CricInfo Home
News Home

NEWS FOCUS
Rsa in Pak
NZ in India
Zim in Aus

Domestic
Other Series

Day 2: Pakistan in commanding position

Hasan Saeed

Dhaka, Mar 13: A sparkling 118 not out by Ijaz Ahmed and a polished 77 runs by Inzamamul Haq propelled Pakistan to a commanding position with 299 for 2 in 100 overs against Sri Lanka at stumps on the second day of the 1st Asian Test Championship final at the Dhaka National Stadium today.

World champions Sri Lanka, who were all out for 231 runs in 78 overs in their first innings on the first day (Friday), will have to display some extraordinary performance in the next three days to lift the title.

As things now stand, pre-tournament favourites Pakistan are on course for winning the first ever Test championship taking into account the bonus points and their first innings showing.

At the end of the second day, Pakistan earned six bonus points - four from bowling and two from batting - against Sri Lanka's two points from batting only.

Resuming with overnight score of 33 for no loss in 10 overs this morning, Pakistan lost both their openers for 117 runs in 37.3 overs - Wajahatullah Wasti before lunch and Saeed Anwar just after lunch. Promising opener Wasti, who hit century in both innings of the Lahore test, was the first to return to the pavilion scoring 22 runs off 87 balls with two fours when scoreboard showed 75 for one in 25.2 overs. He was trying to play an outgoing delivery of Sajeewa De Silva and gave a sharp low catch to Jayawardane in second slip. Pakistan's opener Saeed Anwar, who made unbeaten 188 runs in the Calcutta test against India last month, was caught and bowled by Russel Arnold. He scored 57 runs off 113 balls with six fours after surviving thrice twice on Friday and once today.

Sri Lankan right-arm off-break bowler Arnold, who came to bowl at number five, did no mistake to grab the straight forward shot by Saeed Anwar in the second ball of his first over. Anwar reached the fifty mark with a single playing 98 balls in 156 minutes that featured five boundaries. This was his 19th half century in 41 tests. After the dismissal of two openers, one down Ijaz Ahmed pairing with Inzamamul Haq contributed an unbeaten 182 runs off 379 balls in 228 minutes with the help of 19 boundaries in the third wicket stand. Right-handed Ijaz, who made his test debut in 1986-87 against India in Madras, today hammered an unconquered 118 runs in 208 balls with 16 eye catching boundaries. This was his 12th test century in 81 innings of 54 matches.

Ijaz reached 50 facing 96 balls in 152 minutes off a Sajeewa delivery. He completed the ton with a boundary to extra cover off Chaminda Vaas, playing 175 balls in 270 minutes with 14 fours. Incidentally, this was the third century for Ijaz in Bangladesh and his second in Dhaka. He made his first century in Second Asia Cup Cricket in 1988 in Chittagong and the second in the Independence Cup Cricket last year.

Besides the ton, Ijaz played an important role in some eventful moment of the day's innings. He scored the desired 225 run for the second bonus point from batting and also contributed runs on way to Pakistan's 100 and 200 marks. But he failed to make a single to reach the 300 mark for the third batting bonus point despite playing the last three balls of the 100th over.

Number four batsman Inzamam-ul-Huq, who was dropped by Avishka Gunawardane at forward short-leg off an Arnold ball with duck, contributed not out 77 runs off 200 balls with six fours. Inzamam reached half-century, his 23rd in 55 test matches, facing 168 balls in 210 minutes with three boundaries.

Sri Lankan bowlers failed to impress some 7,000 cricket fans with their mediocore bowling in absence of spinner Muralitharan and Dharmasena.

Right-arm off-break bowler Russel Arnold and pacer Sajeewa de Silva shared the only two wickets which Pakistan lost today, giving away 25 and 45 runs respectively.

Sri Lankan misery was further compounded when wicket keeper Romesh Kaluwitharana had to leave the field due to fever at tea. He was replaced by Hashan Tillekeratne.

Day 3: Wasim gets a second hat trick

Hasan Saeed

Inzamam, Ijaz put Pakistan on trail to win Asian Test

DHAKA, Mar 14: With Wasim Akram's second Test hat trick and two maiden double centuries by Ijaz Ahmed and Inzamamul Haq, Sri Lanka are facing an innings defeat in the final of the Asian Test Championship at the end of the third day at the Dhaka National Stadium today.

The third day ended with a last minute drama as Pakistani captain Wasim Akram, one of the greatest fast bowlers, earned a hat trick taking the wickets of two top order and the night watchman. Earlier, he achieved his first test hat trick against the same opponent in Lahore on March 6.

On way to his second hat trick, Akram first dismissed Avishka Gunawardane (0) in his fifth delivery of the first over of the second Sri Lankan innings and then broke the off-stump of night watchman Chaminda Vass (0). The finale came when Wajahatullah Wasti caught Jayawardena in first slip off the first ball of his second over.

``I did not dream such a day and it (the second hat trick) is better than my first hat trick,'' an elated Akram told newsmen at the end of the day's play.

Sri Lanka now seem destined for an innings defeat as they scored only nine runs for three wickets at stumps today chasing Pakistan's first innings lead of 363 runs.

Earlier, resuming with overnight score of 299 for two wickets in 100 overs, Pakistan got on the driving seat scoring a record 594 runs all out in 178.4 overs figuring two maiden double centuries by Ijaz Ahmed and Inzamam-ul-Haq.

Pakistan's previous best, also against Sri Lanka, was 553 runs. The two unbeaten overnight batsmen, Ijaz and Inzamam, gave no chances to the opposition bowlers and played in a steady and cool manner.

In their marathon innings, the two middle-order batsmen contributed 352 runs before Inzamam was retired hurt at 156. Inzamam, however, came back to resume his innings and completed an unbeaten double century.

Ijaz struck 23 fours and a hefty six over the mid-on off an Arnold delivery to reach his career's first double century of 211 runs off 372 balls during his eight and half hours' stay at the crease.

But Ijaz's brilliant innings came to an end as he was stumped trying to play down the wicket against Upal Chandana.

Inzamam remained unbeaten on 200 playing 349 balls with 22 fours and two sixes in his marathon innings of nine hours. The dependable middle order batsman reached the double century mark pairing with Shoaib Akhter, the last wicket. He punished leg-break bowler Upul Chandana hitting a six over the mid-wicket and in the very next ball hit the rope with a straight drive. He earlier hit another six off Chandana.

Inzamam today reached his seventh Test ton off 261 balls with nine hits across the rope. His earlier best was 177 against West Indies.

The debutante Sri Lankan leg-break bowler Chandana grabbed six wickets giving away 179 runs in his 47.4 overs. Arnold picked up two wickets for 80 runs while Sajeewa de Silva took one for 75 runs.

Day 4: Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 175 runs

Hasan Saeed

DHAKA, Mar 15: Pakistan clinched the first Asian Test Championship beating Sri Lanka by an innings and 175 runs victory over Sri Lanka at the Dhaka National Stadium today.

It is the first trophy Pakistan won on the soil of Bangladesh after a series of failures in the Asia Cup in 1988, Independence Day Cup in 1998 and the mini World Cup earlier this year.

A delighted Pakistan captain Wasim Akram received the trophy and the prize money of $100,000 from State Minister for Youth, Sports and Cultural Affairs Obaidul Quader at a simple presentation ceremony before nearly 4,000 cricket fans at the Stadium.

Bangladesh Cricket Board President Saber Hossin Chowdhury, Pakistan Cricket Board President Khaled Mahmood and an executive of sponsors Coca-Cola, Khalid Raza Biswas, were present.

Two consecutive hat trick maker Wasim Akram, who was adjudged man of the series by match referee Cammie Smith, said: ``I am delighted for my hat trick and my boys are now confident of beating any team in the world.''

``Dhaka is my second home ground,'' he said amidst cheers from the local cricket lovers. Akram received $10,000 as man of the series.

Ijaz Ahmed, who made his career best 211 runs with maiden double century, was adjudged man of the match by the West Indies match referee Cammie Smith. He received prize money of $5,000.

On the fourth day of the match, Sri Lanka resumed their second innings with an overnight score of 9 runs for 3 wickets off 2.1 overs and were dismissed for 188 runs in 65.3 overs, 175 runs short of Pakistan's first innings lead of 363.

World champions Sri Lanka, tottering at 95 for 7 at lunch, however, managed to escape their previous lowest test total (149 against Pakistan in Karachi 1981-82).

Vice-captain Hasan Tilllekeratne pairing with Sajeewa de Silva contributed 73 runs in the last wicket, the highest for the Islanders. Their best in the last wicket partnership was 64 against England in Lords.

The five-day match ended shortly before tea break on the fourth day when last Sri Lankan batsman Sajeewa de Silva was bowled out by Saqlain Mushtaq.

Saqlain also picked up the wickets of Aravinda de Silva (6) and Romesh Kaluwitharana (0) to finish with 3 for 46 runs in 28.5 overs with 15 maidens.

Veteran Aravinda returned to the pavilion playing irresponsibly to offer a catch to Wajahatullah Wasti at silly point. Kaluwitharana was caught and bowled by Saqlian. Arshad Khan and Shahid Afridi were the other successful bowlers of the day. Off-spinner Arshad, who grabbed five wickets in the first innings, claimed two for 31 in 7 overs while leg-break Afridi took one for 41 runs.

Wasim Akram bowled 5.5 overs today but was unable to pick up any wicket. His final bowling figure is 7-0-33-3.

Middle-order batsman Hashan Tillekeratne was the top scorer for the Lankan side with unbeaten 55 runs off 151 balls that included four boundaries and one over-boundary.

Two tail-enders Upul Chandana and Sajeewa de Silva entertained the crowd for some time scoring 28 and 27 runs respectively.

Sajeewa plundered 16 runs from Saqlain's 27th over with two boundaries over the mid-wicket and a huge six over the long-on.