2nd Test: Misbah leads Pakistan’s resistance
Captain, Sarfraz play crucial knocks to help hosts take 107-run lead against Sri Lanka.
Misbah added 129 for the fourth wicket with Younus Khan, 52 for the fifth with Asad Shafiq and 45 for the sixth with Sarfraz Ahmed. PHOTO: AFP
DUBAI:
Captain Misbahul Haq led Pakistan’s resistance with a gritty 97 to thwart Sri Lanka’s victory bids on the fourth day of the second Test in Dubai on Saturday.
Misbah missed his sixth Test hundred by a mere three runs but a career-best 70 not out by Sarfraz Ahmed and a defiant 32 by Bilawal Bhatti kept Pakistan’s fight to take them to 330 for seven at close on a cloudy day.
When bad light and drizzle ended play 15 overs before schedule, Saeed Ajmal was on seven and Pakistan were leading by 107 runs with a full day’s play remaining.
Sarfraz added an invaluable 67 runs for the seventh wicket with Bhatti to frustrate the Sri Lanka bowlers who bowled with discipline and patience on a pitch which had little response for bowlers.
Sri Lanka will look for an early wrap up of Pakistan’s second innings to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after the first Test ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi last week.
The third and final Test will be played in Sharjah from Thursday.
Sarfraz said he felt more responsibility after Misbah’s fall.
“When I was playing with Misbah, he was guiding me,” said Sarfraz. “But when he got out I felt more responsibility and I will continue to fight on Sunday and if we add another 100 then we can win this match.”
Sarfraz improved on his highest Test score of 40 he made against South Africa at Centurion earlier this year by posting his maiden half century. He has so far hit seven boundaries during his 123-ball stay.
Sri Lanka had a good chance of dismissing Sarfraz at 51 but paceman Suranga Lakmal dropped a regulation caught and bowled chance to add to his team’s woes after Misbah foiled them for nearly two sessions.
Misbah’s valiant effort helped Pakistan avoid their first-ever innings defeat against Sri Lanka before his 412-minute resistance ended.
The veteran batsman hit eight boundaries and a six under difficult circumstances.
He added an invaluable 129 for the fourth wicket with Younus Khan (77), 52 with Asad Shafiq (23) for the fifth and 45 for the sixth with Sarfraz to help Pakistan avoid innings defeat, but finally succumbed to some persistent effort from Rangana Herath who has figures of two for 124.
Left-arm spinner Herath said Sri Lanka will look for early wickets.
“The pitch is still 50-50 so if we can get them for another 50 more we can win,” said Herath.
Paceman Nuwan Pradeep had the best figures of two for 50 while Eranga took two 70.
Pakistan resumed on 132 for three and needed Younus and Misbah to dig deep but Younus tried to drive a slightly wide delivery from Lakmal, managing only to edge it to wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene, who held his eighth catch of the match.
Sri Lanka took the second new ball with the score at 198 for four and were instantly rewarded in the second over when Eranga had Shafiq caught in the slip.
Both Misbah and Sarfraz survived confident leg-before appeals — with the skipper reverting umpire Sundaram Ravi’s decision on 78 to add to Sri Lanka’s day-long frustration.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2014.
Captain Misbahul Haq led Pakistan’s resistance with a gritty 97 to thwart Sri Lanka’s victory bids on the fourth day of the second Test in Dubai on Saturday.
Misbah missed his sixth Test hundred by a mere three runs but a career-best 70 not out by Sarfraz Ahmed and a defiant 32 by Bilawal Bhatti kept Pakistan’s fight to take them to 330 for seven at close on a cloudy day.
When bad light and drizzle ended play 15 overs before schedule, Saeed Ajmal was on seven and Pakistan were leading by 107 runs with a full day’s play remaining.
Sarfraz added an invaluable 67 runs for the seventh wicket with Bhatti to frustrate the Sri Lanka bowlers who bowled with discipline and patience on a pitch which had little response for bowlers.
Sri Lanka will look for an early wrap up of Pakistan’s second innings to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after the first Test ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi last week.
The third and final Test will be played in Sharjah from Thursday.
Sarfraz said he felt more responsibility after Misbah’s fall.
“When I was playing with Misbah, he was guiding me,” said Sarfraz. “But when he got out I felt more responsibility and I will continue to fight on Sunday and if we add another 100 then we can win this match.”
Sarfraz improved on his highest Test score of 40 he made against South Africa at Centurion earlier this year by posting his maiden half century. He has so far hit seven boundaries during his 123-ball stay.
Sri Lanka had a good chance of dismissing Sarfraz at 51 but paceman Suranga Lakmal dropped a regulation caught and bowled chance to add to his team’s woes after Misbah foiled them for nearly two sessions.
Misbah’s valiant effort helped Pakistan avoid their first-ever innings defeat against Sri Lanka before his 412-minute resistance ended.
The veteran batsman hit eight boundaries and a six under difficult circumstances.
He added an invaluable 129 for the fourth wicket with Younus Khan (77), 52 with Asad Shafiq (23) for the fifth and 45 for the sixth with Sarfraz to help Pakistan avoid innings defeat, but finally succumbed to some persistent effort from Rangana Herath who has figures of two for 124.
Left-arm spinner Herath said Sri Lanka will look for early wickets.
“The pitch is still 50-50 so if we can get them for another 50 more we can win,” said Herath.
Paceman Nuwan Pradeep had the best figures of two for 50 while Eranga took two 70.
Pakistan resumed on 132 for three and needed Younus and Misbah to dig deep but Younus tried to drive a slightly wide delivery from Lakmal, managing only to edge it to wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene, who held his eighth catch of the match.
Sri Lanka took the second new ball with the score at 198 for four and were instantly rewarded in the second over when Eranga had Shafiq caught in the slip.
Both Misbah and Sarfraz survived confident leg-before appeals — with the skipper reverting umpire Sundaram Ravi’s decision on 78 to add to Sri Lanka’s day-long frustration.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2014.