In Lanka’s last desert storm Mathews shone
Mathews was the man in form when Pakistan played Sri Lanka in 2014
Unhonoured and unsung (at the present time) the Sri Lankan team will leave for the venues in the desert sands with a few things to prove. On a positive note, the trauma induced by the Indian clean sweep would have receded to the back of their minds. New opponents, fresh venues and playing away from home, all this should give the team the opportunity to make a fresh start.
The last time the Sri Lankan visited these venues, the series was drawn one all, with Pakistan drawing level in the final Test with just eight balls to go. Angelo Mathews baiters (and haters, if there are any) should keep in mind that the then Sri Lankan captain was the man-of-the-series, making 412 in five innings with one not out.
It must be said however that the team in question was a much stronger one, containing as it did Kumar Sangakkara, the two Jayawardenas (Mahela and Prasanna), Shaminda Eranga, and Kaushal Silva. The last named had knocks of 81, 95, 58 and 36.
1st Test: Abu Dhabi — Dec 31, 2013 to Jan 4, 2014
Sri Lanka 204 (Dimuth 35, Mathews 91, Junaid Khan 5-58, Bilawal Bhatti 3-65) and 480-5 decl. (Kaushal Silva 81, Sangakkara 55, Chandimal 89, Mathews 157 not out, Prasanna Jayawardena 63 not out)
Pakistan 383 (Shezad 38, Younis 136, Misbah 135, Hearth 3-93, Eranga 3-80) and 158-2 (target 302) (Shezad 55, Hafeez 80 not out)
Debuts: Sachitra Senanayake, Ahmed Shezad, Bilawal Bhatti.
2nd Test: Dubai — Jan 8-12, 2014
Sri Lanka’s four pronged attack of Pradeep Eranga, Suranga Lakmal and Ranga Herath rolled the Pakistanis over for 165 (Khuroam Manzoor 73). They capitalised by making 388 at almost three an over (Mahela 129, Silva 95, Mathews 42, Kumar 26, Dimuth 32, Junaid 3-102) with honour at stake, Pakistan seemed up for the challenge. They cobbled together a fairly impressive 359, second time round. (Younis 77, Misbah 97, Sarfraz 74, Bhatti 82) Lakmal stood out with a bag of 4-74. Herath, Pradeep and the balance amicable.
3rd Third Test: Sharjah –
Jan 16-20, 2014
The win had obviously given the Sri Lankans ample confidence. This was reflected in a first innings total of 428-9. (Dimuth 34, Kumar 52, Mahela 47, Mathews 91, Prasanna 35, debutant Dilruwan 95, Eranga 25 n.o.)
Seamers Junaid and Talha were responsible for six of the nine that fell.
Pakistan finished 87 behind. Shezad, in his first series top scored with 147, Misbah made 63, Khurram 52, Rangana had 5-125. More significantly Eranga bowled superbly for figures of 24-5-60-4.
From the Olympian heights reached in the first innings, Sri Lanka plunged the depths in the second innings. (Kaushal 36, Mahela 46, Mathews 31, Prasanna 49 in a total of 214). Ata-Ur-Rehman bowled best (4-56), while Talha and Ajmal cleaned up the rest.
Pakistan reached the target of 302 in the gloom, and in slight confusion. Azhar Ali took to the Sri Lankan attack making 103. The ever reliable skipper Misbah was there at the finish on 68 and the promoted Sarbraz hastened the end with a brisk 47. Disappointment followed success in a matter of days.
Yet, isn’t it all part of this fascinating legacy left behind by the British?
Milestones – Hearth played his 50th Test, and Jayawardena reached the Himalayan heights of 11,000 Test runs.
For the Pakistanis, their in-some-quarters, much-maligned skipper Misbah had scores of 135, 97, 63 and 68 not out in six innings.
Did the Bard of Avon have Misbah in mind when he wrote “Age has not withered, nor custom staled his infinite variety.”