Sri Lanka – Pakistan 1st Test Dhananjaya’s half-century, three Pakistan wickets keep Sri Lanka’s hopes alive

By M. Shamil Amit reporting from Galle

Dhananjaya de Silva put in another fine batting effort in Sri Lanka’s second innings, which though likely to prove in vain, gave Sri Lanka atleast an outside chance of claiming a win in the first Test against Pakistan in Galle.

Pakistan lost three wickets as they began their chase of a 131-target fourth day stumps yesterday, and hold the upper hand, though on a wearing Galle pitch, the home team would not discount their chances.

Pakistan’s spin trio Noman Ali, Abrar Ahmed, Agha Salman and left arm pacie Shaheen Shah Afridi combined with effect to bowl out Sri Lanka, resuming from their overnight score of 14 for 0, for a score of 279 runs, leaving Pakistan a simple victory target of 131 runs.

However, Sri Lanka’s left arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya gave the visiting team some anxious moments when he grabbed two wickets in his second and third over and then was involved in Pakistan’s third wicket to fall as they ended day four on 48 for 3 needing a further 83 runs with the whole of day five to achieve their victory.

Earlier, de Silva came to the rescue for a second time in the Test when the home team were in a spot of bother.

With little success coming from the pacies in the morning, which Sri Lanka batsmen took advantage of, the introduction of the spinners made a vast difference on a pitch that is noted to support the spinners at the latter part and it proved right, as the spin trio shared wickets at regular intervals.

Sri Lanka coming into the field on day four from their overnight score of 14 for 0 saw openers Nishan Madushka and skipper Dimuth Karunaratne wading off the pacies and accumulating runs at will.

Right arm spinner Ahmed made the breakthrough separating the pair, who together added 42 runs, with the wicket of skipper Karunaratne.
Kusal Mendis joining Madushka and looked firm, with the pair making runs with ease before they were separated, this time by left-arm spinner Noman Ali, Mendis being the victim having added 37 runs for the second wicket.

Angelo Mathews followed but he did not last long being able muster only seven runs before becoming Ali’s second victim and Sri Lanka were in trouble on 91 for 3 before the lunch break was taken, with Sri Lanka on 94 for 3 with Madushka unbeaten on 47.

The post lunch session saw Madushka being able to add only another five runs as he became Ali’s third victim, with his knock of 52 in 125 balls that included seven boundaries and a six.
Dinesh Chandimal who joined de Silva gave Sri Lanka some hope as the pair negotiated the opponents with confidence and posted the 50-run stand for the fifth-wicket which followed with de Silva racing to his half ton in 71 balls that comprised four boundaries and two sixes.

With the pair having added ten more runs, Salman made the breakthrough with the wicket of Chandimal who made 28. Sadeera Samarawickrama lasted only 11 balls as he too was sent back to the pavilion by Salman and Sri Lanka went into tea on 210 for 6.

After the tea break the Sri Lanka innings lasted just under 17 overs and Dhananjaya was forced to see his partners dismissed at the other end. It began with the dismissal of Ramesh Mendis who made a fighting knock of 42 in 79 balls and shared a valuable partnership of 76 runs for the seventh wicket with de Silva.

Pacie Afridi, who did not have success in the morning session, came back to grab two wickets that included Dhananjaya who again made a top score of 82 in 118 balls inclusive of ten boundaries and two sixes and Abrar Ahmed with his third wicket of the innings finished off the Sri Lanka for 279 runs.

The match will be continued today.