Bad light, rain threaten Sri Lanka’s quest for series levelling win

Sri Lanka vice-captain Dhananjaya de Silva celebrates his 9th Test century

 Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne 

receiving treatment for his injured back 

during his knock of 61

• Pakistan chase improbable target of 508 after de Silva’s 9th Test century

For the second consecutive day, bad light cut short play by a considerable number of overs which Sri Lanka could have utilised quite effectively to breach the Pakistan batting after setting them a highly improbable target of 508 to chase off a minimum of 147 overs.

When bad light followed by rain brought an early closure to the fourth day’s play of the second cricket Test at the Galle International Cricket Stadium six overs into the final session yesterday, Pakistan in their second innings were 89-1 with Imam-ul-Haque on 46* and Babar Azam on 26*.

On the third day bad light clipped off 19 overs and yesterday a further 26 bringing the total number of overs lost to 45.

With play commencing 15 minutes ahead of schedule on the fifth and final day today and a minimum of 98 overs to be bowled, provided that there is no early closure to the day, the task of scoring a further 419 runs is beyond Pakistan. Sri Lanka at the same time need to capture nine wickets. 

The match looks as good as a draw with Pakistan in the position of taking the two-match series 1-0 having won the first Test by four wickets.

Not since Mahela Jayawardene has anyone batted so fluently as Dhananjaya de Silva for his ninth Test hundred. De Silva, the stand-in captain for injured Dimuth Karunaratne was eloquent with his shot making and was a treat to the eye. More heartening was when he pierced the gaps with precise timing. 

Not once did he try to hit a six during his 171-ball innings that comprised 16 fours. The only way that Pakistan could have got his wicket was through a run out and it came when Sri Lanka had already taken a commanding 500-plus lead, at which point they declared.

During his 242-minute stay at the wicket, De Silva figured in three fruitful partnerships of 126 with Karunaratne, 35 with Dunith Wellalage (18) and 82 with Ramesh Mendis who went onto make a career best score of 45* off 54 balls (5 fours) to add to his five-wicket tally in the Pakistan first innings.

Sri Lanka resuming at 176-5 added 184 off 42 overs to their overnight total before closing the innings at 360-8.  

Pakistan didn’t get a wicket until well into the second hour’s play when they finally managed to break the sixth wicket partnership between Karunaratne and De Silva that had taken the lead close to 400. Attempting to clip a ball from Nauman Ali off his legs Karunaratne only succeeded in offering a catch to Abdullah Shafique at forward short leg. 

The Lankan captain played an enduring innings of 61 off 105 balls (3 fours) batting with a painful back that needed constant attention from the physio. During his 166-minute innings Karunaratne became the sixth Sri Lankan cricketer to pass 6,000 runs in Test cricket playing in his 82nd Test match.

“There was a bit of pressure as I had got only one half-century this year. I was confident that I was batting well. Mostly I had got out to good balls. The wickets were also not that great. Dimuth played well. I just wanted to give him support. Given the way he batted it got easier for me,” said De Silva at the end of the day.

“Dimuth had a bit of a pain but he didn’t show it. He absorbed it and played. I got a quick 30 and he said that it got easier for him. What we wanted to do was not give them wickets when they were bowling well. We knew if we batted for three sessions we will get to where we want to.”

Speaking on Sri Lanka’s chances of pressing for a win, De Silva said: “Because of bad light we might lose the final session. We need to get wickets early tomorrow. The key is to bowl at one point consistently. Need to get four wickets in the first session. The spinners need to work hard. If we can bowl to one area, I feel we can take wickets.”

Pakistan’s batting coach Mohammad Yousuf was optimistic of chasing down the tall target. “Babar and Imam are playing to their strength and I feel if they play in the same manner we will try to go for the target, though a bit too early to say anything. We played in a similar fashion against Australia and a point came in that chase that the head coach called a meeting to discuss that we will go for a win. 

“But unfortunately, Babar got out on 196 and we had to settle for a draw. I think once you get in, you get used to it. Early on it’s a bit of a challenge but once you are set it’s a better batting wicket. Imam and Babar have played very good cricket in the last session and I hope they bat whole day tomorrow as well.”