' পাকিস্তান

Lunch পাকিস্তান 434 for 9 decl and 34 for 1 lead শ্রীলঙ্কা 446 (de Silva 167, Kusal 119, Saqib 7-130) by 27 রান

Lunch পাকিস্তান 434 for 9 decl and 34 for 1 lead শ্রীলঙ্কা 446 (de Silva 167, Kusal 119, Saqib 7-130) by 27 রান। Saqib Khan delivered an unnerring and unbroken eight-over spell, claiming ৫টি গুরুত্বপূর্ণ উইকেট for 25 রান to bring পাকিস্তান charging back into the Test.। With only a single উইকেট having fallen on Wednesday, play had begun on day four with the prospect of শ্রীলঙ্কা building a commanding lead, their centurions still at the crease. But delivering exceptional line-and-length under cloudy skies, and on a surface that still offered plenty of lateral movement, Saqib removed the opposition's top scorer Dhananjaya de Silva in the first over of the day, then just kept nicking শ্রীলঙ্কা batters off. শ্রীলঙ্কা lost their last six উইকেট for 42 রান, with Razaullah having Milan Rathnayaka caught in the deep to end the innings.।

Having given up a first-innings lead of just 12, পাকিস্তান also lost the উইকেট of debutant Tayyab Arif to take this morning's overall উইকেট tally to seven. Asitha Fernando claimed that উইকেট, delivering শ্রীলঙ্কা's best pre-lunch spell. Azan Awais and Mohammad Taha were tested by শ্রীলঙ্কা's quicks too at times, and went to lunch on 16 and 12 not out respectively.। All but one of Saqib's day four dismissals resulted from catches behind the উইকেট, four of them gobbled up by wicketkeeper Ghazi Ghori. He had probed away in the channel outside off stump already when de Silva pushed at an away-swinger and nicked behind, fifth ball of the day. De Silva did not add to his score on day four, going for 167. Kusal Mendis, who was 117 overnight, lasted longer than de Silva, but could himself only add two further রান to his tally before also edging one to a diving Ghori. That was the second time Saqib had taken Kusal's edge that over, with Saud Shakeel having spilt the first chance at first slip.। Saqib was just as good against the left-handers, getting some to nip back off the length and others to hold their line, as he continued to test their patience. Sonal Dinusha lost his after getting to 20, sending a catch to the cordon as he attempted a booming cover drive. That gave Saqib a maiden five-উইকেট haul in his first bowling innings ever. He would also have Asitha Fernando caught behind, but for the tailenders, Saqib went at the stumps, nailing Lahiru Kumara plumb in front just before drinks.।

His innings figures of 7 for 130 are the fourth-best for a পাকিস্তান বোলার on debut. Mohammad Zahid, Mohammad Nazir, and Abrar Ahmed had also taken seven উইকেট in an innings on debut, but had not conceded as many রান.। lovely nipbacker, and it finally produces a উইকেট। He'd been bright in this spell, and it's a superb setup before he lands the variation. Awais' eyes lit up as he eyed another drive, but this time it was coming back in. It takes the inner edge, and the অধিনায়ক takes a sharp catch behind the stumps. You'd say শ্রীলঙ্কা have probably deserved it.।

Edged and both openers are gone। This was nearly identical to the last delivery, but here a thick outside edge is taken and Kusal gobbles up another. Quality from Asitha, just testing the green Tayyab in that channel outside off, and the young man unwisely pushes a touch away from his body। Taha falls to the spinner।

He'd smeared at a couple in the previous over. Once more, he heaves across the line and gets a top edge that Dananjaya makes short work of. Not the way a fighting innings on debut deserved to end, but poor selection will be punished in Test cricket। and the উইকেট comes। Babar has fallen just after getting a অর্ধশতক again. It was a lovely, probing delivery, shaping away from the outside edge after landing on off-stump. Babar tried to drive it back down the ground, but gets a feather on it, and Mendis takes a comfortable catch।

Saud has thrown it away, oh dear। And it's 100 উইকেট for Asitha। This was a nothing ball really, short down leg, and Saud has conspired to nick this attempted hook down leg. Kusal springs to his right and takes good catch with both hands।

Asitha gets Agha with a corker। This was short of a length and it reared up sharply, certainly more than Agha was expecting. Agha initially looks to play at this, before belatedly deciding to drop his hands. But it's too late and the ball takes the edge off the shoulder of the bat for Kusal to complete a simple take behind the stumps। Perhaps a lapse in concentration but Ghazi gives away his উইকেট after building such a good innings. Madushanka lands it away from his off stump on good length and the ব্যাটার dabs it to the left of the gully fielder while attempting to রান him down to third. Sharp catch with both hands while diving brings an end to Ghazi's innings. Falls two short of what would have been his maidn Test অর্ধশতক.।

This was always coming. Arafat gets under this fuller delivery, but it's more height that distance. Dhananjaya settles under it at long-on and makes no mistake। And now Razaullah goes। Full outside off, and looks to go big. Gets under it and goes hard. It's high to the left of long-off, and this time Asitha makes no mistake, holding on well falling to his left. And at the fall of that উইকেট Babar signals for the declaration।

This time the edge is taken। Poor from Udara, this. And the drop doesn't cost পাকিস্তান anything. Good length, around a sixth stump line, and seaming away. Udara with a fairly loose drive and he gets a thin edge through to the keeper.। Squares him up with a jaffa।

Hits the hard length around the off stump line and jags it away from Pasindu who is forced to play and ends up edging it to the keeper who takes a brilliant catch diving to his right.। The debutant gets experienced Chandimal with a peach। Goes wide of the crease to angle it in and curves it away after landing it on good length right in front of the middle stump. Chandimal closes the face of his bat as he looks to work the ball in the midwicket region but it takes leading edge and flies to the second slip.।

just magic from Abbas। What would পাকিস্তান do without him। He went wider of the crease, and exploited the angle to seam it away from the ব্যাটার. Mendis tried to defend again, but, for the third time this over, was beaten. The difference: it took a little feather off the edge, and it gives পাকিস্তান a much-needed উইকেট to break this 91-রান stand. Kamindu departs for a steely 58।

he's got him in the first over. Probing lines outside off are always going to test batters who are starting again, and Saqib has bowled a wonderful line and length to get the outside edge of DDS' bat. He doesn't add to his score of 167 from day three. This was a ball pithcing on the full side of a good length that he tentatively pressed forward to, but the away-movement took the edge. Ghazi Ghori completes a fine diving catch going to his right, poaching it almost from first slip. পাকিস্তান have the breakthrough they were desperately wanting this morning.। caught this time. Ghori gets there with the gloves and Shakeel doesn't have to enter the equation. This was almost a carbon copy of the DDS dismissal from Saqib, who has been outstanding with his lines this morning. Full, swinging away, and Kusal pushes at it to offer a healthy edge. This was dying on Ghori but he wasn't going to leave another low chance to Shakeel. Pouches it safely and পাকিস্তান have got both overnight centurions। Saqib has five on debut।

. This was another beautiful line, pitching full and angled across the left-hander, who goes for a booming cover drive. The thick edge is gobbled up at second slip, and Saqib kneels in thankful prayer as his teammates rush to him. That's his third উইকেট in the first hour, after having endured a difficult day three. His উইকেট have brought পাকিস্তান roaring back into this match.। And it's a consolation scalp for the tireless Razaullah। Perfect end to a perfect morning for পাকিস্তান. This was short and Milan's pull finds the man at deep backward square leg. শ্রীলঙ্কা are অলআউট for 446 with a narrow lead of 12 রান।

Saqib walks off with the innings ball, soaking in the applause from the fans and his team.। Six for Saqib. Lahiru Kumara reviews this lbw decision but he's doing so in desperate hope. This is about as plumb as they come I think. Full, pitching on middle, straightening, and hitting Kumara on the back pad, on around the knee roll, as he plays a leaden-footed waft towards the offside. Yes, that's crashing into the middle of middle stump says ball tracker. পাকিস্তান's debutant is seizing this morning.। that's close to the outside edge and পাকিস্তান review।

This is a length ball, curving away in the air, pitching on off and straightening. Asitha plays a defensive shot from the crease and it passes his outside edge. Saqib thinks there could be a touch on that, although there is not a lot of enthusiasm initially. Babar is convinced to review. And wow, there is a little feather edge on snicko। Saqib keeps hoovering up this শ্রীলঙ্কা innings. That's his fifth উইকেট this morning.। Oh this is very close and the finger goes up।

Tayyab takes the review. This was a good length and looked to have struck the front pad as Tayyab walked across his crease. No bat involved, as this seamed in a touch past the inside edge. That looked dead, and the three reds confirms it. পাকিস্তান lose their first and a review to boot।