Pakistan slump to 289 for 7

Mansoor and Younus unlucky to miss centuries:

Elmo Rodigopulle reporting from the SSC

Three quick wickets in the closing stages saw Pakistan slump to 289 for seven in 86 overs at the end of day one in the Third and final Test against Sri Lanka at the SSC ground,yesterday.

The visitors owe this score to a solid third wicket partnership of 187 runs by opener Khuram Mansoor (93) and second drop Mohammed Yousuf (90).

The three batsmen out were Sohaib Malik for 45, Misbah Ul Haq 27 and Umar Gul 0.The wicket takers were Nuwan Kulasekera 2 for 43 and Thusara Mirando 3 for 77.

Mansoor and Yousuf were unfortunate to miss hundreds,the longing of every batsman. Both stroked the ball with great fluency and it required the experienced Chainda Vaas to break this threatening stand.

When play begins today, the Lankans must make early inroads into the rest of the Pakistan batting and not let them mount a big total considering that the Lankans will have to bat last and having to contend with the vicious spinners of Danesh Kaneira.

The wicket was neither pace or spin friendly. Sangakkara gave his match winning bowler spinner Rangana Herath an attacking field at all times posting a short leg, a slip and a gully. But with the wicket not taking spin, Herath was struggling.

The teams made one change each with Sri Lanka recalling Chaminda Vaas for his final Test appearance and kept out spinner Ajantha Mendis and Pakistan dropped Abdur Rauff and finally gave leg spinner Daneh Kaneira a go.

The conditions were overcast and humid and Kumar Sangakkara who won the toss asked Pakistan to bat Sangakkara had no option but had to field because he was playing four pacies Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Kulasekera, Thusara Mirando and Angelo Matthews and would have expected the wicket to have that extra moisture with the wicket kept covered because of the rain and the overcast conditions would give his pacies some help. But that expectation did not materialize because from the first overs bowled by Vass and Nuwan Kulasekera it was apparent that the wicket would play easy, but would be on the slow side.

Vaas was given a cheer by the handful of spectators present and acknowledged the cheers, made the sign of the cross as he usually does when beginning to bowl and bowled a maiden over which did not trouble opener Khurram Mansoor. From ball one it was apparent that the wicket was going to heartbreaking to the bowlers. Openers Mansoor and Second Test century maker Fawd Alam put on 34 for the first wicket when Mirando coming in first change got one to move and touch Alam’s bat for wicket keeper Tillakaratne Dilshan to gobble the catch.

Then Younus Khan after driving on the off for two runs dragged a ball from Mirando on to his stumps in the same over. Pakistan 36 for two and were we going to see another batting collapse that the Pakistanis are famous for.

But Mansoor and Younus Khan settled down to concentrate and play carefully, pushing the loose balls for runs and took then to lunch at 103 for two with Mansoor on 42 and Younus on 36.

They continued the good work after lunch and took tea at 187 with Mansoor on 86 and Younus on 76. Mansoor was scoring his runs with some lovely square cuts and flicks off his toes, while Younus obtained his runs with square and drives on the V.

With the addition of 16 runs after tea, With Mansoor seemingly well set for three figures, the hardworking Vass slanted one across Mansoor’s bat and Mahela Jayawardena clung onto the catch at slip.203 for three – partnership a huge 167. Mansoor made 93 with 10 fours.

Then seven runs later Yousuf was run out for 90 after completing 7000 Test runs. It was a silly run out with the batsman well set for a hundred. The fault was his. He had a six and 7 fours.

PAKISTAN 1ST INNINGS

Khurram Manzoor c Jayawardene b Vaas 	93
Fawad Alam c Dilshan b Thushara 	16
Younus Khan b Thushara 			 2
Mohammad Yousuf not out 		90
Misbah-ul Haq c Dilshan b Kulasekera 	27
Shoaib Malik lbw b Thushara 		45
Kamran Akmal not out 			 1
Umar Gul b Kulasekera 			 2
Danish Kaneria not out 			 1

Extras: (b10, nb2) 			12
Total (for 7 wkts, 86 overs) 		289

To bat: Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Aamer.
Fall of wickets: 1-34 (Alam), 2-36 (Younus), 3-203 (Manzoor), 4-210 (Yousuf), 
5-285 (Malik), 6-285 (Misbah), 7-287 (Gul).
Bowling: Vaas 20-6-43-1, Kulasekera 14-1-43-2, Thushara 19-2-77-3 (nb2), Herath 23-4-76-0, 
Mathews 8-2-31-0, Jayawardene 2-0-9-0.