Cricket: Pakistan keep Sri Lanka in check

Ajmal takes two wickets to peg back tourists on fourth day of third Test.

SHARJAH: Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal took two wickets in an over to check Sri Lanka’s victory bid on the fourth day of the third and final Test against Pakistan at Sharjah stadium.

The wily-spinner dismissed Angelo Mathews and Kaushala Silva in the final hour to stop Sri Lanka who were on the right track after half-centuries by Tharanaga Paranavitana and Kumar Sangakkara.

Sri Lanka, aiming to level the three-Test series after losing the second Test in Dubai by nine wickets, will seek some quick runs today, with Paranavitana unbeaten on 66 and Kosala Kulasekera not out on four.

They lead by 237 runs with five wickets intact on a weary pitch which helped the spinners as Ajmal, Mohammad Hafeez and Abdul Rehman troubled the batsmen with spin and deliveries that kept low.

Paranavitana defies hosts

Paranavitana, dropped on two and 25, batted valiantly to keep Sri Lanka in the hunt as they lost Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene while in search for quick runs.

The left-hander has so far hit four boundaries and a six during his enterprising 156-ball knock.

Paceman Umar Gul provided Pakistan with a quick breakthrough as he dismissed Dilshan, caught in the slips off the fifth ball of the innings.

Sangakkara, who made 516 runs from the six innings at an average of 86 in this series, added 75 for the second wicket with Paranavitana before he was caught off spinner Hafeez, causing a middle-order slump.

Jayaywardene also fell to Gul, trapped leg-before wicket.

Hafeez says Pakistan remain positive

Meanwhile, Hafeez said Pakistan remain positive for a win. “We, as a team, remain positive and will see how things go,” said Hafeez. “The pitch is still good but it will be the fifth day and we have to remain positive for a victory.”

Left-arm paceman Chanaka Welegadara hoped Sri Lanka get 50 runs quickly to put pressure on Pakistan.

“We want to get 50 quick runs so that we can put pressure on Pakistan, we desperately need to win this Test,” said Welegadara, who took his maiden five-wicket haul, finishing with five for 87.

Earlier in the day

In Pakistan’s innings, captain Misbahul Haq missed

his hundred by just 11 runs as the hosts were dismissed for 340.

Despite Welegedara’s effort, it was Misbah’s fighting knock of 89 which brought Pakistan closer to Sri Lanka’s total before the 37-year-old fell 10 minutes before lunch, top edging a sweep off spinner Suraj Randiv.

He added an invaluable 47 runs for the ninth wicket with Saeed Ajmal (12 not out) after Pakistan lost Abdul Rehman off the last ball of the first over of the day, caught in the slips off Welegedara.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7^th,  2011.