Pakistan still trail by 137 despite Shehzad’s 147
Ahmed Shehzad displayed his maturity with a fluent knock of 147 as Pakistan still trail by 137 runs with four wickets in hand against Sri Lanka at stumps on the third day of the third and final Test match at Sharjah yesterday. After Sri Lanka put up a gallant display to declare at 428 for the loss of nine wickets in the first innings, Pakistan made slow progress to post 291 runs for the loss of six wickets as the match heads towards an obvious draw with two more days remaining.
Almost the entire two of the three days were utilised by Sri Lanka who proved the predictions on the pitch report rather inaccurate. Pakistan, after having clinched the ODI series 3-2 and leveling the Twenty20 series 1-1, were keen to snatch a win and level the Test series. But the visitors had already made their task a tough one as the series stands in favour of Sri Lanka. Pakistan played cautiously, as Sri Lanka managed to grab only two wickets, between the lunch and tea breaks. But the visitors bounced back to grab four Pakistan scalps during the final session while conceding 122 runs in just 31.3 overs.
A Sri Lanka’s form of vigil was seemingly built up by the Pakistanis who batted for 35 overs without losing a single wicket to reach 85 runs before lunch. They added 84 more runs facing 29 overs during the second session, mainly aided by Shehzad, who hit his career best knock of 147 runs.
Rangana Herath celebrates the dismissal of Pakistani batsman Ahmed Shehzad-AFP
Shehzad’s knock came off 275 deliveries, after resuming from his overnight score of five, as Pakistan resumed the third day at 19 for no loss. Shehzad was featured in a few partnerships but his best contribution was the strong opening stand of 114 runs with Khurram Manzoor, who hit 52 runs off 125 deliveries.
He added 35 runs for the second wicket with Azhar Ali, who made eight before becoming the maiden Test wicket of off-spinner Dilruwan Perera. The dangerous Younis Khan, who fell to Herath made 17 runs off 31 balls and added 40 runs with Shehzad for the third wicket as he went on to put on 56 runs for the fourth wicket with skipper Misbah-ul-Haq before Herath stalled his epic knock.
Shehzad frustrated the Sri Lankan bowlers, guiding the ball towards the boundary for 12 fours and a six before misjudging a delivery of Herath who finished with three wickets. Playing in his third Test match, the right-handed 23-year-old took his tally of runs to 252 and his average to 50.40 indicating the making of a new generation batsman for Pakistan. Misbah remained unbeaten on 36 off 64 deliveries when stumps were drawn for the third day.
Sri Lanka was powered by two knocks from debutant Dilruwan Perera who fell short of a deserving century by five runs and skipper Angelo Mathews. Perera faced 247 deliveries and went on to top score with 95 runs hitting 12 fours and two sixes as Mathews made 91 from 256 balls with five boundaries and a six. Kumar Sangakkara hit 52 and the hero of the second Test, Mahela Jayawardene made 47. Junaid Khan and Mohammad Talha claimed three wickets each. The match will end on Monday.
| ScoreboardSri Lanka 1st innings 428-9 dec in 172 overs (D. Perera 95, A. Mathews 91, K. Sangakkara 52, M. Jayawardene 47, P. Jayawardene 35, D. Karunaratne 34, S. Eranga 25n.o.; Junaid Khan 3-81, Mohammad Talha 3-99, Saeed Ajmal 2-120) Pakistan 1st innings (overnight 19-0) Khurram Manzoor c Prasanna b Eranga 52Ahmed Shehzad b Herath 147 Azhar Ali c Mathews b Perera 8 Younis Khan c Prasanna b Herath 17 Misbah-ul Haq not out 36 Asad Shafiq lbw b Eranga 18 Sarfraz Ahmed c Prasanna b Herath 5 Extras (b1, lb6, nb1) 8 Total (for 6 wkts; 95.3 overs) 291 To bat: Sarfraz Ahmed, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Mohammad Talha, Junaid Khan. Fall of wickets: 1-114 (Manzoor), 2-149 (Azhar), 3-189 (Younis), 4-245 (Shehzad), 5-274 (Shafiq), 6-291 (Sarfraz) Bowling: Herath 31.3-8-88-3, Lakmal 21-4-57-0, Perera 17-1-71-1, Eranga 19-5-53-2 (1nb), Mathews 7-3-15-0 |