– Azhar gets to 5000
For much of the third day, the Pakistan Sri Lanka game was looking like an inevitable draw.
But given the sheer mountain of precedent of fast run chases in modern cricket, no one was comfortable ruling Pakistan out completely,the team looking on top.
Now, the scales look to be tipping in Sri Lanka’s favour as the host team managed to end the third day with the crucial wicket of Babar Azam, whose wicket concluded the day’s play. More importantly, the pitch seemed to be changing in Sri Lanka’s favour and a collapse could very well be on the cards as the only barrier between Pakistan’s tail and Sri Lanka are Harris Sohail and Sarfraz Ahmed.
On a good batting pitch, a weakened Sri Lanka had put up 419 in the first innings on most of the first two days. Pakistan had followed up with a brisk opening stand in the twilight hours of the second day, the openers continuing on decently in the first session on the third day.
However, Pakistan’s nerves as they played without Misbah and Younis for the first time in nearly a decade were visible. The team played the entire innings at a run rate of less than 3 an over – a crime in today’s test cricket. Even more telling was that all of the batsmen played with strike rates of less than 40.
The positives were that both of Pakistan’s openers managed to get crucial 50s which will boost their confidence and perhaps indicate a not so bleak future for the otherwise shaky pair. Perhaps most importantly, Pakistan’s run machine Azhar Ali knocked back another 50 staying not out on 74 at the end of day’s play. He now becomes only the eighth Pakistani to get to 5000 test runs and fourth fastest to do so. He has also now spent more amount of time at the crease since his debut than any other player other than Alaister Cook, facing more than 13000 deliveries.
However, his leisurely pace was followed by both Asad Shafiq and Babar Azam, and the openers before them. A wonderful delivery by Perera in the 47th was a worrying sign of a changing pitch and Azhar Ali survived an LBW call on review soon after Sami Aslam had departed for 51.
The team seemed to settle however, as Azhar played his slow natural game. The removal of Masood for 59 in the 48th courtesy a dreadful shot was followed by a steadying period in which Shafiq and Azhar took the team through the second session on top.
However, Shafiq looked decidedly nervous and played slower than expected, seemingly more interested in defending his wicket than covering the large deficit Pakistan was still under. He was clearly baffled by leggie Sandakan’s wrong uns and departed in the 85th soon after the new ball was taken, dabbing one to first slip.
Pakistan looked primed to take off the day’s edge and carry through with Babar and Azhar progressing slowly but steadily. The partnership continued on and it was in the twilight hours of the final day in the 113th over that Babar Azam met his fate due to a horribly judged shot. Leaving the field after a painstaking 28, the umpires decided to call it a day and Pakistan left the field defeated for the day – an unexpected and sudden outcome.
Captain Sarfraz will be worried about a collapse which would eventually mean Pakistan losing the game and will be preparing himself for the long haul too. Captaincy has world over improved batting quality in players and Sarfraz will be hoping for some of the magic to hit him tomorrow.
The game is precariously placed and slightly in Sri Lanka’s favour, however meticulous cricket could see Pakistan come out on top tomorrow as the pitch looks to deteriorate. But if one thing is for sure, it looks like this game is going to have a decisive winner and loser.
