Date-stamped : 27 Apr97 - 14:20 Pre-match - Dawn Injury-hit teams may not give of their best in 2nd Test By Samiul Hasan COLOMBO (Sri Lanka) Pakistan play their last match on a short 17-day tour of Sri Lanka when they face the world champions in the second Test at the picturesque Singhalese Sports Club (SSC) from Saturday. The first Test at the Premadasa Ground had ended in a draw with Sri Lanka making 330 and 423 for eight declared. Pakistan, in their only innings had scored 378. Sri Lanka's loss was a gain for Pakistan when off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, the bowler they call spider here, had to pull out because of a side strain and an injured bowling finger. The selectors have named Rawan Kalpage who took a magnificent catch off Inzamamul Haq. Muralitharan, who claimed a career-best six for 98 last week, was a major threat to the suspect Pakistan batting which collapsed from 247 for three to 248 for six with the spider claiming all the three wickets in eight balls. "It is a great blow to lose Murali. He was one of our leading wicket-takers and the Pakistanis were really afraid of him. But now since he is out, we have to look forward instead of thinking that we are without him," Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga said, adding: "We decided to leave him out so that he is fit for the Indian tour." Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja, on Muralitharan's absence said: "He is a very good bowler, there's no denying the fact but I personally feel that we played badly to give wickets to him. If you look at the scoreboard, he bowled more than 50 overs (53 overs actually) which shows that we were not afraid of him. "Injuries are bound to happen to cricketers because we are playing almost non-stop. Aren't we without Wasim Akram, Saeed Anwar and Waqar Younis," Raja questioned. Muttiah Muralitharan is the latest casualty in this injury-marred Test series which has taken off quite a charm here. Besides the Sri Lankan off-spinner, Pakistan are without Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Saeed Anwar and Aamir Sohail÷all four being real crowd pullers and entertainers. Sri Lanka have also left out paceman Nawan Zoysa who pulled a hamstring after bowling just 10 overs. Zoysa's withdrawal has given an opening to left-arm pacer Sanjeeva de Silva who created all sorts of problems for Pakistan at Sharjah. Pakistan, although have no serious injury problems, leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmad was seen a little troubled by knee and back injury. It may be because he bowled 30 odd overs in the two-day game and then turned out 66.1 overs in the first Test. The Pakistan team, in particular, has apparently lost its Test touch and fitness as their last Test series before this one was against New Zealand that had ended in November÷almost five months ago. Since then, the cricketers are playing one-day games in which they are required to remain in the field for only 50 overs. Fielding throughout the day under very difficult conditions, which are here, is clearly making life difficult for them. Another bowler who may join the injury list is off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq as he bowled 107.2 overs in the Test after bowling 27 overs in the two-day game. Saqlain was one of the most busy cricketers in the first Test when he was required to bat for more than four hours. Ramiz Raja will have to be very careful while using him in the second Test because Pakistan can't afford to lose Saqlain on the eve of Indian tour for the Independence Cup in which Pakistan have already lost four frontline cricketers. Reverting to tomorrow's Test, only Asif Mujtaba's position hangs in the balance while rest of the players are confirmed selectees, at least that was the information from the Pakistan camp. There is support for Asif Mujtaba because the selectors here think that under the present conditions, the captain would certainly like to have a fifth bowler. However, if Mohammad Wasim is played, he will be a specialist batsman and that would leave only four specialist batsmen. "Mujtaba has an edge but we will decide about him before the start of the match," sources said. None of the replacements flown here, Mohammad Husain or Abdul Razzak, has any chance of making a breakthrough because the selectors are of the unanimous opinion that they are not used to the difficult and different conditions here. The wicket prepared for the second Test looks to be a perfect batting one but has some encouragement for the pacers as the curator has left some grass on top of it. With humidity about 100% here and a little grass on the top, only those fast bowlers will succeed who bowl by using more their brain than strength. However, the wicket may take spin from the third day and onwards. In this background, the toss becomes very important. "Certainly we would bat first if we win the toss because the wicket would be more fresh. If we bat first, our initial target would be 350. But if we get 450 then nothing more we can ask from our batsmen," Mushtaq Mohammad said. It would not be out of context to mention here that the tourists will be looking forward to some improvement in the standard of umpiring which has been below-par, at least, from the home umpire. Surprisingly, neither the umpire in the first Test (K.T Francis who is from ICC panel) and Peter Manual, who has international experience, have been posted by the home board. Teams (from): Ramiz Raja (captain), Salim Elahi, Ijaz Ahmad, Salim Malik, Inzamamul Haq, Asif Mujtaba, Moin Khan (wicketkeeper), Saqlain Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmad, Mohammad Zahid, Mohammad Wasim, Mohammad Husain and Abdul Razzak. SRI LANKA: Sanath Jayasuriya, Russel Arnold, Maravan Atapattu, Aravinda de Silva, Arjuna Ranatunga (captain), Romesh Kaluwitharana, Hashan Tillekeratne, Kumara Dharmasena, Chaminda Vaas, Rawan Kalpage, Jayantha Silva, Sanjeeva de Silva, Dulip Liyanage and Sanjeeva Ranatunga. UMPIRES: Ian Robinson (NZ) and Peter Manual (SL). THIRD UMPIRE: Anand Apa. MATCH REFEREE: John Reid (NZ). Source:: Dawn (http://xiber.com/dawn/) Day 1 report- Daily News Thumps his second consecutive century Masterly knock by Aravinda de Silva again By Ranjan Anandappa ON A day which had several twists and turns in the Sri Lanka innings Aravinda de Silva was once again in princely form when he waltzed to his 10th Test hundred (101 n.o.) to see his side to end the first day at 281 for 7 wickets in the second and final cricket Test against Pakistan at the SSC grounds yesterday. Aravinda de Silva went on to record his second successive hundred in the two Test series and the fourth in Sri Lanka and the sixth against Pakistan in devastating style. He stood firm when wickets tumbled alarmingly from one end after the openers had provided the right platform for the rest of the batsmen to consolidate. When Sri Lanka batted first Sanath Jayasuriya and Russel Arnold gave Sri Lanka the impetus early with an authoritative start putting on 95 runs off 30.4 overs batting the entire pre-lunch session. Jayasuriya continued in his own inimitable fashoin remaining unbeaten on 71 and Arnold (22 n.o) rendering valuable support playing second fiddle to take the side to 94 for 0 at lunch off 28 overs. By that time Jayasuriya had faced 90 balls and hit 13 fours and five while Arnold unbeaten on 22 off 80 balls with a couple of fours. After lunch the Pakistan bowling which mainly revolved around their three spinners Mushtaq Ahmed. Saqlain Mushtaq and Asif Mujtaba ( left arm spin) inflicted a major batting debacle rallying around superbly. Jayasuriya was the first to go mistiming a cut and Mushtaq Ahmed to an exceptionally good catch in the slips. Mushtaq Ahmed the right arm leg-spinner has done always something of note if not for his vociferous appeals, bowling thoughtfully, taking fine catches, throwing himself at the ball in the field or setting a fine example in tireless enthusiasm combined with Moin Khan to run out Arnold. Arnold responded to Aravinda's call when de Silva called turning one to leg and Moin Khan covering good ground discarded his gloves to hit one direct at the stumps. From 95 for 0 Sri Lanka staggered to 144 for 5 when Mohammmed Zahid broke through Tillekeratne's defence with an express delivery. Mushtaq Ahmed also accounted for the exit of Marvan Atapattu caught bat-pad for 14 with two fours off 47 balls and skipper Arjuna Ranatunga after facing three balls with a four was also a bat-pad victim off Saqlain Mushtaq, Salim Elahi taking both catches in close catching positions. Arjuna Ranatunga was annoyed over something derogatory said about him by a Pakistani player walked back to the pavilion. At tea Sri Lanka were 167 for 5 with de Silva and Kaluvitharana at the wicket. Kaluvitharan going for a sweep after scoring 22 off 41 balls with three fours was bowled behind his legs by Asif Mujtaba and Ruwan Kalpage who has made sporadic appearences in the Test team was given out to a bat pad catch, a truly bizarre and contentious decision by Zimbabwe umpire Ian Robinson. Sri Lanka had lost 5 wickets for 73 runs in the post lunch session and Chaminda Vaas denied his status as a tail end rabbit with a seventh wicket stand of 57 with Aravinda de Silva when Pakistan were threathening to take the initiative. Vaas remained unbeaten on 9 while Aravinda de Silva reached his 101 n.o. off 119 balls striking 15 fours. His first 50 came off 72 balls with 8 fours in 110 minutes and second off 47 deliveries with 7 fours Source :: Daily News (http://www.lanka.net) Day 1 report- Dawn De Silva's century rescues Sri Lanka in 2nd Test By Samiul Hasan COLOMBO (Sri Lanka), April 26: Aravinda de Silva continued his magical form with the willow to pull Sri Lanka back from the pit's edge on the opening day of the second and final cricket Test against Pakistan here at the Singhalese Sports Club on Saturday. De Silva, who scored a scintillating 168 in the first Test last week, was unconquered on 101 after Pakistan had pushed the hosts to the corner by reducing them to 144 for five and then to 224 for seven. At the draw of stumps, Sri Lanka, who collapsed like a pack of cards in the second session to lose four wickets in 26 balls to slump from 124-1 to 144-5, were 281 for seven. With de Silva was Chaminda Vaas batting on 9 who frustrated the tourists for more than an hour during which he received 60 balls. Aravinda, who came at the crease at the score of 124 for two, virtually massacred the Pakistan bowling that looked tired, out of rhythm and lacked the killing instinct. He played exquisite shots both on the off-side and on-side to keep the Pakistanis running after the red cherry. The fast outfield also helped Aravinda who calculatingly bisected the fielders to slam 15 boundaries in his 126-ball knock that consumed three hours and 10 minutes. Unlike the innings of 168 he played last week, this one was a polished, flawless and clean innings that thrilled a handsome holiday and of about 5,000. Aravinda displayed a variety of entertaining drives but his square cuts and off-the-toes shots were a real treat to watch. Aravinda de Silva, who struck his 10th century and sixth against Pakistan, reached his half century from 72 balls with eight boundaries and slammed seven more hits to the fence in the next 47 balls to reach the three figures in the last but one over of the day's play. The former captain was involved in two innings-building partnerships. For the sixth wicket, he added 60 runs in 67 minutes with wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharana (22). Then for the unfinished eighth wicket, he has put on 57 runs with Chaminda Vaas. Off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq finished the day with three wickets for 93 runs while Mohammad Zahid, Mushtaq Ahmad and Asif Mujtaba shared one wicket each. Opener Russell Arnold was spectacularly run-out by Moin Khan. Pakistan des perately missed the services of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis as platform had been set for the two to rout the opposition after the slow bowlers had reduced the hosts for 144 for five. But in the absence of the two, Pakistan failed to run through the innings and allowed Sri Lanka off the hook by some erratic and silly bowling. The bowlers, in an effort to do something extra, strayed from line and Aravinda de Silva punished them severely. So was the misery of Ramiz Raja that wherever de Silva struck a boundary, he took out a fielder from somewhere and put him there to block the master batsman's shots. This act of Raja clearly showed that there was no team strategy or planning. Not only de Silva, the Pakistan bowlers failed to trouble Chaminda Vaas and also Rawan Kalpage who must consider himself unlucky to be declared out bat and pad off Saqlain Mushtaq. The fielding also left much to be desired. The fielders looked lethargic when they allowed the Sri Lankans and specially de Silva convert ones into twos. Over-throws were conceded when the fielders didn't backup and Mohammad Zahid was guilty of dropping a sitter from the willow of Romesh Kaluwitharana off Shahid Nazir when the batsman was 21 and Sri Lanka 193-5. To add woes to the miseries of Nazir, Aravinda de Silva dispatched the next two balls for punishing boundaries leaving the fielders no chance even to make a move to stop them. Though it was a brilliant effort by the Pakistan bowlers in the second session of the day's play, at stump it was Sri Lanka and Aravinda de Silva who stole the limelight. Earlier, Sri Lanka, who made three changes in their team, won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket which looked full of runs but also helpful for the pacers and slow bowlers. The world champions left out Muttiah Muralitharan, Nawan Zoysa and Kumara Dharmasena and included Rawan Kalpage, Sanjeeva de Silva and Jayantha Silva respectively. Pakistan, on the other hand, played with an unchanged team. Mushtaq Ahmad, who was a worry for the visitors, passed a fitness test in the morning to be retained in the team. Salim Elahi also managed to safeguard his place though Mohammad Wasim might have been a better choice with Asif Mujtaba promoted to open the innings against a pace attack which is not a very formidable one. Sri Lanka made a very positive and solid start which was spearheaded by Sanath Jayasuriya. Jayasuriya played a typical limited overs cricket when he struck 13 boundaries, mostly by hitting over the fielders' heads, in his 96-ball 72. Jayasuriya, who dominated the first wicket partnership of 95 in 129 minutes, was the first batsman to fall two overs after lunch when Mushtaq Ahmad brought off a sharp catch in the first slip off Saqlain Mushtaq. The middle-order collapse started when local boy, Maravan Atapattu, was caught bat and pad by Salim Elahi off Mushtaq Ahmad to make Sri Lanka 124 for two. A couple of balls later, Moin Khan smartly ranout Russell Arnold when he hit the bull's eye after he could target only one stump as Aravinda de Silva had played the ball at squareleg to setoff immediately. Arnold, who was late to leave the blocks, failed to beat Moin's throw by good three yards. Five runs later, Saqlain Mushtaq struck again when he had Arjuna Ranatunga caught again by Salim Elahi at the forward short-leg position. Hashan Tillekeratne, who played a couple of blistering shots off Mushtaq Ahmad, was beaten both in the air and off the wicket by Mohammad Zahid who destroyed the cattle behind the left-hander to make Sri Lanka 144 for five and set up a chance for dismissing the home team on the first day for a much lesser score than they thought before taking the field and after losing the toss. But Aravinda de Silva had other ideas. He batted cautiously and watchfully to play the leading role in repairing the damage and keeping Sri Lanka in the match which is the decider of the two-Test series. Source:: Dawn (http://xiber.com/dawn/) Day 2 report- Daily News 5th wicket pair labour by SA'ADI THAWFEEQ Pakistan's fifth wicket pair Inzamam-ul-Haq and Asif Mujtaba put up a laborious display of batting to carry their side to a second day total of 146 for 4 wickets by the close in the second cricket test played at the SSC grounds Sunday. The pair having come together at the fall of the fourth wicket at 83 added just 33 runs off 28.3 overs in the final session as Sri Lanka pushed hard to break through the partnership. Although spinners Ruwan Kalpage and Russell Arnold bowled tantalizing spells, they were unable to separate the fifth wicket pair which has so far added 63 runs. The usually flamboyant Inzamam has so far batted 167 minutes for an unbeaten 43, and left-hander Mujtaba battled through 138 minutes for an undefeated 32. Neither batsmen could break through the shackles imposed on them by the spinners who were well supported by Chaminda Vaas and Arjuna Ranatunga, who was forced to come on and bowl after two of his front-line bowlers, Sajeeva de Silva and Jayantha Silva retired to the pavilion with cramps. Pakistan, through their fifth wicket pair, had consolidated to some extent from losing opening bat Salim Elahi to the fourth ball of the innings for his second consecutive duck, and then slipping to 83 for 4 by mid-afternoon. Fast bowlers Chaminda Vaas and Sajeeva de Silva picked up two wickets a piece to put Pakistan on the defensive, replying to Sri Lanka's 331. Sri Lanka resuming at 281 for 7 added a further 50 runs for their remaining three wickets before being all out 35 minutes before the lunch break. Aravinda de Silva continued his assault on the Pakistan bowlers adding a further 37 runs to his overnight 101. He was left unbeaten on 138 scored in 273 minutes off 208 balls with 19 fours _ his tenth Test century. Vaas helped De Silva add 76 for the eighth wicket which is a new Sri Lanka record for that wicket against all countries, beating the 73 between Vaas and Kumara Dharmasena against Zimbabwe at the R. Premadasa Stadium in 1996-97. Vaas' contribution in the liaison was 17 in 94 minutes. off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq had Vaas caught by Salim Elahi at silly point to give Elahi his fourth catch of the innings. Leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed accounted for the last two wickets having Sajeeva de Silva stumped by wicket-keeper Moin Khan and then running out Jayantha Silva with a direct hit from cover point. Neither batsmen troubled the scorers. Saqlain was once again the pick of the Pakistan bowlers taking four wickets to carry his series tally to 13. Ijaz fined Ijaz Ahmed, a former Pakistan vice-captain has been imposed an immediate fine of 20 per cent of his match fee by International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee John Reid of New Zealand. Apart from fining Ijaz, Reid also imposed on the Pakistani a 30 per cent match fee suspended fine to start from July 1 and run for five months if another breach of conduct occurs. Ijaz had an altercation with Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga on the first day of the Second Cricket Test between the two countries currently being played at the SSC grounds. Ijaz had used crude language against Ranatunga after the batsman had been given out caught in the Sri Lanka first innings. ``I am unhappy to see this crude language used by a senior member of the Pakistan team to the captain of the host country. Up until this incident the spirit between the players looked good. Applause for good batting, bowling performances including Ijaz himself'', said Reid while imposing the fine. ``This is a very serious incident that forms part of an increasing surge of personal abuse that has infected the Test arena - it must stop'', said Reid in a press release. Source :: Daily News (http://www.lanka.net) Day 2 report- Dawn Pakistan make steady progress in 2nd Test By Samiul Hasan COLOMBO (Sri Lanka), April 27: Pakistan were making a steady but slow march towards a decent score after the Sri Lankan pace duo had run through the top order on the second day of the second and final cricket Test before an unsporting crowd of about 7,500 at the Singhalese Sports Club here on Sunday. When bad light forced an early closure with 6.3 overs still to be bowled, Pakistan were 147 for four after being reduced to 83 for four before tea. The heavily-built Inzamamul Haq was batting on 43 and Asif Mujtaba was 31 with the two involved in an unbroken 64-run stand for the fifth wicket in 138 minutes. Earlier, Sri Lanka resuming at 281 for seven with Aravinda de Silva on 101, added another 50 runs in 83 minutes (20 overs) to be bowled out for 331 after 453 minutes of batting. Off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq took the scalp of overnight batsman Chaminda Vaas (17) to finish with yet another impressive figures of four for 115. Saqlain has so far bagged 13 wickets in three Sri Lankan innings conceding 341 runs. However, it was Aravinda de Silva who stole the honours from Saqlain by remaining undefeated on a magnificent 138. De Silva hammered 19 boundaries in his 273-minute innings during which he received 208 balls. De Silva's four boundaries today included two boundaries off reverse sweeps each off Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmad which were played with the middle of the bat and perfectly executed. On a wicket on which Pakistan pacers failed to leave any impression with Mohammad Zahid and Shahid Nazir jointly going for 94 runs in 20 overs, Chaminda Vaas and Sajeeva de Silva made good use of the new ball and then with the old one to equally share the four wickets between them. Vaas finished with two for 48 from 12 overs and Sajeeva de Silva finished with two for 42. But the absence of Muttiah Muralitharan deprived Sri Lanka of a probable wrapup of the Pakistan innings on the second day as none of the two spinners caused any problems for Inzamamul Haq and Asif Mujtaba. Muralitharan's replacement Rawan Kalpage turned out to be quite ordinary while Pakistan have much better left-arm spinners than Jayantha Silva at the club level. Silva had come in for Kumara Dharmasena. The only thing the two spinners did was to put brakes on Pakistan's rate of scoring which automatically had to come down after four wickets were gone. Nevertheless, the two were certainly not of the quality of bowlers against whom any batsman will bog down unless the situation demands. Inzamamul Haq played some good shots in his 113-ball innings to pick up three boundaries, Asif Mujtaba hardly lifted his bat. He is playing more blocking one end and occasionally hitting the loose balls. He has so far received 131 balls in 138 balls with four fours which is not a good going at all. Even if Mujtaba tried to cash in on a juicy delivery, he hit it right into the hands of the fielders. Mujtaba should remember that his career depends on the runs he scores and not on the time he consumes on the wicket. Nevertheless, a good partnership is developing on which the fate of Pakistan depends. It is the last specialist pair and though Moin Khan has to follow, the fact is that he is not a recognised batsman despite having three centuries to his credit. If Pakistan aim to get some breathing space, Inzamam and Asif have to bat for at least another session of play on Monday. The bowling is not formidable and unless the batsman doesn't try to get out himself, the bowlers can't get him on this track which is playing quite true, though a little slow, with the ball coming at a nice height for the batsmen to play the strokes. Pakistan made a disastrous start to their innings when it lost the wickets of Salim Elahi and Ijaz Ahmad in the 30-minute batting before lunch. Both the batsmen played poor shots and chiefly succumbed to pressure while trying to play out the first session. Salim Elahi made no use of his feet and played from his crease to find the outside edge of his bat off Chaminda Vaas on the fourth ball of the first innings. Hashan Tillekeratne picked up a very good catch at ankle height. It was Salim Elahi's split pair as he had scored a first-ball duck last week. In six Test innings so far, Elahi has 43 and now deserves to be ousted for a better opener. Ijaz Ahmad also fell victim to Chaminda Vaas when he failed to keep a lifting delivery down and Russel Arnold showed good reflexes to hold a sharp catch in the third slip. Ijaz stood his ground but had to leave the field when umpire Peter Manuel, after consulting Ian Robinson, adjudged him out. TV replays confirmed that Arnold had taken a clean catch. Skipper Ramiz Raja was the third batsman out at the score of 59 on the oldest trick in cricket books. Vaas bounced at him twice on which he got a boundary when the ball fell behind the square-leg fielder and then picked up a single when the ball dropped just short of the fine-leg fielder. But as people say third time is not a good time, Ramiz Raja failed to control his temptations when Sajeeva de Silva bounced at him and he hit it into the hands of a diving Russel Arnold at square-leg. Raja departed after scoring 36 from 33 balls with the aid of six hits to the fence. Pakistan suffered its biggest blow when Salim Malik was caught while fishing outside the off stump in the gully by Arjuna Ranatunga off Sajeeva de Silva. Malik was looking good and played some delightful strokes in his 56-ball 24 that produced four sweetly-timed boundaries. The fall of Malik brought Asif Mujtaba in at the score of 83 for four. The left-hander is so far battling hard to keep himself and Pakistan in the match and Inzamamul Haq is providing him good support. It is to be seen how the two fare up on Monday when they take a fresh guard and begin from the zero point. Source:: Dawn (http://xiber.com/dawn/) Day 3 Report - Daily News Lanka lead Pakistan by 141 and in a strong position BY SA'ADI THAWFEEQ Sri Lanka's pair of left-handed opening batsmen and opening bowlers placed their country in a strong position to push for a win in the second cricket Test against Pakistan at the SSC grounds, yesterday. By the close of the third day, Sri Lanka had scored 102 for no loss an overall lead of 141. Openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Russel Arnold consolidated the 39-run first innings advantage given by left-arm fast bowlers Chaminda Vaas and Sajeeva de Silva in dismissing Pakistan for 292 by tea yesterday. UNBEATEN Jayasuriya was unbeaten on 61 scored off 154 balls with six fours - his third successive fifty of the series and Arnold was on 29. The pair capitalised on an injury-stricken Pakistan bowling attack to place Sri Lanka in this healthy position. Pakistan were without fast bowlers Mohammad Zahid and Shahid Nazir - both suffering from back injuries. They also lost wicket-keeper Moin Khan shortly after the commencement of the Sri Lanka second innings when he was forced to retire hurt with a painfull right heel. Nazir's injury is expected to be much serious than Zahid's. All three casualties were to be taken to hospital for a medical report on the condition yesterday. NINE WICKETS Vaas and De Silva took nine wickets between them on a virtually grassless track to give Sri Lanka a handy first innings lead of 39. Sri Lanka took the last four Pakistan wickets for 16 runs, three of them being claimed by De Silva, who in only his second test finished with an innings haul of 5 for 85. The 26-year-old former Navy and Sebastianites cricket, currently with NCC, went wicket-less in his only test against New Zealand at Hamilton early this year, conceding 65 runs. Using the second new ball to good effect, De Silva produced a hostile spell to run through the Pakistani low order after left-arm spinner Jayantha Silva had removed top scorer Moin Khan for a superbly struck 98. EXHILARATING Moin played an exhilarating innings off 109 balls hitting three sixes and nine fours in a stay of 175 minutes. He was out two short of his fourth Test century when he back cut a ball into Marvan Atapattu's hands at point. At 43, Moin passed 1,000 runs in Test cricket playing in his 26th match for Pakistan. Moin and Asif Mujtaba who hit a sedate 49 in 274 minutes with seven fours added 91 for the sixth wicket. Mujtaba was out in the third over after lunch pulling a short ball from Vaas to long leg where Aravinda de Silva running to his left brought off a superb diving catch. BREAKTHROUGH Vaas finished with four for 60, getting an early breakthrough for Sri Lanka in the morning by having Inzamam-ul-Haq caught behind by Romesh Kaluwitharana without adding a run to his overnight score of 43. Haq and Mujtaba put in 64 for the fifth wicket. Source :: Daily News (http://www.lanka.net) Day 3 comment- Daily News Sajeewa de Silva will not forget this Test Comment by Elmo Rodrigopulle Sri Lanka are sure to make a declaration sometime during their second innings and set Pakistan a target. But the chances of dismissing the Pakistanis and winning seem remote because the wicket is still playing easy and is very friendly to the batsmen. A draw can easily be predicted unless the unforeseen happens. The question, posed in cricket circles is: why prepare wickets that are not result oriented? We leave that question to be answered by those in the know. MISTAKES During the three days of play the bowlers have been really bending their backs and are unable to get any help from it. The wickets the bowlers have got have been due to the mistakes made by the batsmen. On this heartbreak wicket the Sri Lankan pacemen Chaminda Vaas and Sajeewa de Silva must be congratulated for the wonderful manner in which they kept pegging on to earn their victims. With absolutely no help Vaas and de Silva have bowled intelligently to lure the batsmen. While Vaas made use of his experience to unsettle the batsmen, de Silva showed fine change of pace and variation to grab his wickets. SAJEEWA EXCELS De Silva playing in only his Second Test will remember this game for long. He made his debut in New Zealand went wicketless and did not score, thus joining a rare band. But in this game he proved himself and should be a member of the Sri Lanka new ball attack for a long time to come. The Pakistanis made 292 thanks to a wonderful batting exhibition by their wicket keeper Moin Khan. Khan in making 98 showed immense concentration and the flair to attack the ball which paid rich dividends. Khan played an entertaining innings. He had a wide repertoire of strokes and it was a pity that he was dismissed two short of a well deserved hundred. He played strokes all round the wicket and the two sixes he hit over mid off were strokes of beauty. SECOND BALL Khan came in when Pakistan lost Inzamam Ul Huq to the second ball of the day. From the time he took guard he took on the bowlers and using his feet well, moved forward or rocked back to spray them all over. Asif Mujtaba as usual played a restrained innings. There is nothing attractive in his stroke play. He is a grafter of runs and he proved it once again. However he too was unfortunate to be out one short of a half a century when Aravinda de Silva fielding at fine leg took a wonderful diving catch when Mujtaba mistimed a hook. When Sri Lanka began their second innings, openers Jayasuriya and Arnold did not have the usual pace bowling to contend with. Sahid and Nazir were both injured. The openers gave Lanka a good start second time round and if the batsmen to follow score briskly, a declaration is possible. It was nice to hear former St. Anthony's College, Kandy aggressive one drop batsman Michael Raj on radio. Raj knows what he is talking about and his comments were well received. Palitha Perera too is back and doing a good job. PERCY IN ACTION On Saturday and Sunday when there was an appreciative crowd watching the match it was amusing to watch cheer leader Percy Abeysekera, whose movements have now been restricted, doing his cheering. He got round a bunch of young girls who had come to watch the cricket and started his cheering. He went like this: `Are we down hearted?! `The girls would reply `No. No.'. Then he would shout: Are we uphearted?! the response `Yes. Yes'. This went for a few minutes. Then Percy would shout: `Are we worried?! `No. No'. This kind of shouting would also go on for a few minutes. Then Percy would take the girls by surprise and shout: `Are we married'. And the girls who were equal to the task would loudly reply `No. No' to loud cheering by the spectators around who were enjoying every moment. Source :: Daily News (http://www.lanka.net) Day 3 report- Dawn Sri Lanka in strong position in second Test By Samiul Hasan COLOMBO (Sri Lanka), April 28: Moin Khan was denied a record fourth century in controversial circumstances but Pakistan were still in the back seat against Sri Lanka in the second and final cricket Test at the Singhalese Sports Club on Monday. Moin Khan spooned an easy catch to Maravan Atapattu at backward-point off left-arm spinner Jayantha Silva when 98 as Pakistan lost their last four wickets for 16 runs in 56 balls to be dismissed for 292, a stroke before tea. The tourists had resumed this morning at 146 for four. Sri Lanka, who scored 331 in its first knock, finished the third day in a very strong position being 102 for no loss and thus enjoying an overall lead of 141 runs with all ten wickets intact. With Pakistan without two pacers, Sri Lanka will be aiming to add another 200 runs in the first two sessions to give Pakistan a target of around 350. In the background of what the Sri Lanka pacers did to the tourists on Monday, Sri Lanka will try for the kill and win the second successive Test series against Pakistan. At stumps, Sanath Jayasuriya was batting on 61- his third straight half century- while Russel Arnold was 29 not out. Jayasuriya, who was dropped by Mushtaq Ahmad at first slip off Saqlain Mushtaq when 41, has so far struck six boundaries in his 123-ball innings while Arnold has faced 110 balls and has hit four boundaries. Moin Khan, when 74, had swept Jayantha Silva very finely and TV replays later in the day showed that the fielder, Sanath Jayasuriya, had touched the ropes before stopping the ball. But since no query was made by umpire Ian Robinson from the TV Umpire (Ignatius Anandappa), the Pakistan wicketkeeper had to settle with two runs. At the end of the day, Moin Khan had to satisfy with 98 and if he had got those two more runs, he would have become the first Pakistan wicketkeeper with four centuries, surging past Imtiaz Ahmad who has three centuries in 41 Tests. Nevertheless, Moin Khan completed his 1,000 Test runs in 26 Tests. Before this match, he needed 48 runs to reach the four figures and got as many more. The 26-year-old wicketkeeper has joined three other former Pakistan wicketkeepers to score 1,000 runs at this level of cricket. They are Imtiaz Ahmad (2,079 runs in 41 Tests), Wasim Bari (1,366 runs in 72 Tests) and Salim Yousuf (1,055 runs in 32 Tests). Moin Khan was extremely ruthless on spinner Jayantha Silva when he struck him for successive sixes to race from 84 to 96 but the spinner had the final laugh when he had the Pakistani five balls later. Moin Khan batted for five minutes under three hours during which he received 109 balls out of which nine were dispatched to boundaries and three were sent out of the ground. Moin's third sixer also came off Jayantha Silva but unlike the previous two which went over the cover boundary, the third one was a straighter one. "I have all the reasons to be depressed. It was a very careless and casual shot. But the thing to learn is that never take things lightly," said Moin Khan later. Moin Khan batted very positively and played all the shots he knew. The approach of Moin can be figured out from the fact that when he took the crease on the third ball of the day, his partner Asif Mujtaba was 32. And when Moin reached his fifth half century in Test cricket from 64 balls with five fours and a six, Mujtaba was behind at 44. Mujtaba, in fact, remained at 49 for nearly 20 minutes during which he faced 25 balls but failed to get the required single for his ninth half century. But in an effort to pick up the single, he needlessly hooked a bouncer from paceman Sajeeva de Silva and Aravinda de Silva brought off a fine diving catch at long-leg. Mujtaba, who resumed this morning at 31, added another 18 runs in 102 balls (136 minutes). His 49 from 233 balls comprised just 23 scoring shots including seven boundaries, five doubles and 11 singles. Nevertheless, Mujtaba played his role with perfection and halted the collapse which Pakistan had faced when it lost four wickets at the score of 83. With Inzamamul Haq, who was out second ball of the day and the first ball he faced, Mujtaba added 64 runs in 131 minutes. Then for the sixth wicket, Mujtaba shared in a 91-run stand with Moin Khan in a quick 131-minute time. Sri Lanka pacers bowled splendidly on a slow but good batting track picking up nine wickets between them. Sajeeva de Silva, a former Navy Marine who fought in Jafna for four years, picked up his first five-wicket haul the in the second Test to finish with five for 85. Chaminda Vaas bowled intelligently to add two more wickets to his overnight two to end up with four for 60. Jayantha Silva grabbed the prized scalp of Moin Khan for 91 runs. The effort by the two pacemen is a clear indication that the wicket had something for the pacers if they had bowled according to the field. The Pakistani duo was erratic but their counterparts stuck to their task to keep a nagging line and length. Source:: Dawn (http://xiber.com/dawn/) Day 4 report- Daily News Aravinda - a rare feat of scoring two unbeaten `tons' in a Test Pakistan needing 426 to win struggling at 28 for two BY SA'ADI THAWFEEQ Spurred on by vice-captain Aravinda de Silva's rare feat of scoring two unbeaten centuries in a Test, Sri Lanka had Pakistan fighting with their backs to the wall to save the Second and Final Cricket Test at the SSC grounds yesterday. De Silva who has been the dominant force in the series followed his first innings knock of 138 not out with another authoritative innings of 103 not out which enabled Sri Lanka to close their second innings at 386 for 4 declared. TALL TASK Pakistan left with the tall task of making 426 runs for victory off a minimum of 121 overs staggered to 28 for 2 wickets before bad light brought an early end to the day's play with 19 of the stipulated 90 overs for the day left to be bowled. When play resumes on the fifth and final day today Pakistan will look to their experienced pair of Ijaz Ahmed and Salim Malik to see them through to at least a draw. With rain clouds hovering around Pakistan could also hope for some of it if they are to save the Test. THIRD TIME Left-arm fast bowler Chaimda Vaas took a wicket in his first over for the third time in the series to put Pakistan on the defence. Vaas sent back Pakistan captain Rameez Raja for a duck by having him caught behind off his fourth delivery followed it up with the wicket of the other opener Salim Elahi for 14 to finish with figures of two for 11. Sri Lanka resuming at 102 for no loss went on the offensive in search of a declaration. INSPIRED Sanath Jayasuriya and de Silva both hit centuries as they inspired Sri Lanka to a total of 386 for 4 declared. Jayasuriya unbeaten on 61 on Monday went to complete his second Test century scoring 113 in 290 minutes with one six and nine fours. With Russel Arnold who made a maiden Test fifty Jayasuriya added 157 for the first wicket - a figure which fell short by three runs to beat Sri Lanka's all-time record for the wicket of 159 between Sidath Wettimuny and Ravi Ratnayake against India at Kanpur in 1986-87. De Silva and skipper Arjuna Ranatunga took the depleted Pakistan bowling attack by the scruff of the neck to hit off 105 runs for the fourth wicket off 107 balls. 66 OFF 62 BALLS Ranatunga raced to 66 off 62 balls hitting leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed for two consecutive sixes soon after reaching his 26th Test fifty. But the bowler had his revenge when he had the Sri Lankan captain stumped by stand-in wicket-keeper Salim Elahi. Ranatunga hit three sixes and nine fours. Sri Lanka closed their second innings 30 minutes after the tea break no sooner had De Silva completed his second century of the Test. He followed his first innings undefeated 138 with 103 not out in the second - thus becoming the first batsman in Test history to remain unbeaten in both innings scoring a century. De Silva faced 99 balls in a stay of (169 minutes hitting one six and 11 fours. He became the third Sri Lankan batsman to score a century in each innings of a Test after Duleep Mendis (105 and 105) against India at Madras in 1982-83 and Asanka Gurusinha 119 and 102) against New Zealand at Hamilton in 1990-91. De Silva has been in such dominant form that in the two Tests he is averaging 216.50. He is the first Sri Lankan batsman to score three consecutive hundreds in Test cricket. His scores in the series are: 23, 168, 138 (n.o.) and 103 (n.o.) Source :: Daily News (http://www.lanka.net) Day 4 - comment Aravinda de Silva best- in the world Comment by Elmo Rodrigopulle By scoring an avalanche of runs and capping it all with unbeaten twin hundreds against Pakistan, Aravinda de Silva, Sri Lanka's master blaster hit for six any doubts that he is the best batsman in world cricket today. `Who is Brian Lara? Who is Sachin Tendulkar? Who is Steve or Mark Waugh? These were the questions cricketers and cricket fans were poising when Aravinda was taking apart the Pakistani attack with an innings that was breathtaking to watch. UNDERATED There is no doubt that Aravinda de Silva's efforts with the bat have been underated. This is primarily because Sri Lanka is not playing enough test cricket as do the other test playing nations. In four innings against the Pakistanis he has blasted three centuries which is amazing and which speaks volumes for his determination to succeed and become second to none in the batting aspect. Aravinda who caned the Pakistani attack in the first innings, continued to heap misery on them as he once again took them by the scruff of their necks and rinsed them to all parts of the field with a bat that was looking like a magic wand in his hand as his innings prospered. BEST SPINNERS It would not be wrong to say that he played or toyed about with the opposing bowlers. Two of the best spinners in the world were bowling to him. They were off spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and leg spinner Mushtaq Ahmed. But with twinkling footwork and masterly strokeplay he made them look ordinary. The two bowlers tried every trick they knew. But Aravinda was the master and they were helpless and doing his bidding. Before the captain Arjuna Ranatunga and vice captain Aravinda de Silva put on show their batting exhibition, the dashing left hander Sanath Jayasuriya set the tempo with an excellently made century. His strokeplay too was a treat to watch and it was he who made it possible for Arjuna and Aravinda to blast the attack to all corners of the field and over it as well. BLUDGEONED What batsmanship did Ranatunga put on display. Not for a very long time have we seen Ranatunga in this mood. He batted in the form of old and realising that his team needed quick runs to make the Pakistanis bat again, he just bludgeoned the attack and while he was on, what cricket it was! He and Aravinda made it rain fours and sixes at the SSC ground. One was reminded the way Ranatunga bashed Shane Warne over the ropes when the Aussies played on the SSC ground which test Sri Lanka were unfortunate to lose. Ranatunga like good wine seems to be mellowing with age. In this innings he showed that he has not lost his strokes or touch of old as he pulverised the Pakistani attack. The fours and sixes he hit were from the meat of the bat with rare timing and this innings would certainly have made his critics who were clamouring for his removal, red in the face. RUN FLOOD Everything went for Sri Lanka as planned on the fourth day. They required quick runs and this came flooding while Jayasuriya, De Silva and Ranatunga were at the wicket. The declaration came quicker than expected. But the vital question is: Has Ranatunga the bowlers who could bowl the opposition out? If Sri Lanka is going to win this game, then again it will have to be pacemen Vaas and Sajeewa de Silva who will have to do the trick. There is nothing in the wicket to assist the bowlers. Vaas and de Silva must put pressure on the batsmen and lure them to false strokes. Ranatunga has the runs to play about with and he must set attacking fields and breathe down the batsmen's necks. COMPLACENCY The one thing the Lankans must guard against is COMPLACENCY. True enough they have captured two wickets and need eight more to make the victory war cry. This will be a reality if they do not let up. They will do well to remember that catches win matches. Russel Arnold once again proved what a good batsman he is with a well played half century. He has proved himself and one hopes that he will be allowed that all important continuity. There was a big crowd to support the Sri Lankans. They cheered lustily and supported every move by the players. It was sad to see the spectators in the stands taking a roasting. Not much money would have to be spent to have had least a cadjan roof over their heads. After all they are all genuine supporters and shouldn't they have been better looked after! Source :: Daily News (http://www.lanka.net) Day 5 report- Dawn Pakistan engineer great escape in 2nd Test By Samiul Hasan COLOMBO (Sri Lanka), April 30: Former captain Salim Malik saved Pakistan from defeat in the second Test against Sri Lanka as the two-Test series ended in draw at the Singhalese Sports Club on Wednesday in front of an estimated 8,000 festive, cheering and dancing spectators. The confident batsman scored an excellent 155, his 15th Test century in 96th Test and fifth outside the country, to help Pakistan finish at 285 for five wickets. "This innings specially will give us a lot of confidence for the coming tour of India. Salim and Ijaz played brilliantly," Ramiz Raja, Pakistan captain, said after the match. Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga said: "We desperately missed Muttiah Muralitharan. Because of excessive cricket, leading players are being injured and this was a real setback for our team as we dominated this Test. "But I think, Salim Malik and Ijaz Ahmad, and specially the former, played a magnificent innings. It was a great knock by a great batsman,"Ranatunga said. Inzamamul Haq, after a careful start, virtually cut to pieces the Sri Lankan bowling to score a rapid unbeaten 54 from 85 balls with seven boundaries to share in a 121-run fourth wicket partnership in 100 minutes with Salim Malik, including 47 runs in six overs with the second new ball. Pakistan had resumed on Wednesday with Sri Lanka holding them by the scruff of the neck by reducing the visitors to 28 for two after setting them an almost impossible winning target of 426. Salim Malik, starting this morning at 5, was dropped twice on successive balls before he had reached his half century while offered another difficult chance in the 60s to bat for 22 minutes under six hours during which he received 240 balls. Malik's superlative innings included 26 sweetly struck boundaries with correct timing and the power. When on 38, Malik found an inside edge of the bat off Rawan Kalpage and the ball whisked past wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharana for a boundary. The next ball Malik hit right back to Kalpage who failed to hold a difficult catch. Malik offered another half chance in the 60s when he drove Kalpage uppishly and Jayantha Silva, fielding at cover, made a desperate attempt but failed. Malik, who has 5,528 runs in 142 innings, played a couple of shots in the air as well but was lucky as the ball either fell in no man's land or in gaps. On the whole and considering the dire situation in which Pakistan was it was a very responsible innings which only a seasoned and experienced player can play. Malik brought his first, second and third 50s with exquisite drives. His half century came with a delightful square-cut soon after lunch from 97 balls with eight boundaries while he reached three figures with a crisp-cover drive to pick up three runs and jump to 102 a stroke before tea. Malik recorded his third century against Sri Lanka with 16 boundaries and from 179 balls. Malik's 150 came off 237 balls with 25 boundaries. Salim Malik, whose 155 was his third score of 150 or more in a Test, received fine support from his brother-in-law, Ijaz Ahmad, who regretfully hit a suicidal shot at wide-extra-cover to be easily caught by Chaminda Vaas off Jayantha Silva for 47. Ijaz a ball earlier off the same bowler, had attempted a similar shot but Vaas had dropped a sitter and Ijaz, who had started to leave the field, had to rush back to complete a single. Ijaz, who started this morning at nine, was a model of concentration and application. He was seen in an entirely different role on Wednesday when he played very cautiously, not trying to hit every ball. Ijaz's sedate innings can be judged from the fact that in 120 minutes of play in the first session, he added only 11 runs while after lunch he batted for 122 minutes and put on 27 runs to be out for 47 from 180 balls he faced during his 35 minutes under five hours of batting. Ijaz's 19 scoring shots included seven boundaries and a huge six that landed just down the Press box located about 50 yards away from the boundary. Ijaz and Salim Malik were associated in a match-saving 127-run partnership for the third wicket in four minutes under four hours of batting. Ijaz and Salim Malik looked composed and knew what was required from them. They handled the Sri Lankan pace duo of Chaminda Vaas and Sajeeva de Silva watchfully. And after the two were taken off after 45 minutes of play after the two were burnt out in the scorching heat and 100 percent humidity, Ijaz and Salim opened out a little, specially the latter. Arjuna Ranatunga tried every trick he had in his sleeves but Ijaz and Malik were equal to the task. These were one of the finest knocks of their lives they played here which saved Pakistan from their third straight defeat in as many Tests against Sri Lanka. The draw also brought smiles on the face of Ramiz Raja for whom Pakistan captaincy has always been a jinx. He lost 1-2 to Sri Lanka at home in 1995-96 and then ended up on the losing side in Sharjah. Like that time, Raja was once again without his frontline players. On the contrary, if Sri Lanka look back at things in this Test, they would regret two things - Muttiah Muralitharan's absence and failing to convert half chances into match-winning catches. Aravinda de Silva, who scored 432 runs with three centuries, was adjudged Man-of-the-Series as well as Man-of-the-Match for his unbeaten century in each innings of this Test. "The wicket were a bit slow but it may be because of the weather. "It would have been a perfect icing on the cake if we had won the Test but that was not the case and we had to settle with a draw," Aravinda de Silva said. The Pakistan team returns on Thursday by PK 877 which is scheduled to land at 6:50 p.m. (P.S.T). Source:: Dawn (http://xiber.com/dawn/) Day 5 report- Daily News Aravinda - man-of-the match and series Malik with his 15th Test century carries Pakistan to a draw By Sa'adi Thawfeeq Old warhorse Salim Malik carried Pakistan to safety and a draw with his 15th Test century on the fifth and final day of the Second and Final Cricket Test against Sri Lanka played at the SSC Grounds yesterday. The veteran 34-year-old right-hander of 96 Tests hit a match-saving knock of 155 to enable Pakistan end the fifth and final day on 285 for 5 wickets after being set the tall task of scoring 426 runs for victory in 121 overs. CONCENTRATION Malik showing great reserves of concentration and physical resources for his age batted 338 minutes for his match-saving knock which was scored off 240 balls with 26 fours. With brother-in-law Ijaz Ahmed who made a painstaking 47 in 265 minutes with a six and seven fours, Malik put on 127 for the third wicket which ensured Pakistan of a draw. The pair who started the day on 28 for 2 batted throughout the morning session adding 55 runs off 29 overs and by the time Ijaz was dismissed 25 minutes before the tea break Pakistan were well and truly safe from defeat. FOURTH TEST Inzamam-ul-Haq joined Malik in a further stand which produced 121 runs for the fourth wicket in 100 minutes. Inzamam playing fluently on both sides of the wicket completed a half-century before bad light ended play with seven mandatory overs left to be bowled. Sri Lanka used seven bowlers in their attempt to dislodge Malik who made full use of three chances to put Pakistan safe from defeat. Malik was dropped at 44 by off-spinner Ruwan Kalpage when he hit back a return catch. Then at 58 Jayantha Silva missed him at extra cover. Finally Malik was dropped at 135 by skipper Arjuna Ranatunga off Vaas in the first over with the second new ball. Ijaz too was let off at 46 by Vaas at long off but the lapse did not prove too costly. NO ENCOURAGEMENT Sri Lanka needed to hold on to those chances on a pitch which offered hardly any encouragement to the bowlers. Sri Lanka and Pakistan thus shared the Two Test series nil - all with the First Test also ending in a draw. Sri Lanka's Aravinda de Silva who scored a century in each innings of the Test was picked the man-of-the-match. With a series aggregate of 432 runs (avg. 216.00) he was also named the Man-of-the-Series. Day 5 comment- Daily News Malik, Ahmed show how to save a match Comment by Elmo Rodrigopulle If a match cannot be won, then it must not be lost. Salim Malik and Ijaz Ahmed two of Pakistan's most experienced batsmen showed how this could be done by batting for nearly four sessions to take their team to a safety of a draw against Sri Lanka in the Final Test at the SSC Grounds yesterday. Malik and Ahmed gave a lesson of what concentration is all about. When they took strike their team was in the hopeless position of two down for 28 requiring 398 more if they were going to win or if they were to save the game they had to bat out the remaining sessions. NO ASSISTANCE A victory for the Pakistanis was out of the question. Sri Lanka had every chance of probing and forcing a victory. But with the wicket playing like concrete and not giving the bowlers any assistance but favouring the batsmen, only one result was possible and that was a draw and that is how it ended. Sri Lanka skipper Ranatunga was certainly missing his ace off spinner Muttiah Murlitheran. The only spots on the wicket to be exploited were the bowlers footmarks. Had Murlitheran been there and with his ability to turn the ball at right angles, he certainly would have used the footmarks and been a threat to the Pakistani batsmen. But in Muralitheran's absence, the two spinners Ruwan Kalpage and Jayantha Silva did not at any stage look dangerous. They just kept pegging on and it was a pity that they lacked variation. INNOCUOUS Kalpage apparently seems to have lost his fighting prowess and without that he was innocuous. It was also surprising to see him drop two catches off his own bowling. Kalpage is generally a brilliant fielder off his on bowling. But in these two instances he boobed. Leftarmer Jayantha Silva too bowls spot on without much variation. Had he the ability to bowl the chinaman, he would have been a different proposition and could have had the batsmen in two minds. Even the pacemen Vaas and de Silva failed to extract any life from the wicket. In fact the wicket had gone to sleep as it were, and it was such a perfect wicket that not one ball crept, jumped or pitched and held back. PERFECT WICKET It was a perfect wicket for batting. As I said earlier the wicket was not a result oriented one. Apparently that was the wicket the Sri Lankans wanted and they got it. However all credit to Malik and Ahmed for depriving Sri Lanka of victory and taking their team to the safety of a draw. They realised that victory was only a dream. They played very sensible cricket showing great patience and concentration and none of the bowlers seemed capable of getting them to play loose shots. Malik is one of the best players of spin bowling. He showed this once again by getting to the spinners and not letting them get on top. The century he scored was very valuable and one that he will certainly remember. It was worth its weight in gold because he was fighting to save the game and had he gone early who knows what might have been. NOT FRIENDLY Ranatunga switched his bowlers around. But there was nothing he or they could do as the wicket was not at all friendly towards them. Ahmed too played a very responsible innings. Towards the end of his innings he was showing aggressiveness. But leg injury made him throw away his wicket. After Ahmed's dismissal Inzamum ul Haq joined Malik and took them to further safety before Malik lost his wicket. By then the game was as good as over. Source :: Daily News (http://www.lanka.net) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)