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28 March 2024

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 3rd Test in Sharjah, Day 4: Pak push hard for series levelling win

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By Cricket Correspondent with Agencies

Pakistan grabbed the prized wicket of Mahela Jayawardene to press their advantage for a series-levelling win over Sri Lanka in the third Test in Sharjah on Sunday.

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal removed Jayawardene for 46 near stumps on the fourth day after an exciting tussle between the bat and ball as Sri Lanka finished at 133-5.

They now lead by 220 runs with five wickets in hand and a full day’s play to retain their 1-0 lead.

They won the second Test in Dubai by nine wickets after the first ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi.

At the close Angelo Mathews was unbeaten on 14 and with him Prasanna Jayawardene was on six not out.

Jayawardene and Mathews had frustrated Pakistan in the last session through their slow-paced 38-run fifth wicket stand and when it seemed both will see off the day, Ajmal had Jayawardene caught at short-leg.

Ajmal could have had Prasanna caught behind off his gloves on nought but wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed failed to hold the catch, much to Pakistan’s desperation.

Jayawardene, who struck 129 in Sri Lanka’s nine wicket win in the second Test in Dubai, swept Ajmal over deep square-leg for a six to complete 11,000 runs in his 141st Test.

He became the eighth batsman in all Test cricket and the first Sri Lankan to score 11,000 or more runs in a list topped by now-retired India’s Sachin Tendulkar with 15,921.

Australia Ricky Ponting (13,378), South Africa’s Jack Kallis (13,289), India’s rahul Dravid (13,288), West Indian Brian Lara (11,953), his countryman Shivnarine Chanderpaul (11,219) and Australia’s Allan Border (11,174) are the other members of the club.

Jayawardene hit four boundaries and a six during his defiant knock.

Pakistan did waste a golden chance of removing Mathews when Khurram Manzoor dropped an easy chance at extra cover off paceman Junaid Khan. Mathews was then on 11.

It was Rehman (2-36) who raised hopes for Pakistan by dismissing experienced Kumar Sangakkara (eight) and Kaushal Silva (36) in the post lunch session, leaving Sri Lanka precariously placed at 66-3.

It became 89-4 when Dinesh Chandimal (13) was bowled by Talha, who took 2-36, soon after tea, but Jayawardene and Mathews ensured Sri Lanka did not panic.

Pakistan had removed opener Dimuth Karunaratne for eight, bowled by Talha as Sri Lanka reached 19-1 at lunch.

Earlier, Pakistan were bowled out for 341 in their first innings, 87 short of Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 428 for nine declared.

Skipper Misbah-ul Haq scored 63 to notch up his 24th Test half-century before holing out to left-arm spinner Rangana Herath who finished with 5-125.

Paceman Shaminda Eranga removed Abdul Rehman (two) and Talha (two) after Pakistan resumed on 291-6, searching for quick runs.

Eranga bettered his 4-65 against Australia in Colombo in 2011.

Misbah struck Herath for a six and then took a single to complete his fifty off 86 balls. He hit three sixes and a four before being caught at long-on.

Junaid also struck two boundaries to reduce the deficit before he too was caught in the deep off Herath as Pakistan’s innings was wrapped up before lunch.

Sri Lanka batted tenaciously to rack up a lead of 220 runs with five wickets hand at close on the fourth day of the third Test against Pakistan at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Prasanna gets a boundary via an outside edge off Rehman. SL 133-5 in 71 overs.

Ajmal strikes with Azhar Ali taking a superb catch at short leg to dismiss Mahela. SL 127-5 in 68 overs.

Mahela Jayawardene c Azhar Ali b Saeed Ajmal 46 (144b 4x4 1x6)

Mahela plays a rare attacking shot pulling Talha to the fine leg fence. SL 123-4 in 63 overs.

Mahela sweeps Rehman to the square leg boundary. SL 106-4 in 50 overs.

Mathews slams Ajmal through point for a boundary to bring up the 100 of the innings. SL 100-4 oin 46 overs.

Talha strikes in the first over after tea crashing one through the gate of Chandimal with a reverse swinging delivery. SL 89-4 in 38.4 overs.

Dinesh Chandimal b Mohammad Talha 13 (38b 1x4 1x6)

AFTERNOON SESSION

Left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman took two wickets to leave Sri Lanka struggling at 88-3 at tea on the fourth day of the third and final Test against Pakistan in Sharjah on Sunday.

Rehman dismissed Kumar Sangakkara (eight) and opener Kaushal Silva (36) in an incisive spell on a Sharjah stadium pitch which still does not offer sharp spin, against all expectations.

At the break Mahela Jayawardene (23) and Dinesh Chandimal (13) were at the crease with Sri Lanka enjoying an overall lead of 175 runs with seven wickets intact.

Jayawardene, who struck 129 in Sri Lanka’s nine wicket win in the second Test in Dubai, swept Saeed Ajmal over deep square-leg for a six to complete 11,000 runs in his 141st Test.

He became the eighth batsmen in all Test cricket and the first Sri Lankan to score 11,000 or more runs in a list topped by now-retired India’s Sachin Tendulkar with 15,921.

It was Rehman who struck a telling blow by dismissing experienced Sangakkara, caught sweeping at deep square-leg to make inroads into the Sri Lankan batting.

Rehman then bowled a resolute Silva to leave Sri Lanka at 66-3.

Before lunch opener Dimuth Karunaratne (eight) was bowled by paceman Mohammad Talha.

Earlier, Pakistan were bowled out for 341 in their first innings, 87 short of Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 428 for nine declared.

Skipper Misbah-ul Haq scored 63 to notch up his 24th Test half-century before holing out to left-arm spinner Rangana Herath who finished with 5-125.

Paceman Shaminda Eranga removed Abdul Rehman (two) and Talha (two) after Pakistan resumed on 291-6, searching for quick runs.

Eranga bettered his 4-65 against Australia in Colombo in 2011.

Misbah struck Herath for a six and then took a single to complete his fifty off 86 balls. He hit three sixes and a four before being caught at long-on.

Junaid Khan also struck two boundaries to reduce the deficit before he too was caught in the deep off Herath as Pakistan’s innings was wrapped up before lunch.

Debutant Dilruwan Perera grabbed the remaining one wicket.

Sri Lanka enjoyed a lead of 175 with seven wickets in hand at tea on day four of the third Test against Pakistan at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

They were pegged back in the afternoon session with a double strike by Rehman who induced an indiscreet stroke from Sangakkara before bowling Kaushal with a peach of a delivery.

Chandimal sweeps Ajmal to the long leg fence. SL 87-3 in 37 overs.

Mahela sweeps Ajmal to the midwicket for another boundary. SL 83-3 in 35 overs.

Chandimal breaks the shackles as gives Rehman the charge and thumps him over long-on for a six. SL 78-3 in 34 overs.

Rehman strikes again crashing past the defence of Kaushal and rattling his stumps. SL 66-3 in 28 overs.

Kaushal Silva b Abdur Rehman 36 (94b 4x4 0x6)

Mahela slams a six off Ajmal to pass 11,000 runs in Test cricket. SL 64-2 in 27 overs.

Ajmal is despatched for a boundary in his first over by Kaushal. sL 55-2 in 25 runs.

Mahela gets into stride whipping Junaid off his toes to square leg for a boundary. SL 46-2 in 23 overs.

Kaushal hits his third boundary cracking Talha through point. SL 42-2 in 19 overs.

Rehman gets the big wicket of Sangakkara who attempts to sweep him to sky it to Manzoor at backward square leg. SL 37-2 in 17.3 overs.

Kumar Sangakkara c Khurram Manzoor b Abdur Rehman 8 (30b 1x4 0x6)

Kaushal hits the first boundary after lunch flicking Talha to fine leg. SL 33-1 in 13 overs.

Sri Lanka are 19-1 in 8 overs at lunch.

Sangakkara opens his account with a straight driven boundary off Talha. SL 18-1 in 6 overs.

Talha strikes castling Karunaratne who gets a bottom edge onto his stumps. SL 13-1 in 5.1 overs.

Dimuth Karunaratne b Mohammad Talha 8 (16b 1x4 0x6)

Kaushal hits his first boundary with a beautifully timed cover drive as Sri Lanka stretch their lead to 100. SL 13-0 in 5 overs.

Karunaratne edges the second delivery from Junaid to the third man fence as Sri Lanka's second innings gets under way. SL 4-0 in 1 over.

PAKISTAN FIRST INNINGS

Pakistan were bowled out for 341 in their first innings conceding a lead of 87 on the fourth morning of the third Test against Sri Lanka at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Having resumed on 291-6 on day four, Pakistan added 50 runs in 14.2 overs.

Spinner Rangana Herath grabbed two of the wickets including that of Misbah ul Haq (63) to finish with five for 125.

Misbah slammed three sixes and a boundary in his half century knock before being ninth out.

Junaid Khan (16) smashed a couple of sixes off Herath before being last man out.

Eranga claimed career-best figures of four for 60.