On a day of surprises, Pakistan put Sri Lanka under pressure by dismissing them under 200. In reply both openers got themselves settled down aiming for a big lead. Junaid Khan came to terms with Test cricket by bowling his heart out on an unfriendly surface.
After winning the toss, Misbah’s decision to put Sri Lanka in was a surprise one, and in fact defensive. On top of that the Pakistan management chose Junaid Khan ahead of Wahab Riaz. Abdur Rehman was ignored on the flattest of pitches, perhaps rightly as the heat of UAE necessitated third seamer.
Asad Shafiq, replacing Umar Akmal, got the nod over Shoaib Malik. Sri Lanka gave Test cap to promising Nuwan Pradeep Fernando and Tillakaratne Dilshan kept himself at number 5.
After dismissing Sri Lanka for 197, Mohammad Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar made sure the day stays Pakistan’s by cruising to 27 without loss. Taufeeq was tentative but Hafeez played three crispy boundaries on the off-side to make his intentions known for the second day, when the batting would become easier.
Sri Lanka started cautiously and intentionally so to deny Pakistan seamers early breakthrough which their captain needed after opting to bowl. The tactic backfired as slow scoring helped Pakistan snuggle down into the match and the seamers found their line and length.
Umar Gul, coming back after a lay off, bowled well without looking threatening. Aizaz Cheema, on the other hand, showed hostility and bowled a few cracking deliveries. The breakthrough, though, came through Pakistan’s go-to-man Saeed Ajmal - Thirimanne guiding a straighter one into Younis’s lap in first slip. The Lunch arrived at 50 for 1, a very sluggish first session.
Cheema then came back and got rid of the big prize, Kumar Sangakkara, with a beauty that left him and got the edge through to Adnan Akmal who took a nice diving catch in front of first slip. He then hit Mahela Jayawardene with a ripper, who later top-edged a bouncer for six. Umar Gul accounted for Paranavitana for a patient 37.
The wicket of Dilshan, who was looking good during his short stay, proved to be a vital breakthrough. He was beaten all ends up by an Ajmal doosra but never touched it as Umpire Tony Hill raised his finger. Dilshan walked back slowly after standing shell-shocked for a while.
Then came the over which broke the back of Sri Lanka’s batting. Junaid Khan had looked innocuous in his first spell but third over of his second spell rocked the Lankans. He removed both Jayawardene’s in that over. First Mahela edged tamely to second slip where Hafeez took a juggling catch and then, three balls later, Prasanna could not keep a perfect yorker away. On the first ball of his next over he was on a hat-trick, when Rangana Herath was caught plumb in front. Junaid had reduced Sri Lanka to 114 for 7 on a flat deck.
Angelo Mathews did what he is known for – rescuing his team with a 50-run partnership alongwith Suranga Lakmal. He played intelligently using aggression in between compact defense. After Gul broke the stand, Junaid hurried Sri Lankan collapse by taking the last two wickets to bag his first 5-for in Tests. Brought late into the attack he may well have been an unlikely hero but showed his potential for which he was talked about before he came to the national side.
Although the day belonged to Junaid Khan who took 5 for 38, Mathews made an important 52 not out for his team. The wicket would play even better on the second day and Sri Lanka should be prepared for a long toil unless their spinners led by Herath create rapid inroads.
Summarised Scores:
Pakistan 27/0 trail Sri Lanka 197/10 (Mathews 52*, Junaid 5/38, Gul 2/37) by 170 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the 1st innings
Test debut: Nuwan Pradeep Fernando (Sri Lanka)
Hero of the day: Junaid Khan with 5/38
Credits: CricketArchive.com (scorecard), AP (photo)
Match Report – Day 1: 1st Test, Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi (neutral venue),18 - 22 October 2011
Asad Shafiq, replacing Umar Akmal, got the nod over Shoaib Malik. Sri Lanka gave Test cap to promising Nuwan Pradeep Fernando and Tillakaratne Dilshan kept himself at number 5.
After dismissing Sri Lanka for 197, Mohammad Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar made sure the day stays Pakistan’s by cruising to 27 without loss. Taufeeq was tentative but Hafeez played three crispy boundaries on the off-side to make his intentions known for the second day, when the batting would become easier.
Sri Lanka started cautiously and intentionally so to deny Pakistan seamers early breakthrough which their captain needed after opting to bowl. The tactic backfired as slow scoring helped Pakistan snuggle down into the match and the seamers found their line and length.
Umar Gul, coming back after a lay off, bowled well without looking threatening. Aizaz Cheema, on the other hand, showed hostility and bowled a few cracking deliveries. The breakthrough, though, came through Pakistan’s go-to-man Saeed Ajmal - Thirimanne guiding a straighter one into Younis’s lap in first slip. The Lunch arrived at 50 for 1, a very sluggish first session.
Cheema then came back and got rid of the big prize, Kumar Sangakkara, with a beauty that left him and got the edge through to Adnan Akmal who took a nice diving catch in front of first slip. He then hit Mahela Jayawardene with a ripper, who later top-edged a bouncer for six. Umar Gul accounted for Paranavitana for a patient 37.
The wicket of Dilshan, who was looking good during his short stay, proved to be a vital breakthrough. He was beaten all ends up by an Ajmal doosra but never touched it as Umpire Tony Hill raised his finger. Dilshan walked back slowly after standing shell-shocked for a while.
Then came the over which broke the back of Sri Lanka’s batting. Junaid Khan had looked innocuous in his first spell but third over of his second spell rocked the Lankans. He removed both Jayawardene’s in that over. First Mahela edged tamely to second slip where Hafeez took a juggling catch and then, three balls later, Prasanna could not keep a perfect yorker away. On the first ball of his next over he was on a hat-trick, when Rangana Herath was caught plumb in front. Junaid had reduced Sri Lanka to 114 for 7 on a flat deck.
Angelo Mathews did what he is known for – rescuing his team with a 50-run partnership alongwith Suranga Lakmal. He played intelligently using aggression in between compact defense. After Gul broke the stand, Junaid hurried Sri Lankan collapse by taking the last two wickets to bag his first 5-for in Tests. Brought late into the attack he may well have been an unlikely hero but showed his potential for which he was talked about before he came to the national side.
Although the day belonged to Junaid Khan who took 5 for 38, Mathews made an important 52 not out for his team. The wicket would play even better on the second day and Sri Lanka should be prepared for a long toil unless their spinners led by Herath create rapid inroads.
Summarised Scores:
Pakistan 27/0 trail Sri Lanka 197/10 (Mathews 52*, Junaid 5/38, Gul 2/37) by 170 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the 1st innings
Test debut: Nuwan Pradeep Fernando (Sri Lanka)
Hero of the day: Junaid Khan with 5/38
Click for full scorecard
Published in SportPulse.net on 18/10/11
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