Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka 2009

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Fixtures

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Resolute Sri Lanka keep Pakistan bowlers at bay

COLOMBO: Kumar Sangakkara and Thilan Samaraweera scored unbeaten half-centuries to lift Sri Lanka''s hopes of saving the third test against Pakistan on Friday as the hosts reached lunch on 262 for three, chasing 492 for victory.

Already assured of a series triumph after winning the first two tests, Sri Lanka resumed the final day on 183-3 and added 79 runs during the 26-over morning session without losing a wicket.

Captain Sangakkara led from the front with a determined 75 from 165 balls that included just four boundaries whiles amaraweera batted more fluently, stroking 69 not out from 132 balls with 10 fours.

Should this pair remain together throughout the afternoon session, Sri Lanka may start believing they can complete a record-breaking run chase if they can reel off the remaining 230 runs needed to overhaul the tourists.

So far, the pair have added 107 for the fourth-wicket, the highest partnership by Sri Lanka in the series, as Pakistan''s bowlers struggled during the session against some resolute batting on what remains a flat even-paced pitch.

The closest the tourists came to a breakthrough was an inside edge from Samarweera that flew to the left of a diving Kamran Akmal behind the stumps.

Pakistan took the second new ball just before lunch and will be hoping it provides the vital breakthrough after the interval.

Leg spinner Danish Kaneria, the most threatening of the Pakistan bowlers in this test match, was used sparingly in the first session, finishing with 2-75 from 22 overs.

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Sangakkara keeps Sri Lanka afloat in final Test

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka''s captain Kumar Sangakkara hit an unbeaten century to dim Pakistan''s hopes of securing a face-saving win in the third and final cricket Test here on Friday.

The left-hander was 111 not out as Sri Lanka, faced with a world record target of 492 to sweep the series 3-0, moved to 338-4 by tea on the fifth day at the Sinhalese sports club.

The rock solid Sangakarra''s 19th Test century featured a fourth-wicket stand of 122 with Thilan Samaraweera (73) and 61 for the unbroken fifth with Angelo Mathews (33 not out).

The two teams go into the final session of the match with Sri Lanka needing 154 runs from a possible 38 overs to record a record-breaking win and Pakistan requiring six wickets.

No team has achieved this high a target in the fourth innings to win a Test match. The highest successful chase so far is 418-7 by the West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 2003.

The hosts appeared in no hurry to force a victory after scoring 79 runs from 26 overs in the post-lunch session.

Sangakkara and Samaraweera, who resumed the day at 183-3, batted through the morning session to take Sri Lanka to 262 without further loss by lunch.

Sri Lanka suffered a setback soon after lunch when Samaraweera strained a hamstring while taking a single and called for a runner.

The injury did not seem to bother him as he hit the first ball from pace bowler Mohammad Aamer for a boundary, but then was smashed on the helmet by a rising ball later in the same over.

Samaraweera was dismissed in the following over when he failed to read a straight ball from off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and nicked an easy catch to wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal.

It was the first time in the Test series that play extended into the fifth day after the tourists lost the first Test in four days and the second in three.

Sangakkara and Samaraweera made a cautious start in the morning, scoring 50 runs in 21 overs before Pakistan captain Younus Khan took the second new ball as soon as it was due in the 81st over.

Samaraweera welcomed the change by driving the first delivery from Umar Gul to the cover fence and executing another perfect off-drive from the last ball of the over.

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Colombo Test drawn due to Sangakkara’s captain innings

COLOMBO: Kumar Sangakkara hit an unbeaten century to steer Sri Lanka to a draw in the final Test against Pakistan here on Friday and win his first series as captain.

The left-hander made 130 not out as Sri Lanka, faced with a world record target of 492, defied the Pakistani bowlers to finish with 391-4 on the fifth day at the Sinhalese sports club.

The rock solid Sangakarra''s 19th Test century featured a fourth-wicket stand of 122 with Thilan Samaraweera (73) and 114 for the unbroken fifth with Angelo Mathews (64 not out).

Sri Lanka clinched the series 2-0, their first at home against Pakistan after five unsuccessful attempts, and provided Sangakkara with a winning start as captain after he took over from Mahela Jayawardene in April.

Sangakkara hung on for nearly seven hours on a placid pitch to frustrate Pakistan''s bid to record a face-saving win ahead of the five-match one-day series starting at Dambulla on July 30.

No team has achieved this high a target in the fourth innings to win a Test match. The highest successful chase so far is 418-7 by the West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 2003.

The two teams went into the last session of the match with Sri Lanka needing 154 runs from a possible 38 overs to record a record-breaking win and Pakistan requiring six wickets.

The hosts gave an indication they would prefer to settle for a draw when they made just 76 runs from 26 overs in the two hours after lunch.

The final session, watched by some 3,000 home fans, provided dull cricket from both sides as the batsmen plodded along and the bowlers set defensive fields to ensure the run-rate did not pick up.

Play was finally called off when 15 overs remained with Sri Lanka needing a further 101 runs.

It was the first time in the series that play went into the fifth day after the tourists lost the first Test in four days and the second in three.

Sangakkara and Samaraweera, who resumed the day at 183-3, batted through the morning session to take Sri Lanka to 262 without further loss by lunch.

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Pakistan also lose warm-up match in Sri Lanka

KURUNEGALA: After an interesting practice match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka ‘A’, the home team won by 15 runs here on Monday.

For Pakistan, Umar Akmal smashed a brilliant century and remained not out on 103. He faced only 76 balls and hit three sixes and seven fours.

Batting first, Sri Lanka ‘A’ made 348 runs for the loss of six wickets in the allotted 50 overs.

Mahela Udawatte scored 161 and Chamara Kapugedera made 101 while captain Thilina Kandamby hit 59.

Chasing the target of 349, Pakistan batted well but were all out for 333 in 50 overs.

For Pakistan, Abdul Razzaq gave an allround performance taking four wickets for 70 runs and scoring 56 from 29 balls with four sixes and four boundaries.

Besides, Fawad Alam made 85 and Shahid Afridi scored 34 runs.

The first of the five One-day Internationals between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be played at Dambula on July 30.

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All worked hard but wicket did not help: Kaneria

COLOMBO: Test cricketer Danish Kaneria said that every player of the team is disappointed for not winning the final Test against Sri Lanka.

He said that all players worked hard to win the match but wicket did not give any help.

Talking with Geo News in Karachi, Danish Kaneria said that Pakistan’s batting line collapsed in the first two Tests.

He said that the team is pleased with its performance in Colombo Test but disappointed that it could not win the match.

Kaneria said that he is leaving on August 4 for England to play County cricket.

He further said that he desires to represent Pakistan also in One-day Internationals and Twenty20 matches besides Test cricket.

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Afridi named captain for T20 match vs SL

LAHORE: All rounder Shahid Afridi will be captain of Pakistan cricket team in a Twenty 20 match against Sri Lanka, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Wednesday.

The only T20 match will be played on August 12 after five matches’ one-day series between the two teams.

Skipper Younis Khan had announced the retirement from T20 game after wining the T20 world cup a month ago. Although PCB chairman Ijaz Butt was optimistic that Younis will withdraw his decision but he is stuck with his decision and now PCB has appointed Afridi as T20 captain.

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Younis says committed to name Pakistan ODI series

COLOMBO: The skipper cricket team Younis Khan said boys are committed to win one day international series against Sri Lanka at all consts.

Talking to Geo news’ Captain’s Corner program here on Wednesday, Khan said we want revival of jubilations our nation bagged in form of triumph in ICC Twenty20 World Cup.

“Victory in ODI series against Sri Lanka will commence preparation for ICC Champions Trophy and World Cup 2011,” captain divulged adding that selection of ODI squad has become literally difficult following comeback of several senior customers.

“We have lost Test series to a better team but will leave no stone unturned to grab ODI series”, he vowed.

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Pakistan win toss, bowl first against Sri Lanka

DAMBULLA: Pakistan won the toss and choose to bowl first against Sri Lanka in the first of their five one-day internationals on Thursday.

Pakistan: Younus Khan (captain), Kamran Akmal (wk), Fawad Alam,Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah ul Haq,Abdul Razzaq, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Aamer

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Muttiah Muralitharan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilan Thushara

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Sri Lanka set Pakistan 233-run target in 1st ODI

DAMBULLA: Sri Lanka made 232-9 in the allotted 50 overs against Pakistan in the first One-day International of the five-match series here on Thursday.

Winning the toss, Pakistan captain Younis Khan sent Sri Lanka into bat and now his team has to chase 233 to win the match.

No Sri Lankan batsman could reach fifty as the highest individual score was 43, made by late-order batsman Angelo Mathews, followed by captain Kumar Sangakkara (36), Mahela Jayawardene (33) and tail-ender Muttiah Muralitharan (32 from only 15 balls with four boundaries and one six).

For Pakistan, pace-bowler Mohammad Aamer captured three for 45 on his international debut and Abdul Razzaq claimed two for 33 runs, respectively while Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi took one wicket each.

Pakistan: Younus Khan (captain), Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul Haq, Shoaib Malik,
Kamran Akmal(wk), Shahid Afridi, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Aamer, Abdul
Razzaq, Fawad Alam.
Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (captain wk), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga,
Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews,
Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Thilan Thushara.

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Pakistan get 233-run target v SL

DAMBULLA: Pakistan received 233-run target from Sri Lanka in first ODI Played at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Thursday.

Mathew scored 43 from 50 balls.

On a green-tinged pitch that was slow as well, Pakistan made best use of winning the toss, reducing Sri Lanka to 105 for 3 by the halfway stage of their innings. At a venue where teams batting first have traditionally struggled, Sri Lanka struggled to establish any momentum, and Kumar Sangakkara''s loss, after a sprightly 36, was a big blow to their hopes of piling up a competitive total.

Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene had added 48 in quick time after a sedate start to the innings. As in the Test series, Sangakkara seldom failed to cash in on the bad ball, stroking Umar Gul through mid-on and cover, and clipping Younis Khan''s part-time medium-pace through midwicket for fours. But just as it seemed that the time was ripe to accelerate, he was undone by a Saeed Ajmal delivery that dipped and turned, and the attempt to cut merely looped to point.

Pakistan hadn''t started well, with Kamran Akmal putting down a sharp chance off Sanath Jayasuriya in the second over. It was down the leg side, and it denied Abdul Razzaq a wicket on his return to the side after a two-year absence. Razzaq could have had Jayasuriya a couple of overs later as well, but a terrible miscue straight back down the pitch was embarrassingly dropped right in front of the batsman''s face.

At the other end, Upul Tharanga was in poor touch, beaten repeatedly outside his off stump with feet scarcely moving. It was Jayasuriya who went first though, slashing the second ball he faced from Gul down to Mohammad Aamer at third man. Aamer, the debutant, had impressed with the new ball, bowling with pace and beating the bat often.

Pakistan had sprung a few surprises in the team selection, with neither Nasir Jamshed or Imran Nazir picked to open. Sri Lanka had gone back to Jayasuriya and Tharanga, who played no part in the Test series, but it was the return of Muttiah Muralitharan and Lasith Malinga that promised to have the biggest bearing on a surface where run-scoring never looked easy. The venue, up in the cultural triangle, was buffeted by strong winds and in conditions that assisted the bowlers, Razzaq and his less experienced colleagues had made an early statement of intent.


Sri Lanka: Upul Tharanga, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Thilan Thushara, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan.

Pakistan: Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan (capt), Mohammad Yousuf, Fawad Alam, Shahid Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq, Abdul Razzaq, Mohammad Aamer, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal.