By PakPassion.net Staff (16th August, 2014)

Overnight: Pakistan 244/6 (70.0 ov) (Sarfraz 66* & Abdur Rehman 1*)

Morning Session

Sarfraz Ahmed and Abdur Rehman began the day with Pakistan facing a deficit of 76 runs and just 4 wickets in hand. Both batsmen attempted to impart a positive outlook to the proceedings as they kept the score board ticking. Sri Lanka got the first wicket of the day when Rangana Herath struck, taking his 6th wicket of the innings. Herath created the angle across the left-hander Abdur Rehman, by going around the wicket and Rehman followed the ball and played for turn to an arm ball, and edged the ball straight into in Mahela's hands at slip.

Sarfraz was supported very well by Wahab Riaz who played a gutsy knock before falling victim to Rangana Herath, his 7th wicket, when the fast-bowler tried to slog sweep but didn't quite get a hold of it, the ball went high in the air and Welegedara made no mistake, taking an easy catch at deep backward square leg. Sarfraz continued to play a brilliant knock despite losing wickets at the other end as he pushed Pakistan nearer to the Sri Lankan total. Sarfraz brought up his maiden Test hundred by smashing Welegedara for a six, in the process becoming the first Pakistan wicketkeeper to score a century in five years.

Rangana Herath struck again to get his eighth wicket as he removed the centurion Sarfraz Ahmed on 103 runs, Herath's figures got even better when he dismissed Saeed Ajmal to get his 9th wicket, most by a left arm bowler in an innings in the history of Test cricket.

At Lunch Pakistan were all-out for 332, with a lead of 12 runs


Afternoon Session

The Sri Lankan openers came out with a deficit of only 12 runs which was soon wiped off. In the absence of Junaid Khan who was rushed to hospital for a scan as he felt dizzy, Abdur Rehman opened the bowling with Wahab Riaz. There was a strong 50+ stand from the openers until Rehman got the breakthrough by breaking through the defenses of Upul Tharanga. A few over later Abdur Rehman claimed the wicket of Kausal Silva as Younis Khan took a brilliant low catch which bought Mahela at the crease for his last Test Innings of his career.

At Tea Sri Lanka were 86-2 leading by 74 runs with Sangakkara on 17* and Jayawardene on 1*


Evening Session

Both Sangakkara and Jayawardene continued their solid batting and kept building the lead for Sri Lanka. The pair then brought on the 50 partnership between them, it was the 46th time that Sangakkara and Jayawardene had put on a 50 run partnership.

Sangakkara moved on to register his 51st Test match fifty when he paddled away a delivery from Saeed Ajmal. Pakistan at this point were looking bereft of any ideas and the class of both Sri Lankan stalwarts was plain for all to see.

At stumps Sri Lanka were on 177/2, leading by 165 runs with Sangakkara on 54* and Jayawardene on 49*.


Day Three: Fall Of Wickets

Morning Session

7-273 (Rehman, 78.4 overs)
8-301 (Wahab, 85.6 overs)
9-315 (Sarfraz, 89.4 overs)
10-332 (Ajmal, 93.1 overs)

Afternoon Session

1-54 (Tharanga, 20.2 overs)
2-79 (Kaushal Silva, 24.2 overs)

Evening Session

No wicket


Summary Day 3

Sri Lanka dominated most periods of play today despite a brilliant innings from the Pakistan wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed who completed his maiden Test hundred. Rangana Herath's magical spell and a solid partnership between the Sri Lankan legends Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene made it Sri Lanka's day and Pakistan are now faced with momentous tasks of denying runs to 2 Sri Lankan legends and also trying to fashion a favourable result in the remaining 2 days of this final Test match. Both objectives will require hard work and seem unlikely.

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