**Official** Pakistan and Sri Lanka in UAE

[Agent Nationaux]

Finally Azhar gets his 100, feel really happy for him. He is a great find for Pak.

How much of a lead should Pak be looking for tomorrow?

 

[salman85]

I'm really happy for Azhar.

He's a very very promising player,and offers a lot of backbone to our otherwise talented but self destructive batting line.Plus he bats at no.3,which is one of the most critical positions in the lineup and he has effectively made the slot his own the last one year.I have no issue with his slow scoring rate,since that's his natural style and it's very effective.He can be someone around who the natural stroke makers like Hafeez,Umar etc can build their innings.Plus he seems to have a very level head on his shoulders,and could be a candidate for the captaincy in years to come.

Hopefully this is the first of many more centuries.Well played.

 

[Agent Nationaux]

Love to see Azhar and Younis bat together. They have been very effective together for the last couple of test series. Azhar's confidence and scoring rate increases whenever he bats with Younis. The apprentice learning from the master.

 

[Howe_zat]

Finally Azhar gets his 100, feel really happy for him. He is a great find for Pak.

How much of a lead should Pak be looking for tomorrow?

As many as they can get. If somehow they're still batting at the end of the day they'll be around 300 ahead and in a great position.

Sri Lanka could still come back from this and get them all out for 400 though. There's not really much batting to come once they get Misbah.

 

[Agent Nationaux]

Don't doubt Shafiq. He may have batted poorly in the last match but he is a good batsman. Also Adnan can chip in with a 30 and Rahman on a dead pitch is good (think he made 50 against saffers that included Steyn).

 

[Agent Nationaux]

2nd Test: Pakistan v South Africa at Abu Dhabi, Nov 20-24, 2010 | Cricket Scorecard | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[salman85]

I'm pretty sure that if we bat the whole day tomorrow, Misbah will declare before the day ends which would leave Srilanka around 10-15 overs to face.By that time tomorrow, we should have a lead of around 250 300 which is good enough with two days to go.However if are bowled out early in the day tomorrow,that would leave the match wide open with all 3 results possible.I just have a gut feeling that Misbah is going to step on the accelerator tomorrow.

Ugly backfoot Sixes over Log-on FTW.

 

[Xuhaib]

big day for Asad tommorow if he fails this game then I feel his next chance will be after a long while and he may have to stand in the queue behind Malik, Akmal, Amin and Fawad.

 

[salman85]

No.He's done enough over the last one year to not get the kick after 2 poor innings.And there is no way in hell that he will fall behind Umar Amin and Fawad Alam if he fails tomorrow.

 

[Woodster]

Good old fashioned Test cricket played out today. Pakistan remained patient in the face of some good disciplined SL bowling. Suranga Lakmal the pick for me, got some shape through the air and the odd one did just enough off the pitch, but his areas were most impressive. Very unlucky to end the day wicketless, not very often Mahela will drop such a straightforward chance at second slip.

One area of concern for SL should be the performance of Rangana Herath. Looking less likely to get the breakthorugh than the part-timer Dilshan, who got the odd one to really rip. Herath got little out of the wicket and while remaining economical, SL will hope he has more impact as the Test goes on.

While credit should be given to SL for the way they bowled, I always think whether conditions were such that the batting side could not be a little more proactive and put some pressure back on the bowlers. I'm all for digging in and making a big score and ensuring you do not give your wicket away, but again the innings in general looked very one paced on a pitch that looked comfortable to bat on and there has to be a balance. Pakistan have got themselves into a very good position, and Azhar Ali did a fantastic job in reaching his first Test century. Looks an excellent prospect.

I was all in favour of Umar Akmal learning more about his trade back in domestic cricket, and his form has been outstanding, but I'm sure they will be eager to get him back into this side as he adds some positivity and urgency, aswell as being supremely talented. Cannot imagine he would have let Herath retain such economical figures despite barely getting a ball to turn.

Pakistan definitely in the box seat, another good day tomorrow will once again leave SL having to bat in the second innings to save their skins for the second time in the series. Suppose with Sanga in this kind of form, you wouldn't bet against him sticking to his side of the bargain.

 

[Agent Nationaux]

Great summary post as usual Woodster. Do you do this for all test match days?

 

[Woodster]

Great summary post as usual Woodster. Do you do this for all test match days?

Thanks very much. No, only on the occasions when I've taken the day off work to watch some Test cricket.

Enjoyed the day's play, despite it being a bit slow going. Were you pleased with the day ?

 

[Agent Nationaux]

It's always pleasing when Pakistan does well. I normally get a grin on my face for the day until Hafeez ruins it the next day lol.

 

[Woodster]

A lead of 200 a realistic target? If they achieve that you'd expect it may be too much even for Sanga to overcome again. While they've got Mahela down, it's going to be crucial to keep him down aswell.

Were they right to go with the two specialist spinners ? I'm sure time will tell and they do expect it to turn as the game goes on, but would you have preferred an extra seamer in there ?

 

[Agent Nationaux]

In hindsight Misbah should have picked Cheema. However we all thought that it would be a falt wicket with no support for the bowlers, which is why he picked Rahman. However, isn't the general rule that on a flat track you add an extra pacer and on a green wicket you add an extra batsman. Plus Cheema was bowling great in the first test (gave his heart out there for a 32 year old). Rahman also isn't an attacking bowler, so restricting Sri Lanka could be difficult. Let's hope Gul and Junaid do well (the ball is swinging and there is also reverse on offer).

Rahman on the other hand is a god bat on a flat track (made 60 against RSA in UAE this year).

 

[chicane]

While credit should be given to SL for the way they bowled, I always think whether conditions were such that the batting side could not be a little more proactive and put some pressure back on the bowlers. I'm all for digging in and making a big score and ensuring you do not give your wicket away, but again the innings in general looked very one paced on a pitch that looked comfortable to bat on and there has to be a balance. Pakistan have got themselves into a very good position, and Azhar Ali did a fantastic job in reaching his first Test century. Looks an excellent prospect.

I was all in favour of Umar Akmal learning more about his trade back in domestic cricket, and his form has been outstanding, but I'm sure they will be eager to get him back into this side as he adds some positivity and urgency, aswell as being supremely talented. Cannot imagine he would have let Herath retain such economical figures despite barely getting a ball to turn.

Yeah off late only Kamran, Umar and Afridi have been there to play that kind of role and minus them it really does look like a 2 max 3 R.P.O line-up.

 

[ganeshran]

I am confused. Is Lanka playing poorly, or Pakistan playing well, or both?

 

[r3alist]

If Sri Lanka take wickets it could be a blessing in disguise, since I think our tail could wag a bit at a decent sr.

one more session of steady accumulation is fine, but then I would be disappointed if the pak batsmen dont have the confidence to punish the tired Sri lankan bowlers at some stage.

 

[Woodster]

In hindsight Misbah should have picked Cheema. However we all thought that it would be a falt wicket with no support for the bowlers, which is why he picked Rahman. However, isn't the general rule that on a flat track you add an extra pacer and on a green wicket you add an extra batsman. Plus Cheema was bowling great in the first test (gave his heart out there for a 32 year old). Rahman also isn't an attacking bowler, so restricting Sri Lanka could be difficult. Let's hope Gul and Junaid do well (the ball is swinging and there is also reverse on offer).

Rahman on the other hand is a god bat on a flat track (made 60 against RSA in UAE this year).

Was a tough call to leave Cheema out, like you say after his efforts in the first Test. The judgement was made that this pitch was much drier, and it may still prove the right option to go with two spinners.

Gul and Junaid were impressive from what I saw in the first innings, despite not managing to finish them off. As you say, there's a hint of reverse around, and the pitch does offer a little, Pakistan currently hold all the aces.

 

[Woodster]

Yeah off late only Kamran, Umar and Afridi have been there to play that kind of role and minus them it really does look like a 2 max 3 R.P.O line-up.

It does, they do need a balance in the line-up, but the current side is showing good patience, and discipline, but will generally need to bat a couple of days to make a big total. They are currently doing a very good job, but I do feel someone with the attacking instincts of Umar, providing he continues to learn and develop, will be a big asset going forward.

I am confused. Is Lanka playing poorly, or Pakistan playing well, or both?

Sri Lanka have batted poorly, but today they bowled very well. Imo, they were perhaps allowed to bowl well as Pakistan tried little to impose themselves on the SL attack and try to upset them. But Pakistan have a gameplan based around grinding the big scores out, and while it may not be pretty, it's currently pretty effective.