Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st Test in Abu Dhabi, Day 3: Lanka stutter after Bhatti strikes

Debutant fast bowler Bilawal Bhatti dismissed experienced duo Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene in consecutive deliveries as Pakistan strengthened their hold on the first Test against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Left-arm paceman Junaid Khan also picked up opener Kaushal Silva for 81, caught behind, with the last delivery of the third day to reduce Sri Lanka to 186 for four in their second innings, a lead of seven runs.

Dimuth Karunaratne (24) put on 47 runs for the opening wicket with Silva before he was bowled by Junaid.

Silva and Sangakkara (55) then put on 99 for the second to get Sri Lanka close to wiping out the first innings deficit of 179.

Bhatti, who took three wickets in the first innings, extracted lively pace and bounce off the wicket and got left-hander Sangakkara to edge a catch to Younus Khan at first slip on the last delivery of his over.

He returned to have Jayawardene caught for a duck off the first ball of his next over to dent Sri Lanka's chances of a big second innings total.

Pace duo Shaminda Eranga (three for 80) and Suranga Lakmal (two for 99) had led Sri Lanka's fightback in the morning as Pakistan lost their last six wickets for 54 to be all out for 383.

Needing quick wickets in the first session to keep Pakistan's lead under check, Lakmal sent back Asad Shafiq (13) after the batsman had just added a run to his overnight score.

Shafiq flicked Lakmal to square leg where Silva completed a diving catch.

Wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal (six) also went quickly, edging Eranga to gully, before Bhatti (14) was adjudged caught behind after Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews asked a review of the umpire's not out decision.

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, who had looked largely ineffective till then, mopped up the last three wickets in four balls to end the innings.

Saeed Ajmal and Rahat Ali were out leg before and bowled respectively in consecutive deliveries while Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq (135) was the last man to fall.

Misbah added 30 to his overnight score before holing out in the deep to Sangakkara while looking for quick runs.

EVENING SESSION

Pakistan took three wickets in the final hour of play to reduce Sri Lanka to 186-4 in their second innings at close on the third day of the first Test at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Trailing by 179 runs after bowling out Pakistan for 383 shortly before lunch, Sri Lanka made a strong reply to lead by seven runs but Pakistan wrested back the initiative by the late dismissal of Kaushal Silva who was looking set for a maiden Test century.

Sri Lanka took tea at 71 for the loss of Karunaratne (24), but the twin dismissals of Sangakkara (55) and Mahela Jayawardene for a golden duck by Bhatti in consecutive balls in different overs set them on the back foot again.

Experienced campaigner Kumar Sangakkara shared in a 99-run stand for the second wicket Kaushal Silva but Sri Lanka slumped to 146-3. Sangakkara slammed six boundaries before hanging his bat out for Younis Khan at first slip to hold a low catch.

Mahela failed again failing to keep down a ball from Bhatti which reared at him and flew off his bat handle to Shafiq at gully for a golden duck.

Chandimal lived dangerously cracking four boundaries in his 24 off 36 as Sri Lanka wiped out the first innings deficit.

But Kaushal failed to negotiative the final over of the day from left arm paceman Junaid who induced an outside edge to give a catch behind to end his four-hour vigil.

Playing in only his fourth Test, Kaushal batted with plenty of grit and determination facing 177 balls for his 81 before losing his concentration.

Bhatti has figures of two for 65 and Junaid two for 46.

Kaushal is gutted after falling in the last over of the day with stumps being drawn immediately after his dismissal.

Junaid strikes in the final over of the day inducing an outside edge from Kaushal with Akmal taking a low catch. SL 186-4 in 61.3 overs.

Kaushal Silva c Adnan Akmal b Junaid Khan 81 (177b 11x4 0x6) 

Chandimal steers Ajmal to third man for a boundary. SL 186-4 in 61 overs.

Kaushal deliberately edges Junaid through the gap to third man for a boundary to wipe out the 179-run deficit. SL 183-3 in 60 overs.

Ajmal returns to the attacks and bowls a maiden to Chandimal. SL 178-3 in 59 overs.

Sri Lanka are just trailing by just one run as Rahat bowls a maiden to Kaushal who is batting with grit. SL 178-3 in 58 overs.

Chandimal is living dangerously pulling a short delivery and then slashing Bhatti past gully to third man. SL 178-3 in 57 overs.

Chandimal slams Bhatti through the covers. SL 170-3 in 55 overs.

Kaushal cracks Rahat through third man for another boundary. SL 165-3 in 54 overs.

Chandimal gets his first boundary jabbing Bhatti through the gap between slip and gully to third man. SL 158-3 in 53 overs.

Chandimal pushes for a single to play out the hat-trick ball from Bhatti.

Bhatti strikes a double blow for Sri Lanka as Mahela is out for a golden duck edging a delivery which baloons to Shafiq at gully. SL 150-3  in 50.1 overs.

Mahela Jayawardene c Asad Shafiq b Bilawal Bhatti 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

The partnership between Kaushal and Sangakkara for the second wicket yielded 99 runs.

Bhatti gets a big wicket as Sangakkara chases a delivery outside the off stump to edge it to Younis at first slip. SL 146-2 in 49 overs.

Kumar Sangakkara c Younis Khan b Bilawal Bhatti 55 (99b 6x4 0x6)

Sangakkara cuts Bhatti to the third man fence to bring up his half century. SL 142-1 in 47 overs.

Sangakkara glances Hafeez to the fine leg fence as drinks are taken in the final session with Sri Lanka comfortably placed at 135-1 in 46 over, having added 64 without loss in 17 overs in the first hour after tea.

Hafeez comes onto bowl for the first time in the match.

Kaushal is using his feet to Ajmal slamming the spinner through the covers for another boundary. SL 131-1 in 45 overs.

Kaushal is growing in confidence stepping out and driving Ajmal through extra cover for a boundary. SL 127-1 in 43 overs.

Kaushal Silva completes his maiden Test half century off 113 balls. SL 114-1 in 40 overs.

Kaushal smashes a short delivery from Junaid through point. SL 108-1 in 38 overs.

Kaushal edges Bhatti past second slip to third man while the 100 of the comes up in the 36th over.

Sangakkara survives after being given out for leg before off Bhatti with Sri Lanka successfully overturning the decision as the ball was pitched on leg. SL 91-1 in 34 overs.

Sangakkara is song slamming a couple of boundaries off Bhatti punching him down the ground and square of the wicket on the off side.

Sangakkara steers Rahat through point for a boundary as Sri Lanka calmly go about wiping the deficit. SL 83-1 in 33 overs.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Sri Lanka facing a deficit of 179 were 71 for one in 27 at tea in their second innings on day three of the first Test against Pakistan at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

The openers posted 47 before Karunaratne (25) beaten through the gate by Junaid.

Kaushal is unbeaten on 32 having faced 70 balls and hit four boundaries. Sangakkara is with him on 14 off 36 balls.

Sri Lanka trail by 108 runs with nine wickets in hand having survived two overs of spin from Ajmal.

Spin introduced for the first time as Ajmal comes into the attack with Sri Lanka 65-1 in 23 overs.

Silva steers Rahat through point for another boundary. SL 61-1 in 21 overs.

Sangakkara gets his first boundary by edging Junaid to third man. SL 57-1 in 20 overs.

Junaid strikes beating left-hander Karunaratne with a perfect inswinger to castle him. SL 47-1 in 15.1 overs.

Dimuth Karunaratne b Junaid Khan 25 (56b 3x4 0x6)

Sri Lanka's opening pair survived the first hour after the lunch interval making 41 in 13 overs. SL 43-0 in 14 overs.

Both Karunaratne (24) and Kaushal (19) have stroked three boundaries apiece.

Kaushal drives Rahat beautifully through the covers for another boundary. SL 35-0 in 12 overs.

Karunaratne whips Bhatti's first ball through midwicket for his second boundary. SL 26-0 in 9 overs.

Kaushal steers Rahat through third man for another boundary. SL 22-0 in 8 overs.

Karunaratne gets his first boundary jabbing Junaid to third man. SL 18-0 in 7 overs.

Kaushal hits the first boundary of the innings driving Junaid through extra cover. SL 13-0 in 5 overs.

MORNING SESSION

Sri Lanka hit back on the third morning to bowl out Pakistan for 383 in their first innings at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

This was in reply to Sri Lanka's total of 204, giving Pakistan a first innings lead of 179.

Pakistan were propelled by centuries from Younis Khan (136) and Misbah ul Haq (135).

Sri Lanka survived the over before lunch bowled by Junaid being two without loss.

Pakistan added 56 for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs having continued from their overnight total of 327-4.

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath claimed three of those wickets including that of Misbah to finish with three for 93, with his spell on the third morning reading 4.1-0-16-3.

Misbah was last man out holing out to Sangakkara in the deep after having faced 306 balls. He slammed 16 fours and a six during his marathon innings.

Lakmal drew first blood in the fourth over of the morning when Kaushal at square leg took another brilliant catch to dismiss overnight batsman Shafiq for 14. He finished with two for 99.

Eranga claimed three for 80 accounting for Akmal who cut him straight to Senanayake at gully while Mathews had debutant Bhatti caught behind to finish with one for 43.

Herath coming into the attack after the drinks interval struck in successive balls in his third over when he trapped Ajmal leg before and bowled Rahat before Junaid survived the hat-trick ball.

Misbah slammed him for a massive six over long on and attempting a similar shot in the next over fell to a superb catch on the line by Sangakkara.

PAKISTAN INNINGS

Pakistan are all out for 383 in 129.1 overs with Misbah attempting to heave Herath straight out of the ground and Sangakkara taking a superb catch on the boundary.     

Misbah-ul-Haq c Sangakkara b Herath 135 (306b 16x4 1x6)

Junaid edges Mathews through the slip cordon for a boundary in an eventful over in which Misbah survived two decisions reviews for leg before. Pak 383-9 in 129 overs.

Junaid denies Herath a hat-trick.

Herath is on a hat-trick castling Rahat for a golden duck. Pak 378-9  in 127.5 overs.    

Rahat Ali b Herath 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Herath strikes trapping Ajmal leg before. Pak 378-8 in 127.4 overs.

Saeed Ajmal lbw b Herath 0 (9b 0x4 0x6)

Misbah sweeps Herath for a massive six over long-on as he steps up the tempo of the innings.

Mathews strikes with Bhatti being adjudged caught behind after Sri Lanka successfully overturn the decision. Pak 369-7 in 124.1 overs.

Bilawal Bhatti c Prasanna Jayawardene b Mathews 14 (29b 2x4 0x6)

Herath comes into the attack for the first time in the morning and is swept to fine leg for a boundary by Misbah. Pak 365-6 in 122 overs.

Debutant Bhatti hits his first boundary glancing Eranga to fine leg. Pak 350-6 in 118 overs.

Misbah edges Lakmal through the slips for another boundary. Pak 346-6 in 117 overs.

Eranga claims his third wicket as Akmal slashes to Senanayake at gully. Pak 342-6 in 115.4 overs.    

Adnan Akmal c Senanayake b Eranga 6 (13b 1x4 0x6)

Adnan whips Lakmal off his pads to midwicket for his first boundary. Pak 341-5 in 115 overs.

Misbah hits the first boundary of the morning pushing Eranga to the long-on fence. Pak 336-5 in 114 overs.

Kaushal Silva takes another brilliant catch to dismiss Shafiq as Lakmal strikes in the fourth over of the morning. Pak 329-5 in 112.2 overs.

Asad Shafiq c Silva b Lakmal 13 (59b 2x4 0x6)

Pakistan resumed on 327-4 on the third third day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.