da dobrowin： Rawalpindi, Feb 28: Despite a defiant knock of 84 by skipper SaeedAnwar, Pakistan were battling to avert defeat in the first Testagainst Sri Lanka here at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Monday
da marjack bet： Farhana Ayaz29-Feb-2000Rawalpindi, Feb 28: Despite a defiant knock of 84 by skipper SaeedAnwar, Pakistan were battling to avert defeat in the first Testagainst Sri Lanka here at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Monday.After conceding a first innings lead of 171, Pakistan reached 154 forfour in their second innings at close of play on the third day.Sri Lanka were all out for 363 in their first innings after resumingat their overnight score of 290 for eight.Yousuf Youhana (6) and nightwatchman Waqar Younis, who is yet to openhis account, were at the crease with Pakistan still requiring 17 runsto make Sri Lanka bat again.Pakistan face a herculean task over the remaining two days to save thematch with only six wickets standing on a pitch which has started toturn a little and the bounce uneven at times.Pakistan injury worries multiplied before they took the field onMonday morning when Saqlain Mushtaq had to be taken to hospital lateon Sunday night after suffering from chest congestion and dehydration.He had fainted in his hotel room on Sunday evening following a gymwork-out.Luck continued to desert Pakistan when they began their second inningsshortly before lunch. Pramodya Wickremasinghe plunged full length tohis right to bring off a spectacular catch at deep backward square-legto get rid of opener Wajahatullah Wasti for one in left-arm pacerNuwan Zoysa’s second over.Three overs before stumps, Saeed Anwar, who played a captain’s knockwas unlucky to play onto Chaminda Vaas.Saeed displayed great responsibility during his 280-minute stay at thecrease during which faced 219 deliveries and struck 11 fours. Thestylish left-hander completed his 22nd Test fifty off 113 balls withthe help of six fours.The Pakistan captain was involved in two useful partnerships. Togetherwith fellow left-hander Aamir Sohail, Saeed put on 63 in 103 minutesfor the second wicket.Sohail (24 off 65 balls with three fours), who was batting sensibly,made the mistake of sweeping across the line against off-spinnerMuttiah Muralitharan and was held at silly point by MahelaJayawardena.Saeed and Inzamam-ul-Haq carried the total to 88 for two at tea.Inzamam, who struck three boundaries off his first 17 deliveries butlater bogged down by tight bowling, survived a close leg before appealoff right-arm pacer Wickremasinghe. But after facing 12 more balls,the burly right-hander played a reckless shot and was superbly caughtat point substitute fielder Upul Chandana for 20. Inzamam failed toscore off the final 27 balls of his innings.He added 64 runs in 111 minutes for the third wicket with Saeed.Earlier, poor bowling by Pakistan allowed Sri Lanka to add 63 for thelast two wickets. Vaas and fellow left-hander Zoysa took fulladvantage of short-pitched deliveries to smack 51 for the ninthwicket. Zoysa hit a career-best 26 which included a top-edged hookfor six off Waqar Younis.Vaas reached his third fifty in Tests when he pulled Waqar over deepbackward square leg for six. His unbeaten 53 also included eightfours.Waqar Younis finished with four for 103, Abdur Razzaq two for 99,Saqlain two for 78 while Aamir Sohail, who had last man Muralitharanstumped by Moin Khan, took one for 55.INTIKHAB CONFIDENT: Coach Intikhab Alam said that Pakistan had enoughexperience in the remaining batsmen to save the match.After the third’s play of the first Test against Sri Lanka, Intikhabwas quick to state that Pakistan will fight till the last to save thematch.The coach maintained that Yousuf Youhana, Younis, Khan, Abdur Razzaqand Moin Khan will be required to play long innings to get Pakistanout of trouble.Intikhab further said that Wasim Akram, although unfit to bowl, willhowever bat, besides Saqlain Mushtaq who was stated to be dehydratedand fatigued will also be fit to bat.He maintained that with the far end of the wicket starting to taketurn, and the bounce is keeping low at times, things will becomedifficult on the last day of the match.He Intikhab praised the performance of Saeed Anwar saying that theskipper played with great responsibility and stayed at the wicket.
