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02-Jan-2014 14:10:00 GMT
Pakistan v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Abu Dhabi

Late Strikes Put Pakistan in Command

Abu Dhabi: Sri Lanka were 186 for the loss of 4 wickets in their second innings at close of play on the third day of the first Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

The 22-year-old debutant removed Sangakkara (55) with the last ball of his tenth over and then had Jayawardene off the first of his next to leave Sri Lanka at 186-4 in their second innings at close on the third day on a Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch which had eased out for batsmen.

Junaid (2-46) built on the strikes by dismissing Kaushal Silva for 81, caught behind in the last over of the day.

Before that Silva and Sangakkara added 99 for the second wicket which had thwarted Pakistan's pace-cum spin attack in the last session.

Dinesh Chandimal was the unbeaten batsman at close with 24 as Sri Lanka, who conceded a 179-run lead in the first innings, are now seven runs ahead with six wickets in hand.

Earlier, Pakistan were dismissed for 383 runs in their first innings in reply to Sri Lanka's 204.

Silva's dismissal has given Pakistan a sniff of victory on fourth day. He hit 11 boundaries during his 275-minute stay and gave Sri Lanka a confident start of 47 with Dimuth Karunaratne (24).

Silva, playing only his fourth Test, used his feet well against spinner Saeed Ajmal and looked comfortable against Pakistani bowling, reaching his maiden half-century with a single off Junaid.

The experienced Sangakkara, who hit an epic double hundred to draw a Test at the same venue against Pakistan in 2011, brought up his 43rd Test fifty with a crisp cut shot off Bhatti for his sixth boundary.

It was Bhatti (2-65) who seemed to have got Sangakkara on 29 when a sharp delivery trapped the left-hander leg before and English umpire Richard Kettleborough upheld the appeal but the intelligent batsman challenged the decision.

Television replays showed the ball was pitched on leg-stump and the umpire had to change the decision.

But Bhatti had the last laugh as he forced an edge off Sangakkara which was smartly snapped up in the slips by Younis Khan.

Sangakkara hit six boundaries during his 98-ball stay. Next over, Bhatti had a ball rear up from a good length which forced Jayawardene to hand an easy catch to gully for a first-ball duck.

Earlier, Pakistan were bowled out for 383 in their first innings on the stroke of lunch.

Sri Lanka's pace and spin attack fought back Thursday to grab Pakistan's last six wickets cheaply on the third morning of the first Test and restrict them to 383.

Pakistan, resuming on 327-4, had eyed a massive lead over Sri Lanka's first-innings 204 but had to settle for a still-useful 179-run advantage.

All three Sri Lankan pacemen grabbed a wicket each in the morning and spinner Rangana Herath finished with 3-93 at Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

At lunch the Sri Lankan openers Dimuth Karunaratne (two) and Kaushal Silva (nought) had negotiated one over from Junaid Khan without trouble.

Paceman Shaminda Eranga, who finished with 3-80 and Suranga Lakmal, with 2-99, led Sri Lanka's fightback.

Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul Haq ended on 135 after resuming on 105. He hit 16 boundaries and a six off 306 balls before being last man out, caught at long-off off spinner Herath.

In all Misbah batted for 425 minutes and his 218-run partnership with Younis Khan (136) on Wednesday set Pakistan on track for their big lead.

Pakistan lost overnight batsman Asad Shafiq (13) in the fourth over of the day Thursday. He flicked Lakmal to Silva, who took another smart catch at square-leg.

Eranga then accounted for wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal for six before Bilawal Bhatti (14) helped his skipper add 27 for the seventh wicket.

Angelo Mathews accounted for Bhatti before Herath dismissed Saeed Ajmal and Rahat Ali off consecutive deliveries to restrict Pakistan's lead.

Brief scores
Sri Lanka 204 (Mathews 91, Junaid Khan 5-58), Bilawal Bhatti 3-65) and 186 for 4 (Silva 81, Sangakkara 55)
Pakistan 383 (Younis Khan 136, Misbah-ul Haq 135, Eranga 3-38, Herath 3-93)
Status Sri Lanka lead by 7 runs


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