Younis Leads Pakistan Fightback But Lanka Have Edge
Sri Lanka v s Pakistan Third Test In Sharjah
By Dion Michael
Kumar Sangakkara on his way to 144
Former skipper Younis Khan struck 122 to lead a Pakistan fightback, but three late wickets in the final session gave Sri Lanka the edge after a tense and absorbing day in their third and final test in Sharjah.
Pakistan replying to Sri Lanka’s first innings of 413 were 282 for 6 – still 131 adrift – at close of day three on Saturday. Trailing 0-1 in the three-test series with one game drawn the tourists need to win the test to at least level the series.
Younis figured in two solid stands as he anchored the Pakistan innings. He put on 98 for the third with with Azhar Ali (53) and then added exactly 100 for the fourth wicket with skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (50 not out) to help Pakistan recover from a shaky 35 for 2.
After having lost both openers relatively cheaply, Younis and Azhar resumed this morning from their overnight score of 35 for 2.
Both batsmen began watchfully but their confidence grew steadily and they began to play more freely later in the morning session. The pair batted throughout the morning session without being separated adding 91 runs to take Pakistan to 126 for 2 at lunch.
The tourists finally achieved the breakthrough they desperately needed when shortly after lunch Azhar was bowled by debutant fast bowler Kosala Kulasekera to give the latter his first test wicket.
His dismissal brought skipper Misbah to the crease and he made his intentions very clear from the start – his idea was to occupy the crease and hold one end up. Misbah took 35 balls for his first two runs but was still there at the end of the day with 50 not out off 164 balls.
Misbah proved the ideal foil for Younis who was now batting with more fluency and striking the ball sweetly. The pair had added exactly 100 for the fourth wicket when
Younis was bowled by left arm paceman Chanaka Welagedera for 122 – his 18th test ton – which included 12 fours and 2 sixes.
Welegedara then struck again to dismiss Shafiq caught behind by Kaushal Silva for 16, and the tourists made a third breakthrough before the close when left arm spinner Rangana Herath trapped Pakistan wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal lbw for seven.
The tourists will now hope to dismiss Pakistan cheaply when play resumes today as a lead of around 100 runs would be very handy as they search for a series-levelling win.
The obdurate Misbah could very well upset those plans if he bats in the same vein when play resumes.
