FAISALABAD, Pakistan, 22 October 2004 — Sri Lanka fought back with seven wickets in the last two sessions to restrict Pakistan’s first innings lead on the second day of the first Test yesterday.
At the close Pakistan had reached 256-8, just 13 ahead, with tailenders Mohammad Sami on two and Shoaib Akhtar on six.
Earlier in the day, Sri Lankan middle-order batsman Thilan Samaraweera notched a diligent 100 to guide his team to 243 before Pakistan’s express paceman Shoaib Akhtar mopped up the tail to end with figures of 5-60.
The home team got off to a brisk start to reach 28 before opener Imran Farhat pulled Lasith Malinga into the hands of Jehan Mubarak after scoring 11.
Farhat’s opening partner Yasir Hameed took Pakistan to 85-1 by lunch with a fluent half-century. But the tourists struck back by taking three wickets in the space of 40 runs.
Paceman Dilhara Fernando dismissed Asim Kamal for 17 after he edged a wide delivery to slip and then had the threatening Hameed caught by a diving Jehan Mubarak off a miscued hook for 58.
Hameed hit ten boundaries in his fourth Test half-century and added 66 for the second wicket with Asim Kamal.
Following Fernando’s double strike, left-armer Rangana Herath had Yousuf Youhana caught behind for 17 to leave the home team on 134-4. Pakistan reached tea at 185-4 and once again looked set for a good lead, with skipper Inzamam ul-Haq and Shoaib Malik seemingly well set. But in the third over after tea, Inzamam was caught at mid-on off a miscued sweep of Herath for 32 and with his departure Pakistan’s hopes of a big lead receded.
Malik shared a 54-run stand with Inzamam and passed his previous Test best of 47 made against South Africa in Lahore last year. One run later he was carelessly run out, failing to beat Chaminda Vaas’ direct throw from mid-on. Moin Khan was bowled by Sanath Jayasuriya for five before Abdul Razzaq hit three boundaries and a six.
But with three overs to stumps Razzaq also fell, to a slip catch off Vaas, after making 39.
Earlier Sri Lanka, resuming on 233-7, folded inside 3.4 overs with the addition of ten runs with Akhtar taking two of the three wickets to finish with 5-60.
Samaraweera drove the first ball of Akhtar’s eventful first over of the day to the covers for three to reach a deserving fourth Test hundred after a resolute stay of 327 minutes at the crease, in which he hit ten boundaries.
But four balls later he miscued a hook off a rising Akhtar delivery straight into the hands of square-leg fielder Mohammad Sami without adding to his total. Akhtar removed Dilhara Fernando with the third delivery of the second new ball for nought to complete his ninth five-wicket haul in 33 Tests. Sami then wrapped up the innings when he bowled Malinga for one to finish with 4-71.
