PAKISTAN A WERE 115 FOR THREE AT THE END OF THE 30TH OVER

At the fall of the first wicket, the Pakistanis sent in Qasiar Abbas, to push the run rate up. However the left-hander perished when he tried to clear the ground by smashing the off spin of Thilan Samaraweera. The batsman came out of the crease and lofted the ball, only to be well caught by tumbling Sajeewa Weerakoon at long off. Abbas made nine runs in eight balls, in 22 minutes with one boundary. The wicket fell with 67 runs on the board

Captain, Hasan Raza, who had a wonderful time with the bat in the Test series, walked to the crease at the fall of Abbas. But having added just four runs he too walked back to the pavilion. He was caught behind by Kumar Sangakkara as he tried to drive a good length delivery from Suresh Perera through the covers.

Misbah ul Haq and opener Taufiq Umar steadied the innings after the loss of two quick wickets, but the pair have showed little urgency, adding just 36 runs in the last 10 overs. Samaraweera used spin for the most of last 15 overs. He bowled Sajeeva Weerakoon from the Moratuwa End and introduced Jehan Mubarak from Katubedda End.

PAKISTAN MAKE SLOW START.

The visitors opened the innings with Taufiq Umar and Imran Farhat, who started cautiously. The Pakistan openers failed to make use of the fielding restrictions and scored just 16 runs in the first five overs and another 19 in the second five.

Both Akalanka Ganegama, who bowled from the Katubedda End, and Dinusha Fernando, who bowled from the Moratuwa End, bowled tightly.

Suresh Perera replaced Ganegama in the 13th over of the innings and bowled two consecutive wides after his first delivery. The next delivery too was a poor one and was hit for a boundary. But Perera bounced back when he dismissed Imran Farhat with his fifth legal delivery - the batsman top edging a pull to wide mid on where Shantha Kalavitigoda made a good running catch.

Farhat made had made 24 from 45 balls in 66 minutes and hit three fours. His dismissal ended a 49 run first wicket partnership.

At the crease are Taufiq Umar on 16 and Qaisar Abbas on seven. The Pakistanis who needed to score 4.90 an over, now have to maintain are run rate of 5.17.

SRI LANKA A SET PAKISTAN A 245.

After the opening pair of Shantha Kalavitigoda and Avishka Gunawardene put on a 69 partnership for the first wicket in 69 deliveries, there was a brief collapse as the home team lost Jehan Mubarak and T.M. Dilshan in quick succession.

But Gunawardene and Kumar Sangakkara steadied things up, through a 61 run partnership for the 5th wicket. The alliance ended when the 15-year-old, left arm spinner, Azam Hussain, bowled Gunawardene who tried to work the ball to the third man region. He stood his ground waiting the umpire to confirm the dismissal, probably thinking the wicketkeeper's glove or the pad had dislodged the bails. But the umpires, after a brief discussion, confirmed the dismissal and the batsman walked back.

Gunawardene, was the top scorer of the Sri Lankan innings. He made 74 in 143 minutes in 104 deliveries with nine boundaries.

Apart from Gunawardene, who has been playing well right throughout the series, Kumar Sangakkara made 34 in 78 balls while Chamara Silva made a quick-fire 37 in 38 deliveries.

Sangakkara, who was playing sedately, got out trying to push the run rate. The left hander scooped up Arafat delivery to give Shabir Ahamed an easy catch at mid-off. Once again Yasir had provided with the breakthrough.

Suresh Perera, who was promoted ahead of captain Samaraweera, with the intention of increasing the run rate, entertained the crowd with some hefty blows before he was needlessly run out: Chamara Silva, who was on strike, hit the ball straight to captain Hasan Raza at mid-on and Perera had backed up too far when the throw came on. Yasir was quick enough to remove the bails leaving Perera disappointed. He was gone for 20 off just 12 deliveries with four boundaries.

The Pakistani fielders were sloppy in their fielding as they dropped four catches two off Avishka Guawardene and one each of Jehan Mubarak and Chamara Siva. They also missed out on a run out opportunity off Gunawardene.

The 8th wicket pair of Dinusha Fernando and captain Tilan Samaraweera put up useful 29 run unbroken partnership. At close Samaraweera was on 18 off 16 deliveries and Fernando was on 10 off seven deliveries.

In the bowling department Yasir Arafat was impressive as he claimed three wickets giving away 46 runs in 10 overs. Danish Kanarai, too was also impressive. Irfan Fazial was unlucky to have not picked up any wickets as the fielders dropped two catches off his bowling.

SRI LANKA A WERE 130 FOR THREE AT THE END OF 30TH OVER

Soon after the drinks break, Yasir Arafat, got his second wicket of the day when he trapped Jehan Mubarak leg before for six runs with a full length delivery. Sri Lanka were 85 for 2.

T.M. Dilshan, having failed in the solitary test he was given in Colombo, came to the crease at the fall of Mubarak’s wicket.

Captain, Hasan Raza, introduced leg spinner Danish Kenaria, who got 21 wickets in the Test series, in the 17th over of the game from the Katubedda end.

In the very first over he bowled, he accounted for the wicket of Dilshan, who was deceived by a googly and was bowled through the gate as he tried to drive the ball through the off side. Dilshan was gone for a duck with the score on 86.

While the home team was losing wickets at one end, Avishka Gunawardene continued to bat positively at the other end. He brought up his 50 through a fine cover drive off Kaneria through extra cover in 60 deliveries with seven boundaries.

Hasan then introduced spin from both ends when he took 15 year old Azam Hussain from the Moratuwa end. He replaced Yasir Arafat who bowled an impressive spell, claiming two wickets (6-2-19-2).

Sri Lanka reached their 100 in the 22nd over of their innings.

Gunawardene was given another life when he was on 57, when Qaisar Abbas dropped a powerfully hit cover drive whilst fielding at extra cover off the bowling of Azam with the score on 114.

PAKISTAN A WIN THE TOSS AND ELECT TO FIELD.

Pakistan have made four changes to their side, from the team that played in the last test in Galle: Imran Farhat and Qaisar Abbas who were rested from the last Test comeback to the side while paceman Shabbir Ahmed returns to the side after injury. Left arm spinner, Azam Hussain, who is just 15 years old, gets his first chance in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka too play a full strength eleven, which they didn’t do in the three Tests, including seven players who have represented the country at the international level.

The teams are:

Pakistan A: Imran Farhat, Toufiq Umar, Qaisar Abbas, Hasan Raza(captain), Misbah ul Haq, Humayan Farhat, Yassir Arafat, Shabir Ahamed, Irfan Fazail, Azam Hussain, Danish Kaniera.

Sri Lanka A: Avishka Gunawardene, Shantha Kalavitigoda, Jehan Mubarak, T.M. Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Kumar Sangakkara, Tilan Samaraweera, Suresh Perera, Sajeeeva Weerakoon, Akalanka Ganegama, Dinusha Fernando.

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Date-stamped : 30 Jun2001 - 14:39