Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka 2009

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Fixtures

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Pakistan-Sri Lanka go into the final test tomorrow

COLOMBO: Pakistan and Sri Lanka will play their last match of the three tests series here tomorrow, while the hosts have already reserved the series in their name.

The third test of the series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be held at Sinhalese Sports Club here. Sri Lanka has already won the series 2-0.

Fast bowler Chaminda Vaas has also been included the host team’s squad, while off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan will not be playing this match.

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Chaminda Vaas to retire from test cricket

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka''s Chaminda Vaas will retire from test cricket after the third and final match against Pakistan, the fast bowler announced on Sunday.

The 35-year-old had been recalled to the squad earlier in the week after being overlooked for the first two tests, a move that prompted speculation he would be given a farewell match after Sri Lanka took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

The third test against Pakistan starts on Monday.

"I have decided to retire from test cricket after this test match," Vaas said after Sri Lanka''s final practice session.

Vaas, who took 354 wickets in 110 tests in a career spanning 15 years, is expected to replace spinner Ajantha Mendis in the final game to be played at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara paid tribute to Vaas after the announcement.

"Vaas is a true champion and probably the only Sri Lankan fast bowler who can be called a true legend of the game," he said.

"No matter who replaces Vaasy in the bowling attack they will take years and years to reach the standards he has set -- and maybe they never will.

"He has got a great part to play in our one-day set-up until the World Cup in 2011 and maybe beyond it as long as he is fit," he added.

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Pak-Lanka to meet in final test today

COLOMBO: Pakistan and Sri Lanka will play their last match of the three tests series here on Monday, while the hosts have already reserved the series in their name.

The third test of the series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be held at Sinhalese Sports Club here. Sri Lanka has already won the series 2-0.

Fast bowler Chaminda Vaas has also been included the host team’s squad, while off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan will not be playing this match.

[~*Rano*~]

kaisi jaing series

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har gaye hain test series tu kaal se last test shoro horha hai

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Sri Lanka chose to bowl against Pakistan

COLOMBO: Kumar Sangakkara won the toss in overcast conditions at the SSC, and Sri Lanka were more than happy to bowl first in a match that marks the end of an era.

After 110 Tests and 354 wickets, this is the last call for Chaminda Vaas, the finest pace bowler that the country has produced. With the series already won, Sri Lanka went for a four-man pace attack to complement Rangana Herath, the surprise package of the tour. The team selection completed a remarkable fall from grace for Ajantha Mendis, who had terrorised the Indians a year ago, only to fail dismally against Pakistan.

Pakistan, who were in a commanding position before losing the first Test, and who surrendered the second after a collapse of epic proportions - nine wickets for 35 runs - also made a change, with Abdur Rauf replaced by Danish Kaneria. It was a strange change too in some ways, given how the SSC pitch has traditionally had more assistance for the quick bowlers than most Sri Lankan surfaces.

Sri Lanka squad: Malinda Warnapura, Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Tillakaratne Dilshan (wk), Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Kulasekara, Rangana Herath, Chaminda Vaas, Thilan Thushara

Pakistan: Khurram Manzoor, Fawad Alam, Younis Khan (capt), Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal (wk), Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamer, Saeed Ajmal, Danish Kaneria

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Pakistan 103-2 at lunch in final Test vs SL

COLOMBO: Khurram Manzoor and Mohammad Yousuf lifted Pakistan with an unbeaten 67-run stand after Sri Lanka''s Thilan Thushara struck quick blows at the start of the third Test here on Monday.

Pakistan, sent in to bat in overcast conditions by Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara, recovered from a shaky 34-2 to post 103 without further loss by lunch on the first day at the Sinhalese sports club.

Left-arm seamer Thushara grabbed two wickets in four balls to give Sri Lanka a solid start in their bid to sweep the three-match series after winning the previous two matches.

But the third-wicket pair of Manzoor and Yousuf denied Sri Lanka further success till lunch on a barren wicket that appeared full of runs.

Manzoor, playing his fifth Test, was unbeaten at the break on 42, while the 82-match veteran Yousuf was on a fluent 36.

Openers Fawad Alam and Manzoor had put on 34 within the first hour when Thushara struck in his third over after replacing Nuwan Kulasekera.

Left-handed Alam, who hit a brilliant 168 on debut in the previous Test, made 16 when he edged Thushara to wicket-keeper Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Three balls later, Pakistan captain Younus Khan chopped a delivery wide of the off-stump on to his stumps after making two.

Yousuf hit the best shot of the morning session when he stepped out and lofted left-arm spinner Rangana Herath over the long-on fence for six.

Later, he punched the same bowler off the backfoot to the point fence.

Veteran seamer Chaminda Vaas, playing his final Test match after announcing his retirement from the five-day game on Sunday, bowled an opening spell of five overs in which he conceded 14 runs.

Vaas, who was overlooked for the first two Tests, replaced spinner Ajantha Mendis in the only chance from the winning combination.

Pakistan also made one change, bringing in seasoned leg-spinner Danish Kaneria in place of seamer Abdur Rauf.

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Khurram, Yousuf take Pakistan to 187-2 at tea

COLOMBO: Opener Khurram Manzoor and experienced Mohammad Yousuf are still at the crease as Pakistan reached 187-2 at tea on the first day of the third and the final Test against Sri Lanka here at the Sinhalese sports club ground on Monday.

Manzoor, playing his fifth Test, was unbeaten at on 86 while the 82-match veteran Yousuf was on a fluent 76 and both have so far added 151 runs for their unbroken third wicket partnership.

Pakistan, sent in to bat in overcast conditions by Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara, recovered from a shaky 34-2 to post 103 without further loss by lunch and then added further 84 runs without losing any wicket in the second session.

Left-arm seamer Thushara grabbed two wickets in four balls to give Sri Lanka a solid start in their bid to sweep the three-match series after winning the previous two matches.

But the third-wicket pair of Manzoor and Yousuf denied Sri Lanka further success and punished all Sri Lankan bowlers on a barren wicket that appeared full of runs.

Openers Fawad Alam and Manzoor had put on 34 within the first hour when Thushara struck in his third over after replacing Nuwan Kulasekera.

Left-handed Alam, who hit a brilliant 168 on debut in the previous Test, made 16 when he edged Thushara to wicket-keeper Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Three balls later, Pakistan captain Younus Khan chopped a delivery wide of the off-stump on to his stumps after making two.

Yousuf hit the best shot of the morning session when he stepped out and lofted left-arm spinner Rangana Herath over the long-on fence for six.

Later, he punched the same bowler off the backfoot to the point fence.

Veteran seamer Chaminda Vaas, playing his final Test match after announcing his retirement from the five-day game on Sunday, bowled an opening spell of five overs in which he conceded 14 runs.

Vaas, who was overlooked for the first two Tests, replaced spinner Ajantha Mendis in the only chance from the winning combination.

Pakistan also made one change, bringing in seasoned leg-spinner Danish Kaneria in place of seamer Abdur Rauf.

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Manzoor, Yousuf rescue Pakistan in final Test

COLOMBO: Khurram Manzoor and Mohammad Yousuf narrowly missed scoring centuries as they led Pakistan''s recovery on the opening day of the final cricket Test against Sri Lanka here on Monday.

Pakistan, sent in to bat in overcast conditions by Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara, collapsed to 34-2 within the first hour as left-arm seamer Thilan Thushara grabbed two wickets in four balls.

Manzoor (93) and Yousuf (90) lifted the beleaguered tourists with a 167-run partnership for the third wicket as Pakistan moved to 289-7 by stumps at the Sinhalese sports club here.

Manzoor, a 23-year-old from Karachi, fell short of his maiden Test century in only his fifth match, while the seasoned Yousuf missed his 25th ton after the pair had stayed together for more than a session.

Shoaib Malik (45) and Misbah-ul Haq (27) put on 75 for the fifth wicket to carry the total to 285-4 before the second new ball taken shortly before stumps claimed three wickets for two runs.

Thushara trapped Malik leg-before for his third wicket of the day, before Nuwan Kulasekera had Misbah caught behind and bowled Umar Gul to open up the Pakistan tail.

When stumps were drawn, Kamran Akmal and Danish Kaneria were at the crease on one run apiece.

Pakistan are hoping to deny Sri Lanka a clean sweep of the series after losing the first Test in Galle on the fourth morning and the second at the P. Sara Oval here in three days.

Openers Fawad Alam and Manzoor had put on 34 within the first hour when Thushara struck twice in his third over.

Left-handed Alam, who hit a brilliant 168 on debut in the previous Test, made 16 when he edged Thushara to wicket-keeper Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Three balls later, Pakistan captain Younus Khan chopped a delivery wide of the off-stump on to his stumps after making two.

Yousuf hit the best shot of the day when he stepped out and lofted left-arm spinner Rangana Herath over the long-on fence for six.

Mansoor, who went to lunch on 42, reached his half-century in the first over after the break by smashing Thushara to the point boundary off successive deliveries.

Yousuf, a century-maker in the first Test in Galle, surpassed his 29th half-century soon after.

It was left to the retiring Chaminda Vaas to break the stand after tea when he had Manzoor edging a catch to Mahela Jayawardene in the slips with a delivery that moved away from the batsman after pitching.

Vaas, 35, who was ignored for the first two matches, replaced spinner Ajantha Mendis in the team a day after saying he will retire from Test cricket once the series has ended.

Pakistan also made one change, bringing in seasoned leg-spinner Danish Kaneria in place of seamer Abdur Rauf.

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Pakistan all out at 299 in Colombo test

COLOMBO: Pakistan this morning adding only 10 runs to its previous day score went all out at 299 runs on the second day of the third and last series against Sri Lanka.

Wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal and Danish Kaneria today resumed the inning at 289-7, but the Sri Lankan pacers dismissed the tail enders in four overs only. Kamran Akmal and Danish Kaneria scored 1 run each and Saeed Ajmal fell at 8.

Khurram Manzoor scoring 93, Muhammad Yusuf 90 and Shoaib Malik 45 emerged prominent among Pakistani batsmen.

Sri Lankan bowlers Thilan Thushara took 5 wickets and Nuwan Kulasekera 3.