Related Links: Pakistan Tour of Sri Lanka 2012 : Scorecard of SL Vs Pak, 3rd Test (July 8-12, 2012)
The third and final Test match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at Pallekele ended in a draw. Sri Lanka therefore take the 3-Test Series 1-0. This is their first Test Series win since 2009!
The pitch at Pallekele promised to be a lot livelier than the one we saw at SSC, Colombo where the Second Test ended in a meaningless high scoring draw. Sri Lanka had won the toss and asked Pakistan to bat first on a greenish wicket at Pallekele. The hosts made best use of the toss by bowling out Pakistan for just 226 taking 72.5 overs. Asad Shafiq played a brilliant knock of 75 (from 158 balls with 10 fours) for the visitors. For the Lankans, Thisara Perera claimed 4 for 63 and Rangana Herath came up with 3 for 40.
Pakistan had a big blow with Wicket Keeper Adnan Akmal getting hit on one of his fingers by a nasty lifter from Dilhara Fernando. Scans later in the evening revealed that Adnan Akmal had sustained a hair line fracture. With this injury to Adnan Akmal, opener Taufeeq Umar took over as the make shift keeper for Pakistan. By the close of play on Day 1, Pakistan fought back superbly by reducing Lanka to 44 for 3 in less than 15 overs.
Day 2 was intriguingly poised with both sides looking to drive home the advantage. However, persistent rain right through the day forced an abandonment with not a single ball bowled. Fortunately, Day 3 saw improved weather and Sri Lanka had a definite edge by collecting a first innings lead of 111 runs and then having Pakistan at 27 for 1 by stumps. Sri Lanka posted a healthy first innings total of 337 in 100.2 overs. Opener Tharanga Paranavitana scored 75 (from 188 balls with 8 fours) to put up a crucial partnership with Thilan Samaraweera, who got 73 (from 160 balls with 9 fours). While these two batsmen helped Sri Lanka closer to Pakistan’s first innings total, it was a knock of 75 (from just 86 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes) from Thisara Perera that made all the difference.Young left arm quick Junaid Khan bowled superbly to take 5 for 70 and Saeed Ajmal got 3 for 66 for the visitors.
The fourth day saw Pakistan battling hard to score 299 for 8 in their second innings. Azhar Ali top scored with 136 (from 284 balls with 13 fours) for the visitors. Mohammad Hafeez came up with an important 52 (from 100 balls with 6 fours) and Asad Shafiq remained unbeaten on 55 as Pakistan finished Day 4 with a lead of 188 runs.
Pakistan was living on the edge when Day 5 began with the lead just not enough on a pitch that was drastically becoming better for the batsmen. Luckily, Pakistan found a gritty partnership from the overnight pair of Asad Shafiq and the brave Adnan Akmal, who batted on and on despite having a broken finger! The overnight pair put up a stunning 81-run stand for the unbroken 9th wicket before Misbah-ul-Haq declared Pakistan’s second innings at 380 for 8. Asad Shafiq remained unbeaten with a terrific 100 (from 195 balls with 9 fours) while getting incredible support from Adnan Akmal, who scored 35* (from 96 balls with 4 fours). For the Lankans, Rangana Herath took 4 for 99 and Dilhara Fernando got 3 for 74.
Misbah’s declaration left Sri Lanka a target of 270 from 71 overs. Although Sri Lanka went to Tea in a strong position at 132 for 2 in 37.2 overs, the run chase was aborted tamely in the final session. Sri Lanka disappointingly batted out for a draw by settling with a total of 195 for 4 in 62 overs. Dinesh Chandimal with 65 (from 127 balls with 8 fours) and Kumar Sangakkara with 74* (from 125 balls with 11 fours) showed some promise of going for the run chase. Pakistan tried to go for a win by claiming the final hour but after 30 minutes, they just gave up. Saeed Ajmal rescued the visitors by coming up with superb figures of 26-8-50-3 which forced the Lankans to be defensive.
The Man of the Match award went to Asad Shafiq for his knocks of 75 and 100* while Kumar Sangakkara for scoring 499 runs in the Series was named as the Player of the Series.