First Test finely poised

Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam (L) and Imam-ul-Haq walk back to the pavilion at the end of the fourth day of the first cricket Test match against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Cricket Stadium yesterday - AFP 

Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi celebrates after taking the wicket of Dhananjaya de Silva (not pictured) during the fourth day of the first cricket Test match against Sri Lanka yesterday at the Galle International Cricket Stadium – AFP

Dhananjaya de Silva plays a shot during the fourth day of the first cricket Test match against Pakistan at the Galle International Cricket Stadium yesterday – AFP

• Sri Lanka need seven wickets, Pakistan 83 runs

Sri Lanka need seven wickets, Pakistan 83 runs By Sa’adi Thawfeeq With only 131 runs to defend Sri Lanka fought back to capture three Pakistani wickets for 48 runs to leave the first cricket Test nicely poised for a close finish on the fifth day today at the Galle International Cricket Stadium.

Pakistan requires a further 83 runs to wrap up the Test and go one-up in the two-match series, but will have to contend with the Sri Lankan spinners on a turning and bouncing pitch.

So far, the Test has gone very much Pakistan’s way with middle-order batsman Saud Shakeel unbeaten innings of 208, giving his team a handy first innings lead of 149 runs from Pakistan’s total of 461 in reply to Sri Lanka’s 312.

Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya struck twice in Pakistan’s run chase getting the scalps of Abdullah Shafique for eight and Shan Masood for seven. Sri Lanka had a bonus wicket when Noman Ali sent as night watchman went for a non-existing second run and was run out by yards without scoring.

Imam-ul-Haq (25*) and Babar Azam (6*) survived the remaining overs to see Pakistan through the final session without any further loss.

Dhananjaya de Silva played another quality innings of class, but the rest of the Sri Lankan batsmen faltered against Pakistan’s spinners Numan Ali and Abrar Ahmed.

De Silva followed his first innings century with 82 off 118 balls (10 fours, 2 sixes) and looked in total command until Shaheen Afridi had him caught off a thin edge with the second new ball.

De Silva and Ramesh Mendis (42 off 79 balls, 3 fours, 1 six) put on a stubborn partnership of 76 for the seventh wicket after Sri Lanka had lost wickets at regular intervals with the top and middle order batsmen failing to contribute. Nishan Madushka scored a shaky half-century – 52 off 115 balls (7 fours, 1 six) but the rest of the batting succumbed to Numan’s left-arm spin, Abrar’s leg-spin and the off-spin of Aghar Salman whose two wickets was the result of some outstanding catching by the Pakistanis.

Imam caught Dinesh Chandimal (28) inches off the ground diving forward at short midwicket and Abdullah Shafique pulled off a stunning one-handed catch at short leg as Sadeera Samarawickrama (11) tried to whip the ball off his legs.

In the morning session Abrar removed the Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne for 20 when he drove uppishly at a delivery and was held at midwicket by Agha Salman. Numan struck twice by first trapping Kusal Mendis plumb in front for 18, and then picking up the prize wicket of Angelo Mathews for seven courtesy a brilliant diving catch to his left by Babar Azam at slip as the batsmen prodded forward and got the outside edge.

Once Pakistan got De Silva’s wicket there was hardly any resistance from the rest of the lower order as Sri Lanka lost their last four wickets in five overs for the addition of 28 runs. Numan and Abrar each finished with three wickets apiece, and Afridi two although he deserved more than that for the number of times he beat the bat.