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Monday Sep 23, 2024
Tuesday, 10 October 2017 01:07 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
AFP: Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed hit fighting half-centuries on Monday to thwart Sri Lanka and set up an enthralling finish to the second and final day-night Test in Dubai.
Shafiq scored an unbeaten 86 while skipper Ahmed was 57 not out as they lifted Pakistan from a perilous position at 52-5 to 198-5 at close after being set a daunting target of 317.
The pair added 146 for the unbroken sixth-wicket stand to leave Pakistan needing another 119 runs with five wickets in hand to level the series.
Sri Lanka won a nail-biting first Test in Abu Dhabi by 21 runs.
Both Shafiq and Ahmed batted confidently to raise hopes of Pakistan maintaining their unbeaten record in nine Test series in the United Arab Emirates, their adopted home since 2009.
Pakistan have been forced to play at a neutral venue since a 2009 terror attack on the Sri Lankan team prompted authorities to suspend international cricket in the country.
Earlier, paceman Wahab Riaz grabbed four for 41 and left-arm spinner Haris Sohail took three wickets in a single over to dismiss Sri Lanka for 96 in their second innings, after they resumed on 34-5.
Shafiq brought up his 19th Test fifty with a well-timed cover drive off fast bowler Suranga Lakmal, his first 50-plus score in 12 innings.
Ahmed smashed part-timer Kusal Mendis for his fourth boundary to complete his 14th Test half-century.
It was off-spinner Dilruwan Perera who ripped apart Pakistan with a triple strike in the second session. He dismissed Haris Sohail (10), Shan Masood (21) and Babar Azam (nought) to leave Pakistan in tatters at 52-5.
He could have claimed the wickets of both Shafiq, on 26, and Ahmed, on 22, but both were dropped by Mendis at short leg off successive balls, leaving Sri Lanka to rue the missed chances.
Pakistan made a disastrous start hen opener Sami Aslam fell for one, caught in the slips off Lahiru Gamage.
Masood and Azhar Ali (17) added 31 for the second wicket before the batting collapse began with Ali caught off fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep for 17.
Pakistan had needed to make early inroads in the morning and Riaz provided them with the important wicket of Niroshan Dickwella in the fifth over of the day for 21.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah dismissed Perera for nought to leave Sri Lanka in danger of being all out for their lowest ever total of 71 against Pakistan.
But Mendis (29) and Rangana Herath (17) added 35 for the eighth wicket to frustrate Pakistan before Sohail struck thrice in his only over to give his team hope of an upset win.
Usman Khan replaces injured Amir for Sri Lanka ODIs
ESPNCricinof: Pakistan have called up left-arm fast bowler Usman Khan to replace the injured Mohammad Amir for the five-ODI series against Sri Lanka in the UAE.
Amir, who has been an automatic selection for Pakistan in all three formats since his return, picked up a stress-related injury of his right shin during the ongoing Test in Dubai. He went off the field towards the end of the first evening of the second Test, halfway through his 17th over. He returned to bowl next day, only to break down again, visibly discomfited. He was sent for an MRI scan, which revealed the extent of his shin injury. He was subsequently advised to rest for three weeks, ruling him out of the ongoing Test and the ODI series that follows.
Usman Shinwari has been on the selectors’ radar for the last two years, having made his T20I debut in 2013. He announced himself with a memorable spell against a Misbah-ul-Haq led SNGPL in the final of the departmental T20 Cup at Gaddafi Stadium in 2013, picking up five wickets for nine runs in 3.1 overs, helping his side Faysal Bank crush SNGPL by 78 runs.
He has played four T20Is for Pakistan, during one of which he sustained a back injury, missing a major chunk of the 2014-15 season. Since his return, the quick has taken 44 wickets in 12 first-class matches, becoming a prominent name on the domestic circuit. He has been an integral member of the Karachi Kings side in the Pakistan Super League for the last two years, and was retained by the franchise for the third season of the tournament. However, he is yet to play ODI or Test cricket.
The ODI series begins on October 13, at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
