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Day 1: Pakistan bundle out Sri Lanka for 231

Al-Amin

Arshad Khan bags five wickets

Arshad Khan came from nowhere to return with a career-best haul of five wickets to give Pakistan an edge over Sri Lanka on the first day of the inaugural Asian Test Championship final that began at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

The tall right-arm off-spinner from Peshawar, playing only his third Test, took five wickets for 38 runs as Sri Lanka, batting first after winning the toss in the morning, were bundled out for 231 runs.

In reply, Pakistan were 33 for no loss at stumps with the left-right combination of Saeed Anwar and Wajahattullah Wasti watchfully encountering the torrid ten overs in the last 45 minutes.

Although Pakistan ruled the day, it was the spectacular Test venue with a legacy of a glorious past, which for an umpteenth time won the heart of the cricketing world by offering a full 90 overs of an absorbing battle despite a light drizzle before tea.

The wicket was harmonious to both bowlers and batsmen, the outfield was fantastic to say the least.

A regular visitor to the very ground, Arshad, who played for Surjo Tarun in Dhaka's Premier league this season, was rewarded for maintaining a good line and length on a wicket that produced lively bounce.

The 28-year-old Pathan more than justified his inclusion as a third spinner when he went to create a personal record. He erased his previous best bowling figures of 3 for 73, that against Australia in the third Test at Karachi last September.

Although Arshad, who can hardly turn the ball, stole the limelight on an eventful day, Pakistani speedster Shoaib Akhter returned to action in style by uprooting the off-stump of Sri Lankan opener Russel Arnold. It was, however, none but captain Wasim Akram, who inflicted an early Sri Lankan collapse, claiming two wickets in successive deliveries.

Arguably the best man in the business with the shiny ball, Akram took little time to vindicate his counterpart Aravinda's decision to bat on a gloomy morning when the left-arm seamer struck in the third over of the innings.

Bowling only his second over from the Pavilion End, Akram had opener Aviska Gunawardene caught by Wasti in second slip with an outswinger. He then returned one-down Mahela Jayawardene for a first-ball duck. The young Sri Lankan right-hander was undone by yet another outswinger from the left-handed Akram that cut back sharply on to him.

Akram, who scored a hat trick in Lahore, was however deprived of an unique double in successive Tests when Atapattu safely negotiated the fourth delivery after the third one was declared 'no' by the umpire.

But there was little respite for Sri Lanka when Shoaib Akhter knocked down the off-stump of Arnold in the next over, leaving the islanders tottering at 19 for three. Shoaib, the hero of the Calcutta Test where the young tearaway took eight wickets against India, appeared well charged-up in his first encounter with Sri Lanka after being rested during the Lahore Test.

The 24-year-old fast bowler from Lahore, who took the cricketing fraternity by storm after his famous act in Calcutta where he bowled Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulker in successive deliveries, came firing all his four cylinders much to the delight of a handsome Dhaka crowd. Although he finished with two wickets, Shoaib once again showed how quick he was with some express deliveries.

The creditable performance of the Pakistan bowlers could not deny Sri Lanka's Aravinda de Silva the kudos because the master batsman stood among the ruins with a watchful 72 off 164 balls. It was his 19th half-century. Coming in to bat at number five, the experienced right-hander put on 65 runs for the fourth wicket with Atapattu, who became the last batsman out before lunch after scoring 36 with the help of five fours including an exquisite bowler's back drive against Akram.

Atapattu paid the penalty for playing across off-spinner Saqlain. But Aravinda was full of concentration. In his 82-minute vigil at the crease Aravinda hammered ten sweetly-timed hits across the rope before becoming the eighth batsman to be out just after the tea break. He was adjudged leg-before after a failed attempt to sweep Arshad.

When Aravinda was out at 201, Sri Lanka were still 24 runs short of their second bonus point. Sri Lanka's hopes of getting that bonus point looked bleak when they lost their ninth wicket eight runs later. But thanks to a defiant unbeaten 20 from Chaminda Vaas, the islanders got their second bonus point. Pakistan, on the other hand, earned the maximum four bowling bonus points.

Nevertheless, Vaas must have ended the day with a heavy heart despite his valiant effort with the willow as the left-arm seamer was deprived of a wicket in his come-back match after being sidelined during the Lahore Test due to injury.

Saeed Anwar, on five, offered a simple catch at second slip, which Arnold failed to grab much to the horror of an increasingly wearied Sri Lankan side that had haplessly watched as many as five catches being dropped at Lahore.

The match resumes this morning at 9.30 am.

Speaker Humayun Rashid Chowdhury was introduced to the players of both the finalists before the match.

Day 2: Ijaz unbeaten at 118, Pakistan take lead

Al-Amin

Ijaz Ahmed scored his 11th Test ton yesterday as Pakistan, thriving on a solid batting performance from their top order, took a lead of 68 runs against Sri Lanka on the second day of the Asian Test Championship final at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Ijaz was unbeaten on 118 as Pakistan, resuming on the overnight score of 33 for no loss, went on to amass 299 for two wickets after bowling Sri Lanka out for 231 on the first day.

The experienced right-hander partnered with Inzamamul Haq to put on 182 runs for the third wicket. This gave Pakistan two batting bonus points. The islanders on the other hand returned empty-handed after a disappointing day under the sweltering summer sun.

Three more days left to decide the fate of the first ever Asian Test Championship, Pakistan have ensured the Asian Test trophy if the match was to end in a draw.

Pakistan have six points - four from bowling and two from batting against Sri Lanka's two from batting, leaving Sri Lanka in a must-win situation.

Coming in to bat at number three, Ijaz found a perfect partner in Inzamam after the left-handed opener Saeed Anwar departed for a chancy 57.

The 32-year-old batsman from Sialkot, who was going through a lean patch, put behind the disappointment of the Calcutta Test (one and 11) when he reached the three-figure mark with an exquisite cover drive that went for four in an eventful over from Chaminda Vaas.

Ijaz, when on 94, smashed three consecutive boundaries in the 91st over off the Sri Lankan speedster, who took the second new ball in the 83rd over but ended up conceding 17 runs.

Let off by makeshift wicketkeepr Hashan Tillekeratne while on 59, Ijaz played 176 balls and hit 14 boundaries to become the ninth batsman to score a century on this ground.

Tillekeratne stood for regular keeper Kaluwitharana, who did not turn up after lunch as he was running a temperature.

Inzamam also had his share of fortunes on his way to score a morale-boosting unbeaten 77 in a 228-minute vigil. The burly right-hander was dropped by Avishka Gunawardene at forward short-leg while on nought. Given a second life, the moody genius never looked behind on his way to complete his 23rd Test half-century. He hit six fours in his surprisingly sedate 200-ball knock.

Earlier, Saeed Anwar chanced his arm to reach his 19th half-century before being caught-and-bowled by off-spinner Russel Arnold. Saeed was the last batsman out on the day.

Wajahatullah Wasti was the other wicket to fall when he was caught at slips by Jayawerdene after adding 15 runs to his overnight score of seven.

But success had since eluded the toothless attack of Aravinda de Silva's under-strength side. The stand-in Sri Lankan captain, however, had more things to worry about than the ordinary bowling as his butterfingered fielders continued a bizarre exhibition of dropped catches.

Day 3: Pakistan poised for victory

Al-Amin

Another four-day Test on the cards!

Few might argue, but Pakistan made their intentions clear when they left the belligerent Sri Lankans fighting for survival after taking an almost unassailable first innings lead of 363 runs at the end of the third day's play of the Asian Test Championship final at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Resuming at 299 for two, Pakistan piled up a huge total of 594 all out with only four overs remaining of what was truly an eventful day that the Dhaka crowd would relish for years to come.

On a day which saw records galore, both overnight batsmen -- Ijaz Ahmed and Inzamamul Haq, went on to score maiden double centuries and Sri Lanka's leg-spinner Upul Chandana made a dream start to his Test career with a haul of six wickets for 179 runs. But those performances were nothing compared to what the phenomenal Wasim Akram, who earned the fabulous feat of claiming hattricks in successive Tests, did.

Undoubtedly the best left-arm fast bowler of all time, Akram brought the spectators to their feet when the southpaw from Lahore took three wickets off successive deliveries, sending the Sri Lankans reeling at three for nine in the second innings.

The islanders, who scored 231 in the first innings, got little respite after a gruelling day on the field as Akram struck with the fifth delivery of the innings. Left-handed opener Avishka Gunawardane fended a bouncer to leg gully where Shahid Afridi diving to his right took a brilliant catch. Night-watchman Chaminda Vaas had no idea how to deal with a good length delivery that split the off-stump in two. With the first ball of his next over, a shaky Mahela Jayawardene drove at an apparently innocuous away swinger into the safe hands of Wasti at the third slip to the ecstasy of Akram.

This is the second time Akram has achieved a hattrick against the same side in a week following the one he claimed at Lahore. But more importantly Akram overtook legendary West Indian fast bowler Malcolm Marshall in the all-time wicket-takers' list. With 378 wickets in 88 Tests, Akram is now holding the fifth place behind India's Kapil Dev, New Zealand's Richard Hadlee, West Indies' Courtney Walsh and Ian Botham of England.

Sri Lanka, however, heaved a sigh of relief when the umpires decided to end the proceedings following Akram's accomplishment. But the whipping boys of Aravinda de Silva may have a sleepless night before going into the fourth day to save themselves from complete humiliation.

But, apart from Akram's three sensational deliveries, it was an otherwise dull and insipid six hours where the bat dominated the ball.

Ijaz turned his overnight 118 to 211 and Inzamam converted his undefeated 77 into exactly 200. The pair took the Lankan bowlers to the sword to lay the foundations of what was to be a massive Pakistan total.

Together they amassed 352 runs before Inzamam left the field on 156 apparently to take a break from the energy-sapping session out on the pitch.

Ijaz, whose previous best was 155 against Australia at Peshawar, went on to complete his first ever double hundred with the help of 23 fours and a huge sixer against Chandana over long-on. The dapper right-hander was out in the 153rd over while trying to loft Chandana over the fence.

Inzamam returned to the crease as skipper Wasim Akram fell for eight, leaving Pakistan at 534 for six.

The portly right-hander eclipsed his previous best, 177 against West Indies, with a mighty sixer against Chandana in the 183rd over. He then got a small yet very significant support from the tail to reach his milestone.

Inzamam, on 189, whacked Chandana over mid-wicket for a six before sending the next ball through extra-cover for four. He pushed the next ball towards widish mid-on for a single to reach the 200-mark, laced with 22 boundaries and a couple of sixes.

Although Chandana became the main victim of Pak assault in the post-tea session, he returned most successful among the Lankan bowlers. Maintaining a teasing line and length all the time, the lithe leg-spinner finished the day with six delicious wickets.

Day 4: Sri Lankan tail also flourishes in Test of records

Al-Amin

Pakistan lift Asian Test Championship

The curtain of the cricket carnival that travelled across the sub-continent for the last one month fell at Dhaka yesterday with Pakistan winning the first ever Asian Test Championship in a most convincing fashion, defeating Sri Lanka in the final by an innings and 175 runs.

Quite fittingly, Wasim Akram, the most enterprising icon in the three-nation meet with hat-tricks of wickets in back-to-back Tests, held aloft the crystal trophy on a wonderful afternoon at the Bangabandhu National Stadium after his highly motivated side outclassed the islanders in every department of the game.

The predictable Pakistan victory was stamped at the stroke of the tea break on the fourth day when Sri Lanka, resuming their second innings on nine for three, lost their last batsman with the scoreboard reading 188.

Sri Lanka, who scored 231 in the first innings, needed another 354 runs at the beginning of the fourth day to eclipse the mammoth Pakistan first innings score of 594. But the beleaguered islanders, badly shaken by a mesmerising spell from Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram on the significant third day, were heading for their lowest ever Test score when they were reduced to 116 for nine in 46.2 overs.

Only a gritty last-wicket stand of 75 runs between Hashan Tillakaratne and number eleven batsman Sanjeeva de Silva saved them from a complete humiliation. The record Sri Lankan partnership for the tenth wicket, which frustrated the Pakistanis for quite a while, finally came to an end when off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq rattled the middle stump of Sanjeeva.

Tillakaratne, who put up a brave fight after Sri Lanka plunged into deep trouble at 61 for seven, remained unbeaten on a fine 55, studded with ten fours.

Nothing could, however, take the shine away from the stupendous performance of the Pakistanis, who dominated the under-strength Sri Lankans from day one.

Akram, who led his side from the front, took two wickets in the first innings in successive deliveries, effectively evaporating Sri Lanka's hopes of getting enough runs on the board. The left-armer then came up with a seven-ball burst in the second innings that earned him the fabulous feat of taking a hat-trick of wickets in successive Test matches.

The all-time great left-arm fast bowler, who took his first Test hat-trick against the same side at Lahore nine days ago, was later declared the man-of-the-championship by match adjudicator Cammie Smith of West Indies. His cash award amounted to 10,000 US dollars.

Pakistan received a lucrative winners' purse of 100,000 US dollars. Sri Lanka received 60,000 US dollars and third-placed India 20,000 US dollars.

Pakistan's experienced rig-ht-hand batsman Ijaz Ahmed, who scored a career-best 211, won the man-of-the-final award of 5,000 dollars ahead of compatriot Inzamamul Haq who hammered an unbeaten 200.