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Home , Angelo Mathews, Lakshan Sandakan, Peter Nevill, Steven Finn, Vishwa Fernando

S p o r t s FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2016 Aslam, Azhar frustrate in third Test BIRMINGHAM: Novice opener Sami Aslam and Azhar dropped twice Azhar Ali shared an unbroken stand of 154 after Off-spinner received similar Pakistan lost without a run treatment, with Azhar cutting a rank short ball on the board in the third Test against England at for four. Pakistan reached lunch on 72 for one, Edgbaston yesterday. At tea, the recalled Aslam with Aslam 27 and Azhar 38 not out. was a Test-best 69 not out and Azhar, dropped Those scores remained unaltered when Azhar, twice, 72 not out in a total of 154 for one. That in a rare indiscretion, went for a flashing drive left Pakistan 143 runs behind England’s first outside off stump against Anderson, only for innings 297. to drop the awkward second-slip Pakistan were none for one just four balls chance to his left. Azhar quickly reverted to a into their innings yesterday when Hafeez fell for more patient style of play before cover-driving a duck after lazily guiding a short James a wide Broad ball off the front foot for a Anderson to at point. The resounding four. tourists had seen Sohail Khan, one of their two Another cover-drive, this time off Finn for changes from the side beaten by 330 runs in the three, saw Azhar complete a 129-ball fifty, second Test at Old Trafford as England leveled including six fours, in nearly three hours at the the four-match series at 1-1, take five on crease. Aslam’s swept four off Ali then saw him Wednesday. Now all eyes were on Aslam, also to the landmark, his maiden Test fifty coming in : Sri Lankan batsman, Angelo Mathews, plays a shot as Australian -keeper, playing just his third Test, after the 20-year-old 135 balls with five boundaries. It was the start of Peter Nevill, right, and , watch during their first day of the second test had been brought in to replace struggling a sequence of three fours in five balls from Ali match. — AP opener Shan Masood. Left-hander Aslam for Aslam, including a lofted drive over the top steered wide of gully for the first of mid-on. four of Pakistan’s innings in the fifth over. Azhar almost fell to a similar shot off Ali Mendis gives His only prior innings this tour had seen when on 68, but the bowler was unable to Aslam make just 17 against Worcestershire last hold a tough return chance above his head off week in a two-day warm-up match. Yet the well- a hard-hit drive. The corresponding Test at edge against organized opener played with a maturity bely- Edgbaston in 2010 saw Pakistan bowled out ing his years in both attack and defense. Azhar for just 72 in their first innings, with Azhar GALLE: Half centuries from the in-form Kusal after a quickfire 42 off 41 balls. The debutant showed his class by calmly turning Anderson off making a 32-ball nought. Wednesday saw Mendis and skipper Angelo Mathews gave Sri Vishwa Fernando also celebrated his first wicket his legs for four. And when all-rounder Chris Sohail justify both his inclusion, and Pakistan Lanka the edge over Australia on the opening in when he sent opener Woakes over-pitched on his Warwickshire home Misbah-ul-Haq’s decision to field first, day of the second Test Thursday despite a five- trudging back to the pavilion for nought in only ground, Azhar elegantly drove him through the by taking a Test-best five for 96. After the 32- wicket haul from . Mendis fol- the second ball of the innings. Usman Khawaja covers for another boundary. The stylish 31- year-old paceman sparked a top-order col- lowed up his maiden century in the first Test was the not-out batsman and he will resume his year-old was equally severe when fast bowler lapse, England were indebted to left-handers with a top score of 86 in Galle as Sri Lanka post- innings yesterday on 11. Sri Lanka’s premier dropped short, cutting him for four Ballance (70) and Ali (63) for getting them ed a total of 281 in their first innings before then bowler, veteran spinner , only over point. close to 300. — AFP grabbing two early wickets during the tourists’ bowled one over before the close but is likely to response. Australia were 54 for two at stumps, be much busier later on in the Australian still trailing the hosts by 227 runs in what is a innings on a ground where he has a long record must-win match for Steve Smith’s side after they of success. —AFP lost the first Test last weekend in Pallekele. Mendis was once again the standout batsman for Sri Lanka, sharing a 108-run third wicket stand with to get the hosts’ innings back on track after losing two early wickets. Ambani among

100th test victim 8 new IOC His 137-ball knock was laced with 10 fours and two sixes as he entertained a lively home members crowd at the Galle International Stadium. But he became Starc’s 100th victim in Test cricket RIO DE JANEIRO: Nita Ambani, an when he was caught by the wicketkeeper Peter Indian businesswoman and owner of the Nevill with the score at 184-4. Having already Mumbai Indians cricket team franchise, accounted for the two Sri Lankan openers, the was among eight new members elected same bowler then dismissed the tail enders to the International Olympic Committee Rangana Herath and Lakshan Sandakan to finish yesterday on the eve of the Rio de with figures of 5 for 44. Janeiro Olympics. Ambani joined world Despite Starc’s heroics, Sri Lanka ended the governing bob and skeleton federation day with their noses in front — thanks in part to chief Ivo Ferriani of Italy, South African an entertaining innings from Mathews who hit film producer Anant Singh and Austria 54 off 65 balls, including three sixes. Mathews Olympic committee chief Karl Stoss. came to the crease with a positive mindset as he Canadian Olympic committee presi- made the reverse-sweep his stock shot against dent Tricia Smith, Finland’s Sari Essayah, the offspinner , who bagged two Colombia’s former ambassador to the wickets on a track that spun from the off. US Luis Moreno and Secretary General Speaking to reporters after the close of play, of the Papua New Guinea Olympic Starc said that it had been “a pretty even day” Committee Auvita Rapilla were also vot- but acknowledged that what is a turning track ed in. The eight new members bring the would benefit Sri Lanka’s spin-laden line-up. total number of IOC members to 98. “That wicket is pretty flat. It’s got no pace in Moreno, Singh and Ambani were ear- it. It will take a bit of spin. I thought overall we marked for membership by the IOC bowled quite well to all the batsmen,” said Starc Members Election Commission which is who paid tribute to Mendis. “He (Mendis) backs chaired by Britain’s Princess Anne as himself and can be aggressive when he wants to candidates outside the Olympic and and I think we changed our game plan a little sport community who could usher in a from that first Test and he still batted quite well fresh approach and new skills to the today.” organization. As part of reforms agreed in 2014, the IOC is eager to elect mem- Warner falls bers “with different sets of skills and Australia’s prospects of overhauling the Sri knowledge while ensuring the neces- Lankans were undermined right at the close sary balance in terms of gender and BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan batsman Azhar Ali drives the ball during day two of the 3rd Test when vice captain edged geography”. — Reuters Match against England at . — AP to slip off the last ball of the day