are to square the series - Can they do another Sharjah there? Only time will tell.

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