Azhar Ali and Haris Sohail put on a steady 71 runs together, and it was possible that Pakistan even shaded the twilight session. But Rangana Herath – longtime tormentor of Azhar – claimed his wicket in the penultimate over, to ensure Sri Lanka’s grip on the Test remained tight. They have their opponents more or less by the collar now. Pakistan are still 296 runs behind, and their top five have all been dismissed. The final recognised pair remained at the crease.
That it is Azhar who lost his wicket will sting, because he alone of the remaining batsmen was a proven player of the kind of long innings that is required from Pakistan. He also seemed so settled at the crease. It had been Haris, in fact, who in the early stages of this session, appeared uncomfortable against Herath, before playing and missing to Lahiru Gamage. Azhar had read the turn well, and seemed to have the measure of the spinners. At one point, when he ran at Herath, the bowler attempted to fire in a fast yorker outside off. Azhar changed his shot, and got his bat down quickly enough to send the ball skidding through point for four.
Haris occasionally attacked too, flitting down the pitch to launch Herath for six for the second time, having also done so while new at the crease in the afternoon session. But it was the singles and twos that defined the pair’s progress. Azhar favoured the leg side, stepping out towards off stump to flick or sweep the spinners. Haris preferred to score off the quicks, Haris scored square of the pitch on both sides, hitting two memorable fours behind point, off Perera and Nuwan Pradeep. When Azhar crossed 50 for the second time in the series, and soon smashed Herath back over his head, the pair seemed set for a long vigil together. Then Herath rapped Azhar on the front pad with a slider. Although that shout was initially turned down, Sri Lanka got the decision overturned with a review.
But it was the morning session’s wickets that have left the greater impression on the day. The dismissals were part Sri Lankan pressure and part Pakistani brittleness. There was nothing in the surface to justify the haemorrhaging of four wickets for 48 runs. And yet, Shan Masood was out inside-edging a Gamage ball that jagged back towards him, Sami Aslam was pinned in front by Dilruwan Perera, Asad Shafiq sent a low catch to slip, and Babar Azam tamely bunted a Herath delivery to short midwicket. All up, they have lost five wickets for 125 runs on day three.
