Sri Lanka vs Pakistan | Pallekele| 07/10/12 | 3rd Test | Day 4

[Rana]

Shafiq, /misbah and Younis have to play at a good pace,

[Rana]

Form is temporary, Backwaas is permanent

Hafeez will be Hafeez after all

[osee_bhai]

Hafeez threw it away just before Pak were about to take advantage in this match.

[Ironcat]

0 for 2 effectively now

[IAJ]

And typically enough Hafeez throws his wicket away after getting his fifty, minutes before lunch and when Pakistan seemed to have erased the deficit. This is why I have never rated this joker. He never, never takes you "home".

[Nazir_ Rules]

Hafeez had a massive brainfart there, with 9 minutes to go till lunch he plays that type of shot. Younis needs to play well here, Azhar playing well.

[AlizeeFan]

That was poor stroke from Hafeez considering the match situation.

[Nazir_ Rules]

Into the lead now Pakistan.

[tanzeel]

The second innings, YK's time to shine. Needs to get a quick century here(something like the 130 against South Africa in Lahore, 2007) for there to be any chance of a Pakistani victory.

[Justcrazy]

114 / 2

[Nazir_ Rules]

Pak 115-2 after 37, lead of 4.

[Justcrazy]

does not play like a batsman ......... he has a mind set of a all rounder.

[Justcrazy]

Pakistan need to force the issue after lunch.

[iHammad]

Last over before lunch

[Ironcat]

Shot!

[Nazir_ Rules]

Shot from Azhar, moves to 48

[Justcrazy]

The plan should be to make sure that they play like a limited over game ......... say look to get 35 in the next 10 overs , then 40 of the next 10.

[Justcrazy]

[Justcrazy]

has to bat through here.

[Justcrazy]

Pakistan lead by 8 runs with 8 wickets remaining

[iHammad]

Pak 8-2 at lunch

[iHammad]

Azhar Ali now averages 44.07 in test cricket, good stuff

[Nazir_ Rules]

Pak 119-2, lead of 8 going into lunch. Azhar on 48*

[tanzeel]

Sri Lankan bowlers' averages and strike rates(not including the ongoing match):
Kulasekera: 34.22, 67.2
Perera: 71.71, 99.4
Matthews: 70.50, 133.5
Herath: 32.29, 68.9
Fernando: 37.75, 61.5

It'd be a shame if we can't get a lead of at least 250 by the end of the day against this pathetic excuse for a bowling lineup.

[MRSN]

Hafeez really played a poor shot, nevertheless a very good session for Pakistan. Hopefully Pakistan goes for attack in next two sessions because its Pak who has to make game out of it because we are 1-0 down.

Either win this game or lose it for the sake of win but be positive

[Sherlock]

They'll have to go close to 5 an over if they want to make a game of it.

Easier said than done.

[JibranAnsari]

Hafeez was well set for his 6th , should not have thrown it away.

[IAJ]

Originally Posted by tanzeel Sri Lankan bowlers' averages and strike rates(not including the ongoing match): Kulasekera: 34.22, 67.2 Perera: 71.71, 99.4 Matthews: 70.50, 133.5 Herath: 32.29, 68.9 Fernando: 37.75, 61.5 It'd be a shame if we can't get a lead of at least 250 by the end of the day against this pathetic excuse for a bowling lineup.

Well you have to look at the other half as well and that is pakistani batting line up....

[TaZ]

Originally Posted by tanzeel Sri Lankan bowlers' averages and strike rates(not including the ongoing match): Kulasekera: 34.22, 67.2 Perera: 71.71, 99.4 Matthews: 70.50, 133.5 Herath: 32.29, 68.9 Fernando: 37.75, 61.5 It'd be a shame if we can't get a lead of at least 250 by the end of the day against this pathetic excuse for a bowling lineup.

Compare kulasekera's average vs pak and vs everyone else. You'll be shocked

[IAJ]

Originally Posted by Sherlock They'll have to go close to 5 an over if they want to make a game of it. Easier said than done.

With the current rate they will get a lead of 215 runs. But if they go at 4 they will have a lead of 270 and that will be very handy on the last day.

Remember SL don't have Dilshan who can give them an explosive start. Once they lose two early wickets they will try to play for a draw.

Pakistan should try to bat at 3,5 the next session and if they don't lose any wicket they can easily go close to 5 an hover in the last session.

[tanzeel]

Originally Posted by IAJ Well you have to look at the other half as well and that is pakistani batting line up....

The Pakistani batting lineup isn't as bad as it used to be. In YK-Azhar-Misbah, you have a world class middle order that is good for around 150-200 runs per innings anywhere in the world, in Asad Shafiq you have a decent(ish) number 6 who seems to love playing under pressure, Hafeez and Taufeeq, whilst not world beaters, are no pushovers either. For comparison's sake, here are the current Pakistani lineup's batting averages:

Taufeeq: 39.32
Hafeez: 38.46
Azhar: 44.07
YK: 52.36
Misbah: 46.64
Asad: 35.95

Not great but definitely not bad by any means.

[JibranAnsari]

66 overs today , 3.5 an over will give us 230 more , a quick 60-70 in the 10 overs will give us a lead of 300. If only we survive.

[Badsha]

Azhar Ali must be having a heavy lunch.

[osee_bhai]

I'll be happy with 200 more runs. A chase of 200 is so hard in the 4th innings. 3 runs an over for about 50 overs, and then if we have wickets in hand try to go for 5-6 for the remaining 16, giving us about a lead of 240-250.

[Badsha]

Here's where we could need Umar Akmal for a quick 50 :/

[IAJ]

Originally Posted by Badsha Azhar Ali must be having a heavy lunch.

You have gone back to your original avatar? What do you see in this guy, apart from his neck?

[Badsha]

Good luck going 4-5 an over with Azhar Younis followed by Misbah and Asad.

We need Umar Akmal in the test side. (when he slightly matures that is)

[Badsha]

Originally Posted by IAJ You have gone back to your original avatar? What do you see in this guy, apart from his neck?

I see the meaning of life in him


It's one of my favorite memes out there. So "to the point" and effective.

[JibranAnsari]

10 mins to go

[IAJ]

Originally Posted by tanzeel The Pakistani batting lineup isn't as bad as it used to be. In YK-Azhar-Misbah, you have a world class middle order that is good for around 150-200 runs per innings anywhere in the world, in Asad Shafiq you have a decent(ish) number 6 who seems to love playing under pressure, Hafeez and Taufeeq, whilst not world beaters, are no pushovers either. For comparison's sake, here are the current Pakistani lineup's batting averages: Taufeeq: 39.32 Hafeez: 38.46 Azhar: 44.07 YK: 52.36 Misbah: 46.64 Asad: 35.95 Not great but definitely not bad by any means.

Well I could have written a lengty reply on this matter, but right now I want this batting line-up to deliver so can't be negative. We can continue this discussion another time.

[tanzeel]

Originally Posted by IAJ Well I could have written a lengty reply on this matter, but right now I want this batting line-up to deliver so can't be negative. We can continue this discussion another time.

Amen to that.

[MRSN]

chacha is sleeping

[MRSN]

boundary in this over..good start

[MRSN]

vow the first six leading run scorers against Sri Lanka in tests are Asians

[MRSN]

lazy running from YK ,,should have been easy 2

[Badsha]

eenaass khanaaaaaaaaaaaa


Younis looking in good form.

[MRSN]

lovely drive from younis khan..

[Badsha]

Five of that over. Good stuff. Need to keep the run rate above four keeping wickets in hand to have a big last session.

[MRSN]

good conditions..the ball is not doing much perfect time for Pakistan to accelerate

[Badsha]

The problem with Azhar is he can't find the gaps.

With being a problem in Test cricket I think it's a serious issue in ODI's. Needs to work on that; finding the gaps.

[Badsha]

Steals a single. Excellent running from Younis Khan.

Another fifty for Azhar Ali. What a find! We've found a great Batsman for the next decade hopefully

[Badsha]

Azhar Playing with Younis will be some more excellent experience for him.

[Badsha]

Decent over. Was Azhars "fifty" over so that can explain the lack of intent.

Need to keep the run rate above four.

[Badsha]

Fernando getting bounce.

Pakistan effectively 18-2

[cricketpassion]

Min overs remaining today 63 ,If we bat with 4 runs per over we can easily take 250 runs lead today. And then bat for another 10-15 overs tomorrow and then give SL 300 runs target on last day in 70-80 overs .

[Badsha]

Wow. Ramiz said Ghoras at the same time I said it...

[Badsha]

Originally Posted by cricketpassion Min overs remaining today 63 ,If we bat with 4 runs per over we can easily take 250 runs lead today. And then bat for another 10-15 overs tomorrow and then give SL 300 runs target on last day in 70-80 overs .

Yes. 4 or 4.5 an over can get us a really good score.

[Badsha]

Want to see Azhar Ali pull the short ball!

[Badsha]

What a response! Azhar read Dilharas plan and punished him for a boundary. Class.

[JibranAnsari]

50 for azhar , we havent lost a match yet with azhar scoring 50 in it.

[Badsha]

[Badsha]

Dilhara bowling short deliveries. Becoming predictable here though. Let's hope we don't see a sudden yorker.

[Badsha]

Four from that over. Another alright over. Need one heavy over. Rather than slogging in the last overs I'd like to see a consistent attack. We'll lose the series with a draw anyway.

[Badsha]

warryy waryy chikna chikna ghorass in the crowd

[Badsha]

Younis Khan playing with positive intent. A real team player.

[Badsha]

Wow. What a scare. Dropped.

[Badsha]

You got a lifeline here Younis Buddy.

[Badsha]

Big scare in that over. If we're to have any chance of winning this match Younis needs to stay there till we have a lead of 100.

[Badsha]

Wide from Fernando. .

[Badsha]

These Short balls are getting very predictable. Azhar needs to do something about it.

[ads101]

Azhar Ali doing very well with his half century. We do need to get a move on though.

[Badsha]

If only Azhar was better at finding the gaps. He'd be a real star.


More chiknaas

[Badsha]

Dilhara needs a tonking.

[Badsha]

Yorker from Dilhara. 1 from the over so far. Need a boundary or at least 2 runs.

[IAJ]

Posters at cricinfo trying their best to jinx:

James: "17th time Azhar has got to 50 in only 24 tests. Amazing consistency. Seems to be working on his conversion rate too."

Andrew: "Whenever I watch Younis bat, even when he is in indifferent form, he makes it look much easier than everyone else."

And minutes later Younis was almost gone.

[MRSN]

younus Khan is looking clearly out of form

[Badsha]

Dilhara sure has some pace

Anyway, 1 of the over. We need to start getting some runs if we really want to get a result out of this. Sadly, I think we're aiming for a 'play to draw and win if we get the chance"

[MRSN]

lovely from Azhar

That's the shot of the day

[MRSN]

single to YK, Pak leady by 31 runs

[Boi]

Misbah's gonna smash it tonight at a SR of 60.