**Official** Pakistan in Sri Lanka

[Beleg]

and Pakistan are going to be staring down the barrel.

I think Pakistan will be bundled out before tea-time tommorow, unless we see a fantastic rearguard effort ala Mohali.

 

[SJS]

Well KP didn't give Bhajji a very good cleaning because a total of 31 runs looks pretty damn good.

He hit Harbhajan for 8 runs in his 4th over (44.. Flintoff having played two balls) and then did not get the strike for next three overs in which Flintoff hit Harbhajan, Yuvraj and Sreesanth for 32 runs in 18 balls. Then Pietersen faced Yuvraj (Harbhajan had been removed from the attack) and got him with a full toss.

Yes he wasnt cleaned 'thoroughly' but the intention was clear.

 

[marc71178]

Marc, Some of us genuinely believe that Sri Lanka is a good test team at home and they have shown it in this test. I still consider the current Pakistani team as <Good-at-home> and <Poor-away-team>. Their fast bowling attack(without Akhtar) is looking like Indian attack and spinners a shadow of Kumble/Bhajji.

I know that some of you genuinely think that, but they're not the ones I'm talking about

 

[Fusion]

Rain stops play for now. Pakistan have a mountain to climb, though Shoaib and Faisal have been sensible so far.

 

[chaminda_00]

oh crap its raining in Colombo and we still haven't got a wicket, looks like the Pakistan batsmen are batting pretty well.

 

[Armadillo]

Good chance of repeating Mohali here for Pakistan, with a little help from the rain.

 

[adharcric]

When a team continues to bat on meaninglessly as Sri Lanka are doing now, I really wish they lose the opportunity to win the match with just one more wicket to get and zillions of runs still in the lead.

This is not being defensive...this is being STUPID !

Well, your wish just might come true. Poor Lankans getting screwed by their home rain.

 

[Fusion]

Cricinfo reporting that play will resume in 15 to 20 minutes...

 

[chaminda_00]

how many overs were lost?

 

[JASON]

Good chance of repeating Mohali hear for Pakistan, with a little help from the rain.

It seems the umpires rushed the players from the ground when it was only drizzling and stayed put . 13 overs have been lost as a result .

I wonder if some umpires are more hasty in rushing for cover when Australia , England or even India are not involved , so that they are not critcised severely and fiercely as they would if these Teams are involved !!

It seems on this occasion the umpires have cost SL more overs than it really was necessary !!

 

[JASON]

Pakistan batting well and SL has lost the initiative ATM . Both batsmen seem well set and unless one of the bowlers can get a couple of wickets , Pakistan with their long batting line up and the pitch playing so well, and the prospect of further rain interruptions (if not by the weather , then at least enforced by the Umps being on the cards... ) look set to earn a draw here .

 

[RAZAAAA]

I Think there is nothing much in the Wicket now.... Murli can do some magic though..

 

[JASON]

This game is another illustration of Murali's continuing struggle of late against quality Teams. This is not the Murali of old - who would have grabbed several wickets by now and sent the opposition crashing...

Today's Murali struggles and toils to get any wicket ... And it is not just overseas that he struggles ... but even at home

SL selectors struggle to realise this and continue to rely on Murali ... In this Test an additional spinner such as Weerakoon may have brought a variety into the attack, which it is lacking ATM.

Most Teams prepare well on how to tackle Murali , Most Umps refuse to give LBW's except the plumbest of LBWs vs Murali.. The Coach, team , selectors should be smart enough to know this and prepare alternate strategies without looking for excuses.

Afterall this is why some of them earn Fat incomes .. They are not paid to look smart after the horse has bolted ....

 

[TT Boy]

I am inclined to agree other than Murali's excellent control the batsman have not looked in too much trouble this morning. Malick has batted well, career best for him and Iqbal has made up for his first innings failure. Last throw of the dice coming up here for Sri Lanka going to take the new ball it would seem.

 

[TT Boy]

Maharoof gets the breakthrough with the new ball, Faisal Iqbal out for 60.

 

[JASON]

Maharoof gets the breakthrough with the new ball, Faisal Iqbal out for 60.

Too little , Too late .

 

[Beleg]

Pakistan has been really lucky to get away with a lot of LBW shouts which seemed plumb to me.

 

[JASON]

Pakistan has been really lucky to get away with a lot of LBW shouts which seemed plumb to me.

That unfortunately is not new for Murali (more so if it involves Aussie Umps...)

 

[TT Boy]

That unfortunately is not new for Murali (more so if it involves Aussie Umps...)

Inzy has been riding his luck since arriving to the crease, Maharoof could have had him LBW and Malinga could or should have had him caught down the legside. Wicket here and the Paks might start to panic, their do like a collapse.

 

[JASON]

Steve Davis , the Casino Manager from Adelaide, South Australia has denied Sri Lanka a lot of wickets in this Test as in the ODIs .(this is from accounts of people who are watching live in SL ) here's another illustration of that -

Shoaib Mallick was thought to have been out plumb yesterday . And this one just a little while ago.

83.3 Maharoof to Shoaib Malik, no run, almost! good length delivery,
again the late in swing troubles the batsman, Malik plays down the
wrong line and gets hit on the pad, looked close but umpire Davis
is unmoved

TV replays indicated that it was indeed a very close call, Malik
lucky to be still out there!