Published: Jan 12, 2014, 10:45 AM (IST)
Edited: Jan 12, 2014, 10:48 AM (IST)
Jan 12, 2014
The early inroads made by Sri Lankan bowlers threatened to inflict the first ever innings-defeat against the Island nation but captain Misbah-ul-Haq‘s valiant 97 thwarted those assumptions and left Pakistan with a remote chance of salvaging a result from this Test match.
After Nuwan Pradeep rocked the top order to leave Pakistan tottering at 19 for three, former captain Younis Khan and Misbah steadied the ship before Younis departed for 77.
Misbah was ably supported by rookie wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed before the brilliance of Rangana Herath denied the Pakistan captain of a well deserved century.
Bilawal Bhatti also made a valuable contribution down the order with 32 although with a slender lead of 107 and the Sri Lankan bowlers’ vigilance throughout the Test match, Pakistani hopes rest on Ahmed, who was unbeaten on 70 with Saeed Ajmal for company at the end of the day’s play.
Barring a monumental effort from Pakistan, this match is Sri Lanka’s to lose.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 165 (Khurram Manzoor 73; Nuwan Pradeep 3 for 62, Rangana Herath 3 for 26) and 330 for 7 (Younis Khan 77, Misbah-ul-Haq 97; Nuwan Pradeep 2 for 50) lead Sri Lanka 388 ( Kaushal Silva 95, Mahela Jayawardene 129, Angelo Mathews 42; Junaid Khan 3 for 102) by 107 runs.
