Apart from traditional red ball cricket being played in the British Isles in the middle of the year, Sri Lanka has hosted for the last few decades theor own home series and have added a tropical touch to the test scene.In spite of political and financial hardships this year post COVID, they have managed to host cricket again.The long sought tour by the Australian which recently ended with an enterprising share of the series at 1-1 with a huge win at Galle has in a way re invigorated their test squad.
Pakistan came in July seeking a points boost for their world test championship hopes.They were a bit casual as they usually are coming to expect an easy win against the Lankans.Mind you, the Lankan test side who toured in late 2019 were primarily a B side.The Greenshirts, notorius for not doing their homework and under preparing in their bench strength would have enjoyed day one in Galle, where both the tests were hosted.
They had Lankans at 133/8 before the tail kicked with Dinesh Chandimal’s 76. Pakistan wrapped them up at 222 before themselves dissolving into disarray at 112/8. It was only due to their skipper Babar Azam who played extraordinarily with the tail scoring 119 to get them to 218. Prabath Jayasuriya continued his form from the back end of the Aussie series with a five for.Second time around, Sri Lankans batted better. Kusal Mendis scored 76 and Chandimal had an unbeaten 94 to set the visitors a tall target of 342.It wouldn’t have been hard to assume that the Greenshirts would collapse and despite a 100 plus run stand between Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam ,there were still some chills sent down when Jayasuriya dismissed the Pakistan skipper at 205/3 , still 137 adrift.Abdullah the youngster held his cool to guide them to a historic one chasing this big a target since the massive 382 in Pallekele in 2015.
Not long after, Galle hosted the second test. Sri Lanka on this occasion set up a good opening stand of 92 and Chandimal scoring a third fifty in a row pushed them to 378.The visitors though couldn’t reciprocate as they dropped Azhar Ali in favour of bringing Fawad Alam.Nauman Ali provided the extra spin incentive as Shaheen had to rest due to injury.The Lankans held them to 119/5 in an utter chaos of a top order. Though the new Agha Salman scored a 62 to take the visitors to 231, it was a tall lead.Ramesh Mendis had taken five.
Dhananjaya De silva recently struck with Covid came back with a bang and despite the top order being restricted to 117/5 at one point , he nailed down a huge innings of 109 given the conditions. Yasir Shah brought back into this tour , Nauman Ali and mohammad Nawaz were all at sea in spin as Lankan accelerated fast with 3.91 rate in their secodn to post 360 and a 508 run target. This was near impossible.
The Greenshirts’ hunt for a possible draw started alright. They ended the 4th day at 89/1 in search of waiving the defeat with help of weather.But that never came.They lost wickets very quick in a flurry on the final morning and by lunch had lost Imam, Rizwan,Fawad and Agha by 188. It was a matter fo time when Prabath took the crucial wicket of the skipper for 81 to send Lankans on their way. Pakistan bowled out in the post lunch session for 261. Prabath claimed another five for for to claim 17 scalps and the player of the series award. Mendis supported him with a four for in this innings. Dhananjaya de silva for his huge innings was named man of the match.The series like the Australian one ended 1-1 and there was lot to reflect for the visitors in Galle.Sri Lanka solidified its position at No 3 on the table whilst Pakistan dropped to no 5.
Do Pakistani batsmen know how to play spin ? Is there a bench and if there isn’t is that intentional ? Will Saud Shakeel and Shan Masood ever come off that bench ? Has Hassan Ali reached the end of his second stint in his comeback ? Is there a need for the reserve wicket keeper now to come in the test format ? Is the time up for Azhar Ali ? These and many more queries are being showered in the aftermath and the pressure of not achieving a tests series win this year will continue to haunt until the autumn when England tour Pakistani mainland for the first time after 2005. Only time will tell whether they will address their test shortcomings.
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