Wed, 26 Oct 2011 - Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in UAE 2011-12, 2nd Test Match- Bul

DAY 4: Pakistan*: 403 - 94 / 1 in 24.1 overs RR: 3.89, Sri Lanka: 239 - 257 in 109.5 overs RR: 2.32

Clinical Pakistan go 1-0 up

Unlike in Abu Dhabi where they lacked killer instincts, Pakistan exhibited purpose and aggression to defeat Sri Lanka by nine wickets in the second test at Dubai to go 1-0 up in the three-match series. The win was result of all-round cricket played over the last four days which saw Pakistan outclass Sri Lanka in all three departments of the game.

After bowling out Sri Lanka for 257 in the second innings thanks to five for 68 from ace spinner Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Hafeez led Pakistan to reach the target of 94 in 24.1 overs. Hafeez cracked five fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 59 as Azhar Ali also hit a steady 29 to get the chase done and dusted and ensured game finished on fourth day only. In pursuit of paltry 94, Pakistan lost Taufeeq Umar early before Hafeez and Azhar punished Sri Lanka bowlers to fashion out a win.

Man of the match Ajmal, who followed his three wickets in the first innings with a fourth five wicket haul, made most of the crumbling pitch to decimate Lankan batting line-up. Abdur Rehman and Junaid Khan did their bit to make inroads claiming a brace each.

It was in the first session that Pakistan’s made serious advancements in their pursuit to not concede big lead claming three Sri Lankan wickets in the first session of the day four and still having a lead of 39 in the bank. It was clearly Pakistan’s session with their opponents losing fulcrum of their batting line-up and could score only 37 in the entire session.

Unfazed by the loss of Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayewardene and skipper T Dilshan , opener Tharanga Paranavitana proved to be Sri Lanka’s lone fighter going into lunch unbeaten 64 for which he has faced 219 balls. It was spin, reverse-swing and relentless discipline that kept Lankan batsmen honest and brought about their downfall.

Starting the day at 88 for 1, Paranavitana and Sangakkara could add only seven to the total before the latter had to depart due to an umpiring error. Left arm spinner Abdur Rehman beat Sangakkara’s prod to hit him on the front pad-way outside the crease-for umpire Tony Hill to give another dubious decision. Upset Sangakkara left the scene for a 99-ball 30 fuming his anger at the decision.

Tharanga defied the odds to bring his half century courtesy a glide through vacant third man and in Jayewardene’s company tried to repair the early loss. Jayewardene’s lean run in the series continued when he missed an attempted sweep shot off Saeed Ajmal to have his middle-stump disturbed. Left arm seamers then made it Pakistan’s session by a proverbial country mile when he caught the Lankan captain plumb infront for three. It just stretched Dilshan’s lean trot for the man who is hardly got a run in the series. From 95 for one, Sri Lanka combusted to 116 for four giving Pakistan ascendancy over the proceedings.

Junaid should have had Angelo Mathews as well but for another howler from umpire. It was Shahvir Tarapore who denied Pakistan a wicket when Mathews padded up an incoming delivery that was heading to the middle and off-stump.

Paranavitana, who exhibited solid defensive technique and ounces of patience, and Mathews saw their side to safety with score reading 125 for four at lunch and the duo managing nine runs during their edgy 63-ball tenure at the crease.

Post lunch, there was more urgency from the duo-Mathews in particular-to take score to 141. It was Ajmal who brokethrough for Pakistan after break when he one to turn away from Paranavitana for left hander to edge to Younis Khan at slip. Paranavitana’s defiance lasted for 239 balls and included four fours.

Junaid got Pakistan to Lankan tail getting wicketkeeper Kaushal Silva to top edge an attempted pull shot to have Lankans reeling at 166 for 6. It was Dhammika Prasad in Mathews’ company that scripted a little Lankan resurgence with the duo putting on a well paced 56 to take lead well past 50. Prasad was very aggressive thumping spinners down the ground on his way to a 48-ball 33.

Pakistan looked bit nervous with duo getting runs all that easily before Rehman got one to sneak through Prasad’s defence to give Pakistan opening. Another 22 runs were to take score to 243 before Ajmal mopped up the tail. The off-spinner had Herath caught at covers , Chanaka Welegedra trapped leg before the wickets and castled last man Suranga Lakmal to keep target under 100.

Sri Lanka were dismissed for 239 in the first innings after Umar Gul ran through their top order on the first morning of the game and Pakistan-led by maiden hundred from Azhar Ali-earned a match winning lead of 164 before Ajmal spun his magic to make sure Pakistan translate ascendancy into a result this time around.

Day 3: Bulletin on next page