Osman Samiuddin is at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, covering the first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan continued to build what is already looking to be an imposing lead in the final session of the second day of the first Test against Sri Lanka. The tourists did at least end a mammoth stand between Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq but as the captain ended the day unbeaten on 105, Pakistan did on 327 for four, a lead of 123 already.
Proceedings were considerably slower after tea than they had been during the afternoon. Pakistan added only 76 runs in the session but had cause to celebrate Misbah’s fifth Test hundred, his second consecutive at the Shaikh Zayed stadium. He likes this ground: as of now, he averages an even 100 here, with over 500 runs in five Tests.
He took his time about it, particularly after Younis fell. He was bowled by Shaminda Eranga off an inside edge for 136, ending a 218-run partnership that took the day decisively away from Sri Lanka. The dismissal drained all impetus out of Pakistan’s scoring.
In the immediate aftermath of Younis’s dismissal, they scored 14 runs in 10 overs; that haul was bolstered by a boundary from Asad Shafiq, who got off the mark from his 18th ball. Misbah, it seemed at one stage, had stopped scoring altogether.
But, as ever, it was a measured innings from Misbah, calculated to ground the opponents out of the game. He had more good fortune, after being dropped earlier in the day. When he was on 76, a strong leg-before appeal was turned down: bizarrely Sri Lanka did not refer it, though Hawk-Eye showed it to be out. The celebrations on reaching hundred, with a single to mid-on, were undemonstrative.
Part of the slowdown in scoring was to Sri Lanka’s credit. Having let the initiative slip in the afternoon, their bowlers tightened things up. Suranga Lakmal was as unfortunate as he was outstanding, getting good bounce and movement with the new ball and unsettling the rhythm of Pakistan’s batting.
It was good resistance, but it was late.
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Pakistan 251 for three at tea
Pakistan’s old guard of Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq strengthened their side’s grip around Sri Lanka on the second afternoon of the first Test in Abu Dhabi. The pair, 75 years young between them, put on an entertaining and unbroken 168-run partnership, to leave Pakistan 251 for three at tea.
Younis was the driver, a punchy 23rd Test hundred leaving him level with Javed Miandad as Pakistan’s third-most prolific century-maker. He took his time to settle earlier in the morning, but once he reached his 50, just before afternoon drinks, he accelerated.
He took a particular liking to Rangana Herath, cutting him for four, launching him over wide mid-on for six and then pulling again, all within two overs. As much as in the boundaries, the beauty of Younis’s assault was in his running.
Two overs in a row he picked up five singles with Misbah; with tea approaching, he drove Herath for another boundary to bring up the hundred. His second fifty came off just 47 balls.
In tandem Misbah went along as Misbah usually goes along. He did not look like he was rushing, but managed to keep up the rate nevertheless. He needed some fortune though: first, on 48, he survived a strong appeal and subsequent review on a leg-before shout.
Then, having reached his fifty an over after Younis, he was dropped on 69 by Mahela Jayawardene. The former Sri Lankan captain was smart in moving sharply from slip to leg-slip as Misbah attempted to sweep, but once he got there, perhaps unsighted, he could not hold on to the ball.
That was about the extent of Sri Lanka’s chances in the session. Pakistan scored 130 runs in the session, looking to drive home their advantage. They now lead by 47, but it looks like it might get much bigger, and quickly if Misbah and Younis stick around.
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Pakistan reached 121 for three at lunch on day two
Sharp captaincy and even sharper fielding kept Sri Lanka on an even keel with Pakistan on the second morning of the first Test in Abu Dhabi. Sri Lanka made inroads into Pakistan’s batting, picking up a couple of wickets but Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq prevented more losses, taking Pakistan to 121 for three at lunch, behind by 83 runs.
Having struck off the last ball of play on Tuesday, Sri Lanka struck early this morning and as with the Khurram Manzoor run-out, it was fielding that brought about the downfall. Mohammad Hafeez, restored to the Test side after a prolific ODI series, was looking his usual elegant self.
A couple of straight drives down the ground hinted at a successful Test return but in the day’s fourth over, old failings returned to haunt him. Suranga Lakmal got a little away shape, luring Hafeez into a drive; the ball wasn’t full enough but the catch by Kaushal Silva was something special. A wicketkeeper by trade, he flew low to his left to scoop up the ball.
Smart field settings from Angelo Mathews — perhaps inspired by former captain Mahela Jayawardene’s love for unusual field placings — brought the wicket of Ahmed Shahzad. The debutant had looked good all through his 38, but he was deceived into pulling a short ball from Shaminda Eranga. The deception lay in where Dimuth Karunaratne was placed, an unorthodox catching position between square and fine leg, which Shahzad might not have logged.
At that stage Pakistan were in a spot of bother, but as so often over the years, Younis and Misbah began to stabilise them. It was not pretty or particularly thrilling, though Younis dabbed at enough balls outside off-stump to keep Sri Lanka interested. Early boundaries came through third man.
But Lakmal, who was excellent, and Rangana Herath ramped up the pressure by stringing together a run of maidens. It was only towards the end of the morning, when Misbah drove through the covers and straight that run-scoring perked up again.
By then, Pakistan were looking a little more secure, but this remains nicely poised.
osamiuddin@thenational.ae
