08, July 2012 (Cricturf): Sri Lanka versus Pakistan's final test match of three test match series started today at Kandy Pallekale Stadium.
Sri Lanka leading the series 1-0 after two matches and Pakistan are inneed of winning the final match to tie the series. Sri Lanka also will try level best to win the match or keep it draw to win the series, Sri Lanka weren't able to win a Test series after Muttaiah Muralitharan's retirement.
Sri Lanka entered the match with 3 changes, Dilhara Fernando and Tisara Perera joined as pace bowlers to replace Suraj Randiv and Nuwan Pradeep. Pallekale wicket identified as seam friendly wicket and it lead Sri Lanka captain to look forward with an extra pace bowler.
Dinesh Chandimal joined for the 1st time in test series and the back to back centurion TM Dilshan rested due to his personal reason. As CRICinfo report Dilshan's Kids were not well and the situation lead him to stay out from this match.
Sri Lanka team
NT Paranavitana, LD Chandimal, KC Sangakkara, DPMD Jayawardene*, TT Samaraweera, AD Mathews, HAPW Jayawardene†, NLTC Perera, KMDN Kulasekara, CRD Fernando, HMRKB Herath
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardane won the toss and elected to field first, again a doubtfull decision made by him at a strange wicket. According to his statement soon after the 2nd Test match end, Sri Lanka expected early wickets in 2nd match and fast bowlers failed to full fill the expectation at the Batting friendly wicket.
Tisara Perera made his promise again with early wickets to screw Pakistan's front row batmans. Tisara grabbed the wicket of Mohammad Hafeez bowled as the 1st wicket of him then kept continued his natural attacking instinct. Tisara grabbed three more important wickets (Hafeez (22) Azhar Ali (00), Taufeeq Umar (29)) before the Lunch break while Kulasekara grabbed the Younis Khan's wicket.
Overall Sri Lanka fast bowlers used the condition of the wicket efficiently to restrict Pakistan at first session of play.
Lunch: Pakistan - 81/4 in 30.0 overs (Misbah-ul-Haq 10, Asad Shafiq 12, Tisara Perera 31/3)
Tisara again succeeded during the second session of play with the important wicket of Mishbah Ul Haq for 40 Runs. Tisara's four wicket haul took him into records as his best wicket haul in Test Cricket.
Rangana Herath joined wicket takers with a three wicket haul (3/40) at the Pakistan's Inning break & Nuwan Kulasekara picked 2 wickets for 44 Runs.
Pakistan were all out for 226 in 72.5 overs, Asad Shafiq is the only batsman succeed with the bat, He scored 75 runs and Misbah Ul Haq (40) is the only other batsman batted positively.
Pakistan inning Fall of wickets
1-35 (Mohammad Hafeez, 7.4 ov), 2-41 (Azhar Ali, 9.5 ov), 3-50 (Younis Khan, 12.6 ov), 4-56 (Taufeeq Umar, 15.6 ov), 5-141 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 49.4 ov), 5-162* (Adnan Akmal, retired not out, 52.5 ov), 6-175 (Mohammad Sami, 57.4 ov), 7-198 (Adnan Akmal, 62.3 ov), 8-217 (Umar Gul, 67.5 ov), 9-217 (Asad Shafiq, 68.4 ov), 10-226 (Saeed Ajmal, 72.5 ov)
Pakistan 226 All Out (72.5 overs)
Asad Shafiq 75, Mishbah Ul Haq 40
Tisara Perera 4/63, Rangana Herath 3/40, Nuwan Kulasekara 2/44
Sri Lankan inning openned by Dinesh Chandimal and Tharanga Paranavithana for the 1st time, Sri Lanka lost thier 1st wicket of Dinesh Chandimal for 08 Runs. Junaid Khan created break through for Pakistan again with Back to back wickets of Chandimal (08) and Sangakkara (00) in 8th over of Sri Lankan inning.
Kumar Sangakkara the most successful batsman through the series couldn't capitalize his inning for Sri Lanka's favor. Sangakkara's wicket without scoring created pressure for Sri Lanka and the wicket of Mahela end 1st Day of the match. Mohammad Sammi took the wicket of Mahela Jayawardane LBW, Umpires called off the days play soon after Mahela gone.
Pakistan bowlers came back strong in to the game after all out for 226, the match remain even after the Pakistan's bowling performances and the first session of play tomorrow will be more critical for Sri Lanka to survive.
Sri Lanka 44/3 (14.4 Overs)
Pranavithana 14*, Mahela Jayawardane 11, Dinesh Chandimal 08, Kumar Sangakkara 00
Junaid Khan 15/2 Mohommad Sami 2/1
