Pakistan’s much-heralded Test batting had few answers to Vandersay’s leg-spinners as the 25-year-old claimed five wickets. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI:
Leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay picked up a five-wicket haul to help Sri Lanka Board President’s (SLBP) XI bowl out Pakistanis for just 247 on day one of their three-day side match being played at the Colts Cricket Ground in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
In reply, SLBP XI had made 44-1 in 13 overs at stumps, after Junaid Khan had picked up the solitary scalp in the very first over by dismissing Dimuth Karunaratne on naught.
But Upul Tharanga, who was unbeaten on 29 with the help of five boundaries, and Kaushal Silva, who was not out on 10, had survived the new ball when the umpires called off proceedings.
Batting woes
Pakistan had won the toss and decided to bat first, only to lose opener Mohammad Hafeez in the fourth over, trapped lbw on a personal score of three by Nisala Gamage.
Azhar Ali came in and tried to build the innings with Ahmed Shehzad as the two safely negotiated the new ball. But Azhar was undone by left-arm spinner Milinda Siriwardana on 12 as Pakistan were reduced to 39-2.
The dismissal brought Pakistan’s premier Test batsman Younus Khan out into the middle and he, along with Shehzad, provided the team a much-needed partnership.
While Shehzad went about his business slowly, Younus kept the scoreboard ticking to ensure that the Pakistanis were not bobbed down — something he has been doing for some time now in Tests.
The two combined to put on a 113-run third-wicket stand off just 149 balls, scoring at over 4.5 runs an over before the partnership was broken by SLBP XI to cease momentum again. Siriwardana provided the breakthrough when he dismissed Younus after a solid 78-ball 64, laced with three sixes and five boundaries.
This was the start of the Pakistan batting collapse, who went from 152-2 to being dismissed for 247, losing their last eight wickets for just 95 runs.
Vandersay started the downfall when he got the better of the settled Shehzad — who made 82 off 144 with a six and 10 fours to justify his selection in the Test squad, despite calls for his exclusion from several quarters — and then dismissed skipper Misbahul Haq for 15 in quick succession, leaving the visitors struggling on 189-5.
The last genuine batting pairing of Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed were then out in the middle as Pakistan’s last hope of a big stand, but Sarfraz was run-out after a 13-ball 12.
Asad tried to hang around with the tail but was stumped off Vandersay trying to up the ante after scoring 27 off 59 balls to leave Pakistan reeling at 232-7.
The tail also offered little resistance as the innings was wrapped up in 73.3 overs for 247.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 12th, 2015.
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