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29 March 2024

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st Test in Abu Dhabi, Day 5: Mathews shines as Lanka take honours in draw

Published
By Cricket Correspondent

Sri Lanka took the honours in the first Test against Pakistan at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi after staging a magnificent comeback to force a draw on Saturday.

Pakistan batsmen Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad scored fluent half centuries as the match ended in a tame draw with play being called with 15 mandatory remaining.

Hafeez (80 not out) and debutant Shehzad (55) added 101 runs for the second wicket to take their team to safety after Sri Lanka paceman Suranga Lakmal dismissed opener Khurram Manzoor (eight) early.

Pakistan reached 158 for two wickets when both teams agreed to a draw with first-innings centurion Younus Khan (13 not out) the other unbeaten batsman at the crease.

Lakmal troubled Manzoor on numerous occasions with his outswingers before finding his edge for wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene to complete the catch as Pakistan chased 302 for an improbable victory in just over two sessions.

Shehzad was out leg before to Rangana Herath at the start of the final session and his attempt to overturn the umpire's decision through a review also proved unsuccessful.

But the dismissal came a bit too late for Sri Lanka as both their spinners and fast bowlers failed to make any significant impact on a docile pitch.

Earlier, Sri Lanka declared their second innings on 480 for five wickets after batting for 90 minutes in the morning session to add 60 runs to their overnight score.

Captain Angelo Mathews remained unbeaten on 157, his highest Test score, while Jayawardene was not out on 63. The duo added 156 runs for the unbroken sixth wicket.

"First off all we had to make sure that we could save the game. We did not want to get into a losing position. We knew wicket was not playing that much. We made sure we got to 300 first," said skipper Mathews when asked whether he expected to bowl out Pakistan in 67 over by declaring.

Mathews, who was adjudged man of the match for his 91 and 157 not out, praised the fighting spirit of the team.

"It was a see-saw type of game. Toss was crucial. First two days, they (Pakistan) had the upper hand. We had to give a fighting performance. We were a litte bit under pressure since only Prasanna (Jayawardene) was to come. Pakistan bowling was pretty sharp. Happy with way Chandimal batted under pressure," said Mathews on their match-saving 156-run sixth wicket partnership on the fourth day.

Mathews praised left arm spinner Herath for keeping up the pressure at one end.

"I thought (Shaminda) Eranga and Suranga (Lakmal) were brilliant given the conditions," he said revealing that Nuwan Kulasekera has been ruled out of the series after suffering a hamstring during practice and will return to Sri Lanka.

No replacement has been sought since they have 16 in the squad including Nuwan Pradeep and Vishwa Fernando.

Pakistan captain Misbah ul Haq was not surprised at losing the initiative after having bowled out Sri Lanka for 204 in the first innings.

"It happens in Test cricket. You can do well in first two days and other team can come back in next two days. This is how teams fight back. It was even Stevens," he said.

"Credit to Sri Lanka batsmen specially (Angelo) Mathews who batted well in both innings. Wicket was doing a little bit with the ball swinging and odd ball seaming," said Misbah who was pleased with the return to form of Hafeez.

"He was under pressure. He has given us confidence having converted one-day form into Tests. Another player was (Ahmed) Shehzad who is technically very sound," he added.

The second of the three-Test series will be played in Dubai from Wednesday.

EVENING SESSION

Stumps have been drawn with 15 mandatory overs still remaining after Pakistan had made 158-2 in 52 overs after Sri Lanka set them an improbable target of 302 in 67 overs on the final day of the first Test at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Hafeez returned to form with an unbeaten 80 off 136 balls, a fluent knock which contained 11 fours.

He shared in a 101-run stand for the second wicket with debutant Shehzad (55) who hit a maiden Test half century.

Younis Khan remained unbeaten on 12 off 42 balls.

Herath took the only wicket to fall returning figures of 21-8-37-1.

Herath bowls his eighth maiden over with the only interest remaining in this match is whether Hafeez would get his century with Pakistan needing an improbable 146 from 17 overs. Pak 156-2 in 50 overs.

Hafeez slams Herath through the covers for another boundary. Pak 154-2 in 48 overs.

Pakistan need 152 from 20 overs with Hafeez on 76. Pak 150-2 in 47 overs.

Pakistan need 154 runs in a minimum 21 overs for an unlikely win. Pak 148-2 in 46 overs.

Pakistan are 147-2 in 45 overs with Hafeez on 75 having scored his first half century in 11 innings.

Pakistan need 161 runs in a minimum of 24 overs with Hafeez on song. Pak 141-2 in 43 overs.

Hafeez cracks another boundary off Herath slicing him through point. Pak 139-2 in 42 overs.

Herath strikes in the third over after the tea trapping Shehzad plumb in front as the batsman attempts to sweep him. Pakistan are unsuccessful with the decision review. Pak 125-2 in 37.3 overs.    

Ahmed Shehzad lbw b Herath 55 (109b 7x4 0x6)

Shehzad and Hafeez bring up the 100-run partnership for the unfinished second wicket in 178 balls.

Hafeez sweeps Senanayake to the square leg fence in the first over after the tea interval. Pak 124-1 in 36 overs.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Debutant Shehzad hits his maiden Test half century by cutting Herath to third man fence as Pakistan take tea at 118-1 in 35 overs.

Chasing a target of 302 off 67 overs, Pakistan lost the wicket of Khurram Manzoor for eight when he got a faint edge to wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene to a Suranga Lakmal delivery.

It was to be Sri Lanka’s only success of the afternoon as Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez, the two top run-getters in the ODI series for Pakistan came together in a partnership which has realised 94 runs.

Hafeez was not out on 56 scored off 83 balls and Shehzad who completed his maiden Test fifty on debut was unbeaten on 53 scored off 102 balls. Both batsmen had seven fours apiece.

Pakistan required a further 184 runs in the final session of play off 32 overs.

Sri Lanka declared their second innings close at 480-5.

Hafeez survives a confident appeal for a catch behind off Herath on the leg side with Sri Lanka being unsuccessful with the decision review.

Shehzad's knock came off 102 balls and contained seven boundaries, sharing in a 94-run run stand for the unfinished second wicket with Hafeez who also remained unbeaten on 56.

Pakistan added 98 runs for the loss of Manzoor in the afternoon session in 30 overs without taking an undue risks.

They still require 184 runs in a minimum of 32 overs during the final session.

Shehzad's knock came off 102 balls and contained seven boundaries, sharing in a 94-run run stand for the unfinished second wicket with Hafeez who also remained unbeaten on 56.

Pakistan added 98 runs for the loss of Manzoor in the afternoon session in 30 overs without taking an undue risks.

They still require 184 runs in a minimum of 32 overs during the final session.

Boundaries are coming thick and fast now with Shehzad finding the gap on the off with a carpet drive. Pak 110-1 in 34 overs.

Shehzad is growing in confidence taking a cue from Hafeez slamming consecutive boundaries off Senanayake through the covers. Pak 103-1 in 32 overs.

Hafeez sweeps the second from spinner Senanayake to the square leg fence and edges the next ball to third man to complete his ninth Test half century. Pak 92-1 in 28 overs.

It came off 69 and contained seven boundaries.

Hafeez slams Eranga through the covers for his fifth boundary. SL 81-1 in 25 overs.

Hafeez hits his third boundary caressing Eranga through the covers but the match seems headed for a tame draw. Pak 76-1 in 23 overs.

Shehzad cracks Mathews through the covers as Pakistan are not showing signs of making a match of it. Pak 66-1 in 20 overs.

Hafeez edges Lakmal to the third man fence for another boundary. Pak 55-1 in 15 overs.

Hafeez steps out and drives Herath for a boundary. Pak 48-1 in 12 overs.

Spin introduced in the 10th over and Herath opens with a maiden to Shehzad. Pak 39-1.

Hafeez gets his first boundary driving Lakmal down the ground to long-off. Pak 39-1 in 9 overs.

Lakmal strikes in the second over after lunch as Manzoor gets a faint edge to be caught behind. Pak 24-1 in 6.3 overs.

Khurram Manzoor c Prasanna Jayawardene b Lakmal 8 (26b 1x4 0x6)

MORNING SESSION

Pakistan were 20 without loss at lunch having faced five overs after Sri Lanka declared their second innings at 480-5 setting a target of 302 in 67 overs on the final day of the first Test at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Sri Lanka closed their second innings half an hour before the lunch break at 480 for five wickets with skipper Angelo Mathews scoring a gritty knock of 157 not out off 343 balls in a marathon display of batting that brought his team back into the Test after they had trailed Pakistan by 179 run in the first innings.

Mathews showing great maturity batted for seven and a half hours to hit 16 fours and a six playing a truly captain’s innings.

Prasanna Jayawardene helped him in an unbroken sixth wicket stand of 156 off 357 balls. Jayawardene went onto complete his fifth Test fifty in the second over of the morning hitting Bilawal Bhatti for his fifth four. He finished unbeaten on 63 scored off 169 balls with six fours and a six.

Pakistan openers Khurram Manzoor (5) and Ahmed Shehzad (12) negotiated the five overs before lunch safely to leave Pakistan requiring 282 runs to score in the final two sessions in a minimum of 62 overs.

Shehzad smacks Eranga through cover and midwicket for a couple of boundaries. Pak 20-1 in 4 overs.

Manzoor gets the first boundary of the innings glancing Lakmal to fine leg. Pak 8-0 in 1 over.

Manzoor survives a couple of close calls before edging Lakmal through to third man for Pakistan's first runs.

Sri Lanka have set Pakistan a target of 302 in 67 overs after declaring their second innings at 480-5 in 168.3 overs half an hour before lunch on the fifth morning of the first Test at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Mathews was unbeaten on 157 having faced 343 balls and hits 16 fours and a six.

Prasanna was 63 not off 169 balls having hit six boundaries and a six sharing in an unfinished sixth wicket stand of 156 with Mathews.

Sri Lanka have extended their lead in the second innings to 283 runs with the overnight pair of Mathews (145) and Prasanna (57) having added 42 in 15 overs batting comfortably against both spin and pace. SL 462-5 in 163 overs.

Mathews slams consecutive boundaries off Junaid to fine leg as Sri Lanka stretch their lead. SL 448-5 in 157 overs.

Mathews pulls Bhatti to midwicket for another as runs come easily for Sri Lanka. SL 437-5 in 154 overs.

Mathews gets his first boundary of the pulling Bhatti to midwicket. S 432-5 in 152 overs.

The 100-run partnership between Mathews and Prasanna for the unfinished sixth wicket comes off 123 balls.

Prasanna hits a boundary off the first ball of the fifth morning from Bhatti to complete his fifth Test century. SL 425-5 in 150 overs.

His half century came off 114 balls and contained six boundaries and a six.

Sri Lanka resumed their second innings on 420-5 seeking to press home the advantage enjoying a lead of 241 runs in the first Test against Pakistan at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.