Pakistan v Sri Lanka: 3rd Test at Sharjah, Day-3 – Second Session Report
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 to 199 for three at tea on the third day of ongoing final Test against Sri Lanka at Sharjah on Saturday, November 5, 2011.
The islanders would have expected to grab more than one wicket in the middle session but the Green Shirts reacted strongly with the bat.
Since there was variable bounce and spin on the wicket in the later part of the second day, the tourists walked into the middle with a hope to give a tough to the Pakistani batsmen in the morning.
However, Younis and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Azhar-Ali-c46890 batted superbly in the first session and took the score to 126/2 at lunch. The latter continued his fantastic run of form and reached his half-century in style. Yet, soon after collecting his 11th half-century in
the longest version of the game, he was clean bowled by Kosala Kulasekara. It was a magnificent delivery, as it nipped-back after pitching at a good length.
It was almost impossible for Azhar to stop the ball from hitting the stumps and the batsman went back to the pavilion after scoring steady 53 runs. On the other end, Younis kept on playing positive cricket and made every opportunity count.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972, who walked out to the middle after Azhar’s departure, was in no hurry, as he took 72 balls to gather his 16 before the tea. With a quick single in the last over before the tea, Younis got his ton No. 18. Without a shadow of doubt, the session
belonged to the veteran batsman, who played a lot of sweep shots and at times stepped out of his crease to infuse some thrill into the game.
In the middle session, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 grabbed a wicket, Younis smashed a few cracking strokes and Misbah occupied the crease well. The home side is still 214 runs behind Lanka’s first total of 413, but they are in strong position to go beyond 400-mark.
However, Kulasekara, who showed Azhar the way back to the dressing room, will be a threat for the Cornered Tigers, as he bowled impressively on batting friendly track.
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