Pakistan clutch on for series victory

Pakistan claim a morale-boosting Test series win over Sri Lanka today after the third and final match between the sides in Sharjah finished in a draw.

The Pakistani game has be rocked by the custodial sentences hand to former captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir in the UK last week for their role in a spot-fixing plan, but today's effect meant Pakistan's nine-wicket win in the opening Test in Dubai was sufficient for a 1-0 series victory.

Rain destined no play was likely in the first session and when play finally did get under way, Sri Lanka quickly affirmed on 181 for six, leaving chosen hosts Pakistan need a notional 255 to win from 61 over’s, though their primary goal was simply to protect wickets.

They manage it cheerfully, as the captains shook hands on the draw with Pakistan on 87 for four in fading light.

Sri Lanka made a positive start in their bid to bowl out Pakistan as Mohammad Hafeez was run out for 13 after he was uncertain in making his ground for what looked like a straightforward single, with alternate fielder Lahiru Thirimanne claim the direct hit.

Azhar Ali was attentive lbw by the left-arm spin of Rangana Herath for seven to go away the hosts two down with 30 on the board.

Thirimanne was also a lot involved in the discharge of Younus Khan, as the Pakistan batsman strangely drove a straightforward-looking Chanaka Welegedara delivery to him at mid-on.

Opener Taufeeq Umar took tea victorious on 26 having faced 87 balls, but tamely gave his wicket away in the final session, lob the ball to Kumar Sangakkara off Suraj Randiv for 39 before the umpires bring the players off for bad light.

Earlier, Sri Lanka had opted not to declare directly upon the recommencement after the rain wait. Kosala Kulasekara was the first man out today, bottom-edging a doosra from Saeed Ajmal onto his stumps having added just seven to the tourists' total. Opener Tharanga Paranavitana batted on to 76 not out before the statement came.

The sides will now reconvene in Dubai for the first leg of a five-match one-day series on Friday before Sri Lanka's tour conclude with a one-off Twenty20 international on November 25.

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Sri Lanka countenance encounter to save series

Sri Lanka 413 and 164 for 5 (Paranavitana 66*, Sangakkara 51) lead Pakistan 340 (Younis Khan 122, Misbah 89, Azhar 53, Welegedara 5-87) by 237 runs


Sri Lanka retain hope of salvage a series draw next to Pakistan after final day four with a 237-run lead in spite of the loss of several late wickets.

The tourists head into the final day on 164 for five in their second innings after a middle-order fall down, but will hope to push their guide out towards 300 in the morning before having a break at the Pakistan batsmen.

Tharanga Paranavitana reach stumps on 66 not out after a stable 156-ball stay at the fold which features four fours and a six, while Kumar Sangakkara's half-century also kept Sri Lanka ticking along.

But Sangakkara's way out for 51 shortly after tea was the prelude to a trying evening session for the tourists.

Mahela Jayawardene (20), Angelo Mathews (13) and Kaushal Silva (naught) were all attentive lbw as the Pakistan attack summary Sri Lanka from 80 for two to 155 for five.

Paranavitana and Kosala Kulasekara (4no) saw Sri Lanka to stump without further loss, and both players will need to kick on in the morning if the tourists are to level the best-of-three series at 1-1.

Earlier in the day, Chanaka Welegedara claim his first five-wicket Test haul to help bowl Pakistan out for 340, giving Sri Lanka a useful first-innings benefit of 73.

Pakistan started the last but one day on 282 for six, trailing Sri Lanka by 131 runs, and they suffered a miserable start as Abdur Rehman (three) was dismiss in the first over without any addition to the overnight score, Welegedara the bowler with Paranavitana taking the catch in the slips.

Umar Gul could only give five to the total before him too fell, caught at mid-off by Mathews off the bowling of Rangana Herath, as Pakistan slip to 289 for eight.

However, captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who was winning on 50 overnight, help Pakistan, cut into Sri Lanka's benefit as he put on 47 for the ninth wicket with Saeed Ajmal.

That stand came to an end when Misbah, having strike seven fours and a six in his 89, was wedged at backward short leg by Tillakaratne Dilshan, Suraj Randiv the successful bowler.

The departure of Misbah bring Junaid Khan to the wicket but he was not capable to hang around as Welegedara bowled him between bat and pad for a duck, implementation his maiden five-wicket return in Tests and ending Pakistan's innings in the process.

Sri Lanka suffer an early blow as they looked to build on their lead after lunch when the prolific Dilshan was out in the opening over for four, the opener nick a Gul delivery to Mohammad Hafeez at third slip.

That bring Sangakkara to the wicket earlier than he would have hope, but the elegant left-hander steadily helped Sri Lanka recover next to opener Paranavitana.

Sangakkara's knock came to an end when he got too much altitude as he attempt to cut away a Hafeez delivery for four and Asad Shafiq took the catch at point.

Jayawardene look in good touch as he race away to 20 off just 30 balls before being attentive in front by Gul, while the off-spin of Ajmal accounted for Mathews and Silva inside four balls late on as Pakistan broken the day on top.

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Azhar split ends century deficiency set up Pakistan's lead

Pakistan 281 for 4 (Azhar 100, Younis 55, Misbah 40*, Dilshan 2-48) lead Sri Lanka 239 by 42 runs


Azhar Ali's first international century help Pakistan take control of the second Test next to Sri Lanka on the second day in Dubai.

Ali laboured through the 90s before finally receiving the last two runs to reach triple figures from a mis-timed sweep up that trickle slowly away from the wicketkeeper.

It was a day of landmark for Ali, who had previous passed 1,000 Test runs.

However, he unsuccessful to make it to the close, unable to add to his tally before being given out lbw to Tillakaratne Dilshan in the last but one over of the day.

Saeed Ajmal came in as a night watchman and strikes a four before play was call to a close with Pakistan on 281 for four, a lead of 42.

Ali's ton crown a physically powerful day for Pakistan, with Misbah-ul-Haq winning on 40 at the finish.

They had in progress with a wobble as Sri Lanka enjoyed a pair of breakthrough in the early going thanks to Dhammika Prasad.

Both Mohammad Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar had previously established a life in the 15th over after being drop off succeeding balls from Suranga Lakmal.

Hafeez on 25 was spill by Dilshan at short additional cover and, from the next release; the unlucky Lakmal saw Mahela Jayawardene put down a custom catch at second slip after Umar edge an out swinger when on 24.

Prasad ensured the mistakes were not too costly, though; by remove both men soon afterwards.

Umar was first to go, binding an attempted drive to debutant wicketkeeper Kaushal Silva to leave for 27.

Hafeez (33) followed with just one more run on the board, Prasad getting one to nip back and trap the batsman leg before wicket even though television replays optional the ball may have been going down the leg side.

Pakistan domestic control of events after lunch, however.

Having only manage to score 53 runs at a cost of two wickets in the morning, Pakistan put on 87 in the afternoon, and the meeting would have been a complete achievement but for the loss of Younus Khan for 55 in the last but one over before tea.

Dilshan establish some turn on the pitch and got Younus to edge on to his stump.

Dilshan took two for 48 while Prasad had two for 73. Lakmal bowled without much luck, but manage seven maidens in his 20 overs to keep the score down.

The three-Test series is tied after a draw in the opening match.

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Pakistan dissatisfied by Sangakkara, drop chances

Sri Lanka 298 for 5 (Sangakkara 161*, Thirimanne 68) and 197 trail Pakistan 511 for 6 dec by 16 runs

Pakistan are finishing in on a first Test victory over Sri Lanka in spite of the best hard work of Kumar Sangakkara, who hit a masterful 161 not out.

Pakistan only manage four wickets in an attritional day but such was their supremacy that it would be a major shock if the hosts did not see the job through on the fifth and final day.

Sri Lanka stopped up on 298 for five, still 16 runs little of making Pakistan bat for a second time in Abu Dhabi.

The tourists would have been in a considerably worse place were it not for Sangakkara's brilliance.

The former captain occupied the crease for the total of all three session on his way to recording his 26th Test hundred.

He rides his luck in parts, aid by some awful Pakistan fielding in the morning session but his perseverance deserves reward.

Pakistan's carelessness early on could still prove expensive but, to their credit, they bounce back well after lunch.

Sangakkara in progress the afternoon session next to Lahiru Thirimanne but their 153-run stand finally came to an ending when Thirimanne was run out for 68 after weakening to get back when taking on the arm of Azhar Ali at long leg.

The wicket obtainable Pakistan a chink of light and they grasp the moment by claim two quickfire scalps - the first of which came when Saeed Ajmal got one to turn sharply from outside off base before career into Mahela Jayawardene's stumps.

Sangakkara reach three figures with an influential cut off a wide Junaid Khan ball but he was soon batten down the hatches once more after Sri Lanka lost their fourth wicket when Junaid got one to nip back throughout captain Tillakaratne Dilshan's defences.

Angelo Mathews, Sri Lanka's top scorer in the first innings, detained out for 22 but Umar Gul snare him lbw from the first release with the second new ball.

Prasanna Jayawardene provides a calming power through to stumps, being happy to turn around the strike in accumulate 25 not out before the close.

The opening session was a legend of woe for Pakistan.

They drop two uncomplicated catches and two more half-chances as Sri Lanka made it to lunch on 125 for one.

Mohammad Hafeez at first trip was particularly wasteful, tumbling Thirimanne twice when the batsman was on 40 with left-armer Junaid the unsuccessful bowler on both occasions.

The first came from the final ball of the 27th over, Hafeez spill a low chance to his left, and then from the next ball he faced Thirimanne was let off again when Hafeez failed to hold on after the ball went directly into his hands and pop out again.

Sangakkara also had his moments of fortune, existing after the umpires determined an edge off the unlucky Junaid did not carry.

Thirimanne had a third let-off on 57 with Hafeez again the fielder, spilling a more hard chance in the ditch after the batsman had flash hard at an Ajmal delivery.

Hafeez got a taste of his own medicine shortly before lunch when he was bowling as Younus Khan, at full make bigger, could only get a palm to an edge off the bat of Sangakkara.

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Pakistan leading on Taufeeq double-century

Sri Lanka 47 for 1 and 197 follow Pakistan 511 for 6 dec (Taufeeq 236, Hafeez 75, Azhar 70) by 267 runs

Taufeeq has broken a double hundred to guide Pakistan into a leading position in the first Test next to Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi.

Taufeeq bat for almost 12 hours across three days in roasting warm in making 236 as Pakistan confirmed an hour before the close on the third day on 511 for six.

The 30-year-old's vigil finally broken shortly before the statement came, run out by a mixture of Kumar Sangakkara and Prasanna Jayawardene after partner Asad Shafiq unexpectedly refused a single.

His knock saw him become the first Pakistan opener to get to 200 since Aamer Sohail next to England at Old Trafford in 1992.

It was one longer day of toil for the Sri Lankans though they fixed to their task in spite of being hindered by a docile pitch at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

Pakistan, who is playing this home series in the Middle East due to protection concern at home, undergo an early blow when Azhar Ali departed for 70 in the seventh over of the day, failing to put off a Chanaka Welegedara inswinger from career between bat and pad.

Younus Khan connected Taufeeq and fakes his partner's alert style; accumulate 33 from 94 deliveries before playing crossways the line to Welegedara and being adjudge out lbw.

The innings necessary some momentum and it was provide by Misbah-ul-Haq, who played a captain's knock.

Clearly keen to push the score on with a view to declare, he hit 46 from 52 balls as well as four fours and a six.

He was finally out in contentious conditions when umpire Tony Hill raise the finger despite a release from Rangana Herath appear to clip his cover rather than the bat on its way to wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene.

The notice saw one more shift in force with Pakistan going back into their shell with Asad chiefly in charge.

His carefully slow 26 not out took 94 balls and certainly contribute to Taufeeq's late rush of blood.

Herath also claim the wicket of Umar Gul for a second-ball duck, prompt Misbah to call his batsmen in.

The innings belong to Taufeeq, though.He did not miss a deception with a magnificently firm knock which could yet pave the way for a Pakistan victory in this first Test of three.

He approved his previous Test best of 136 in the opening sitting and looked peaceful thereafter in a 496-ball knock.

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