Malik's Hundred Puts Pakistan in Command

Thursday 23rd July, 2009

Sri Lanka miss by Rex Clementine An unbeaten hundred by Shoaib second spinner Malik took away any Sri Lankan hopes of a 3-0 whitewash in the series after by Richard Pakistan fought back admirably to wres- Browne tle back the initiative on the third day of the third Test Match here at the On a day of attri- Singhalese Sports Club ground yester- tional Test cricket at day. At stumps on day three, Pakistan the SSC, Sri Lanka’s had reached 300 for five with a lead of 366 gamble in playing only one front line spinner runs. The Sri Lankans have never chased was shown as being a more than 352 runs to win a Test Match mistake, as on the flat- and if they are to win here, they will test wicket of the three have to rewrite history books. match series, the four Although the wicket looks good to bat pronged pace attack, on, having not scored 300 runs even once was made to look mediocre as the in the series, it looks a daunting task for Pakistanis finally the hosts. grafted out a score that As Pakistan finished off an excellent has put them in a day three, Malik was unbeaten on 106, match winning posi- Trevor Bayliss his second Test hundred; incidentally tion. his previous century too had come “We lacked a bit of variety out there, a second spinner defi- against the Sri Lankans at this ground. nitely would have been useful today. I Providing him solid company was wick- thought the bowling attack looked a bit et-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal, who one dimensional and on a wicket as flat as reached his half-century just before close this the more options you have the hard- of play and the pair added a 100 run er it is for the opposition,” said Sri Lanka stand for the sixth wicket in just 124 coach Trevor Bayliss. balls. More than the lack of variety in the bowling attack Sri Lanka’s failure to The first session of day-three was a build an imposing first innings total lay disappointing one for the Pakistanis as at the heart of their problems, for it was they lost three wickets after resuming only a matter of time before a batting from the overnight total of 16 for one. side as talented as Pakistan got their act They were struggling at 67 for four, but Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik bows down to the ground after reaching his century, on the third day of the third cricket Test match between Sri together and punished the flimsiness of Misbah-ul-Haq and Malik batted the Lanka and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, July 22, 2009. (AP - Gurinder Osan) the normally reliable Sri Lanka batting line up. morning session watchfully and then “The boys were really upset with the took the attack onto the Sri Lankans in way they batted yesterday.They have not the afternoon session without being sep- become bad batsmen overnight and if arated. you look at our batting record over the Rangana Herath’s left-arm spin that last couple of years; it is as good as any- had looked threatening in both Galle and one’s. To me the players are not out of P. Sara was comfortably dealt with as Malik’s hundred puts form, they are just not putting together big scores. I have total faith in them both batsmen played him with control. though and even though the wicket will Their partnership of 119 ended when turn more as the game goes on, there is Misbah was caught behind off Angelo no reason why we can not chase down a big total.,” said Bayliss. Bayliss was happy though with the SCOREBOARD team’s persistence on what was a gruel- Pakistan in command ing day in the field and was pleased to Pakistan 1st Innings 299 announce that the battle scarred Tilakaratne Dilshan would bat if neces- Sri Lanka 1st Innings 233 sary in the second innings. Pakistan 2nd Innings Mathews for 65. was on 91 as Sangakkara failed to collect After a succession of calamitous col- (Overnight 16-11) Sri Lanka were looking to run the ball off the bowling of Herath. Later lapses, the Pakistanis must have feared K. Manzoor b Herath 2 through the lower middle-order that had he came down the track to Herath to the worse when they went four down for F. Alam c & b Thushara 16 not got many runs in the series, but any hoist him inside out over deep extra only 67 runs. However vice- captain Y. Khan lbw b Kulasekera 19 of those hopes soon evaporated as Akmal cover to reach three figures in style. Misbah-Ul-Haq and former captain Shoaib Malik put there heads down and M. Yousuf c Sangakkara b Herath 23 joined his former captain. Runs came A catch off Akmal too was put down showed the application and restraint in Misbah-ul-Haq c S,kara b Mathews 65 easy and fast for the tourists in the last as Thilan Samaraweera running in from shot selection that has been lacking all S. Malik not out 106 session as they scored as many as 131 deep extra cover spilled it denying series. K. Akmal not out 60 runs in 32 overs. Angelo Mathews a second wicket with Shoaib who has fond memories of the Extras: (6b, 2lb, 1w) 9 Akaml in particular was in good nick just three balls to go for stumps. ground after his match saving 148 last TOTAL: (for five wickets) 300 as his unbeaten 60 came in just 68 balls Shoaib hit ten fours and a six for his time round, made another century and with six boundaries and a six, but the was keen to share the credit with his vice Overs: 95 106 that came in 186 balls. captain. Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-22, 3-54, 4-67, 5- hero of the day for Pakistan undoubted- It was a hard day’s work for the Sri “Misbah has been out of form, but 186. ly was Malik. a watchful unbeaten 148 in over eight Lankans as just four wickets fell on the the way he applied himself was an inspi- Still to bat: U. Gul, S. Ajmal, M. Aamer, D. Although Pakistan were struggling at hours and helped Pakistan to hold on for day. Sri Lanka opted for the second new ration to me and showed me that crease Kaneria. 67 for four when Malik walked into bat a draw. ball immediately after it was made avail- occupation was the order of the day,with Bowling: Kulasekera 15-5-33-1 (1w), by the time stumps were drawn on day- so much time left in the match. The pitch Here with the series already lost and able, but it only leaked more runs. Thushara 19-2-84-1, Herath 37-6-113-2, three, they had reached 300 for five and was seaming around less than the previ- with the team playing for pride, he rose Veteran Chaminda Vaas playing his Vaas 14-6-29-0, Mathews 10-1-33-1. were looking good for a lead of over 400. ous Tests and I am glad to have finally to the occasion admirably and put last Test Match was not called up to bowl Umpires: I. Gould,( Eng), S. Taufel, (Aus). Last time Pakistan played here, Sri cashed in and got a big total, after getting Pakistan in a very steady position. until the 32nd over of the innings and a couple of starts in the series. The wick- Third umpire: G. Silva, (SL). Lanka set them an improbable target of It wasn’t however the perfect effort by even when the second new ball was et was starting to turn more as the day Match Referee: A. Hurst, (Aus). 458 in 121 overs and were set to win the the Sri Lankans on the field. A stumping taken, the other two seamers were pre- went on and we are confident that with Toss: Sri Lanka. game. But Malik, who was promoted to two spinners in our team, we can push for chance off Malik went begging when he ferred over him. Series: Sri Lanka leads (3) 2-0. open the innings played a superb knock, victory,” said Shoaib.

Dilshan doubtful for ODI series CR fly half Dev Anand crosses The participation of dashing Team Manager Brendon batsman Tillekeratne Dilshan in Kuruppu told ‘The Island’ that the over to Navy SC the upcoming five-match ODI series cut required multiple stitches. against Pakistan remains doubtful “Dilshan was not feeling well by Ravi Nagahawatte the club and joining the ‘Sailors’. another team, Ibrahim answered after the 32-year-old fractured his today, but will see whether he’s fit right index finger while keeping Navy Sports Club coach in the negative. “There is no enough to bat tomorrow” Kuruppu Ceylonese Rugby & Football Ronnie Ibrahim confirmed with problem because tournament wickets during Pakistan’s first said. Club (CR&FC) which suffered a The Island that Anand had joined rules allow players to join forces innings. Kuruppu further added that the heavy blow in the form of a Navy Sports Club. teams during the season,” The middle-order batman batted batsman remained a doubtful defeat at the hands of Navy Asked whether Anand had Ibrahim said. at number eight on Tuesday despite Sports Club last week has violated tournament rules by It is also speculated that the fractured thumb and made a starter for the ODI series in encountered another setback crossing over to another club, CR&FC centre Chamara useful 44, but sustained a cut above Dambulla, but added that the team with their regular fly half and during an ongoing championship Vithanage has left the club and his right eyebrow while trying to medical staff is monitoring his sit- place kicker Dev Anand leaving in which he had represented retuned to Kandy. Tillekeratne Dilshan sweep Saeed Ajmal. uation.

Thursday 23rd July, 2009