Pakistan v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Day 4 – 5 Talking Points

Pakistan did very well to move at a canter in a direction which took them very close to the driver seat after posting 422 on the board. Azhar Ali resumed on his overnight score of 76 but could add only nine more runs before he was scalped by Rangana Herath. 28-year old Haris Sohail playing his debut Test scored a classy 76 to help his side post a solid total. Hasan Ali’s 29 off 25 balls did irritate the visitors but they managed to wrap Pakistan before getting out to bat again.

Sri Lanka finished the day on 69/4 after Yasir Shah’s twin blow hampered Lanka’s reply. Asad Shafiq and Haris Sohail took a wicket apiece. Kusal Mendis remained unbeaten on 16 and Suranga Lakhmal will come tomorrow to bat with 2 runs against his name. Here are the five most prominent talking points of the day.

1. Haris Sohail’s late blow

The Test debutant was the last man to get out. Haris Sohail gave Pakistan a shot in the arms after Sri Lanka fought back with Azhar Ali’s wicket. Sohail scored seven boundaries and 2 sixes and showed that he belongs to this format, as he batted out 161 balls at a strike rate of 47.20. 422 on the board in the second innings will help Pakistan put pressure on the Lankan batters, and with 66 runs lead under the Sri Lanka’s kitty, a few strikes early in the morning tomorrow will set the game up for Pakistan.

2. Rangana Herath’s 5-wicket burst

Veteran spinner Rangana Herath bowled 40 overs in the second innings of the Pakistan innings and earned yet another 5-wicket haul as a result of his craft and admirable flight and patience. Herath got the opener Shan Masood on 59 and also picked up Asad Shafiq’s stick. The experienced campaigner got the danger man Azhar Ali out at the right time, as the top-order batsman was eying his hundred. He cleaned up the tail too, ending Hasan Ali’s cameo.

3. Yasir’s show

With Pakistan taking a very thin lead, a good performance from the bowlers was expected to push their case. Yasir Shah picked up Dimuth Karunaratne for 10 and also scalped a vital wicket of skipper Dinesh Chandimal to bring Pakistan very close to an emphatic win. Shah bowled the maximum overs for Pakistan on the 4th day’s play. Out of the 40 overs, the leggie rolled his arms in 14 overs, second being Mohammad Amir with 7 overs.

4. Hasan Ali’s all-round show

Probably Pakistan’s best find in a year and a half, Hasan Ali provided the perfect finish to the Pakistan’s innings with a 25-ball 29, including 3 sixes and 2 fours. He handed Pakistan the psychological edge by giving them a lead before getting bundled out for 422. Ali had earlier picked up two wickets with the ball during Sri Lanka’s first innings and his overall contribution so far has made a good impact for Pakistan.

5. Pradeep-Lakmal joins the party

Nuwan Pradeep’s 2/77 and Suranga Lakmal’s 2/42 helped Sri Lanka restrict Pakistan to 422 in their 1st innings. Apart from Herath’s five-for, it was the duo of Pradeep and Lakmal who bailed out the Lankans from a possible setback after the hosts provided a solid start. Pakistan lost their first wicket with 114 runs on the board. But the middle order failed to fire and therefore the Sri Lankan bowlers made an inroad into the Pakistan line-up.