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28 March 2024

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 3rd Test in Sharjah, Day 3: Lanka hit back after Shehzad century

Pakistan batsman Khurram Manzoor (R) plays a shot as Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene (L) looks on during the second day of the third and final cricket Test match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the Sharjah International Cricket Stadium, in the Gulf emirate of Sharjah, on January 17, 2014. (AFP)

Published
By Cricket Correspondent

Sri Lanka wrested back the initiative by grabbing four wickets in the final session as Pakistan end day day three on 291-6 in 95.3 overs in the third Test at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Pakistan trail by 137 runs having resumed on 19 for no loss in reply to Sri Lanka's first innings total of 428-9.

Misbah was unbeaten at the close on 36 off 64 balls having hit a boundary and a six.

Spinner Rangana Herath was the most successful bowler claiming three for 88 while Eranga snared two for 53. Debutant spinner Dilruwan claimed his first Test wicket but went for 71.

Pakistan were bolstered by a maiden Test century by Ahmed Shehzad (147) who shared a 114-run opening stand with Khurram Manzoor (52).

Sri Lanka were wicketless in the morning session as the Pakistan opening pair batted cautiously on a slow surface.

Sri Lanka hit back in the second session by claiming Manzoor and Azhar Ali in quick succession.

Shehzad stepped up the ante after completing his maiden Test century after tea interval but Pakistan were put on the back foot by the dismissal of Younis Khan to a brilliant leg side catch by wicket keeper Jayawardene behind off Herath.

Shehzad shared a breezy 56-run stand for the fourth wicket with Misbah before attempting to reverse sweep Herath and dragging the ball onto his stumps.

He faced 275 balls and hits 12 fours and a six during his monumental innings.

Sri Lanka did not take the second new ball when it was due and Herath was rewarded with the scalps of Shafiq trapped leg before and Sarfraz caught behind to become Jayawardene's third victim.

EVENING SESSION

Herath claims his third wicket as Sarfraz nicks behind to become Jayawardene's third victim in the final over of the day. Pak 291-6 in 95.3 overs.    

Sarfraz Ahmed c Prasanna Jayawardene b Herath 5 (7b 0x4 0x6)

Misbah dances down the track and slams Herath for the second six of the innings. Pak 285-5 in 94 overs.

Shafiq goes cheaply again with Eranga trapping him leg before with Pakistan being unsuccessful with the decision review. Pak 274-5 in 92.1 overs.    
Asad Shafiq lbw b Eranga 18 (45b 1x4 0x6)

Shafiq hits his first boundary clipping Herath to the midwicket fence. Pak 274-4 in 92 overs.

Misbah is showing intent by smashing the returning Lakmal to the midwicket fence.

Shehzad's great innings comes to an end as he attempts a reverse sweep only to drag the ball onto his stumps. Pak 245-4 in 82 overs.

Ahmed Shehzad b Herath 147 (275b 12x4 1x6)

Shehzad smashes Dilruwan to the square leg fence as Pakistan step up their offensive. Pak 242-3 in 81 overs.

Sri Lanka have not taken the second new ball which is due with Pakistan 235-3 in 80 overs.

Shehzad is turning it on sweeping Herath fine to the fence. Pak 229-3 in 78 overs.

Shehzad decides to step up the ante dancing down the track and lofting Dilruwan to the long off fence. Pak 220-3 in 77 overs.

Shehzad hits the first six of the innings smashing Eranga to long off. Pak 210-3 n 75 overs.

Shehzad punches Eranga through the covers for a glorious boundary but Misbah struggles before getting off the mark with a single. Pak 195-3 in 71 overs.

Herath strikes in the first over a new spell getting the big wicket of Younis who gets a faint edge for wicket keeper Jayawardene to take another superb catch on the leg side. Pak 189-3 in 70 overs.

Younis Khan c Prasanna Jayawardene b Herath 17 (31b 1x4 0x6)

Shehzad celebrates his century by cracking Dilruwan through the covers for a boundary. Pak 188-2 in 68 overs.

Shehzad completes his maiden Test century by driving Dilruwan through the off for a couple. It came off 230 balls and contained seven boundaries.

Younis hits the first boundary after the tea interval flicking Mathews to long leg. Pak 181-2 in 67 overs.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Pakistan are 169 for two in 64 overs at tea on day three of the third Test against Sri Lanka at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Sri Lanka grabbed two wickets in the afternoon session with Eranga breaking the dogged century opening stand while off spinner Dilruwan claimed his first wicket in Test cricket.

Pakistan added 84 runs in 29 overs trailing by 259 runs having resumed the day on 19-0 in reply to Sri Lanka's first innings total of 428-9 declared.

Shehzad is batting on 94 having faced 220 balls and hits seven boundaries. Younis Khan is with him on eight off 12 balls.

Shehzad shared in a 114-run stand with Manzoor who made 52 off 125 balls hitting four boundaries before being dismissed caught behind as he attempted to tickle Eranga down the leg side.

Azhar Ali departed edging to Mathews at slip off Dilruwan.

Pakistan were unsuccessful with both decision reviews.

Shehzad pulls Lakmal to the square leg fence to move into the 90s.

Kaushal at short leg nearly pulls off a stunning catch as Younis smashes Dilruwan. Pak 139-2 in 62 overs.

Shehzad survives a confident shout for leg before as he attempts to sweep Dilruwan with Sri Lanka being unsuccessful with the decision review. Pak 151-2 in 60 overs.

Dilruwan claims his first Test wicket as Azhar jabs at a floater getting an outside edge which is scooped by Mathews at slip. Pakistan are unsuccessful with the decision review. Pak 149-2 in 58 overs.    

Azhar Ali c Mathews b Dilruwan Perera 8 (27b 0x4 0x6)

Shehzad hits the first boundary after 94 balls and more than an hour punching Dilruwan through the covers.

Sri Lanka finally get a breakthrough as Manzoor tickles Eranga down the leg side to be caught behind with Pakistan being unsuccessfull with the decision review. Pak 114-1 in 48.3 overs.
    
Khurram Manzoor c Prasanna Jayawardene b Eranga 52 (125b 4x4 0x6)

Shehzad completes his second half century in Tests off 150 balls.Pak 104-0 in 45 overs.

The 100-run opening partnership between Manzoor and Shehzad comes up in 261 balls. Pak 100-0 in 44 overs.

Shehzad slams a boundary after being let off by Karunaratne who fails to latch onto a chance at short midwicket off Herath. Pak 98-0 in 42 overs.

MORNING SESSION

Pakistan are 85 without loss at lunch on the third day of the third Test against Sri Lanka at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Khurram Manzoor is unbeaten on 41 off 87 balls while Ahmed Shehzad has faced 123 for his 42. Both batsmen have hit four boundaries apiece.

Having resumed on 19-0 in reply to Sri Lanka's 428-9 declared, Pakistan seemed in no hurry to force the pace adding 66 runs in 29 overs and trail by 343 runs.

Shehzad gets cracking steering Herath through the covers for a boundary. Pak 74-0 in 32 overs.

Shehzad gets a boundary flicking Eranga off his toes to long leg. Pak 55-0 in 25 overs.

Pakistan are scoring at just two runs an over reaching their 50 in the 24th over.

Manzoor punches Eranga through point for a much needed boundary. Pak 48-0 in 23 overs.

Pakistan openers start off confidently. Pak 30-0 in 9 overs.

After brilliant knocks from Angelo Mathews and Dilruwan Perera that put Sri Lanka in a fine position on Day 2, Pakistan have a big task on hand as they trail by 409 with all the wickets intact.

Openers Ahmed Shehzad and Khurram Manzoor saw through the six overs they played on Day two putting on 19 on board and will be looking to continue the good work.