Che Guevara
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Sri Lanka continued to maintain a vice-like grip on the Galle Test on the third day despite some dogged defiance from debutant Mohammad Ayub before lunch. Runs were scarce and the turn was plentiful as Pakistan just avoided the ignominy of a sixth sub-100 Test total in three years but had little else to smile about.
In a week when the ICC will yet again discuss the Decision Review System, the Galle Test provided more evidence for making the system mandatory for all international matches. There had been a handful of wrong umpiring decisions in the first two days, and another one early on Sunday undermined Pakistan's already slim chances of mounting a fightback, as Younis Khan was adjudged lbw even though he inside-edged the ball.
Pakistan had been given a taste of the challenge ahead in the first over of the day as Nuwan Kulasekara first found Younis' inside-edge and then the outside-edge. The spinners kept testing the batsmen with turn and bounce, and once Younis fell to Rangana Herath in the tenth over of the day it seemed Pakistan would keel over quickly.
Ayub, Pakistan's oldest debutant in since 1956, however, showed remarkable composure against the spinners, defending solidly and using the sweep regularly. He was less composed when Adnan Akmal called him for a second after paddling the ball to fine leg. Akmal was going to the danger end, but Ayub started, hesitated and then turned back, meaning both batsmen found themselves at the same end. Akmal was livid, shouting "My call, my call, I said 'yes'," at Ayub before departing in a huff. That exposed the Pakistan tail, and Sri Lanka's spinners finished off the job at the stroke of lunch.
There had been overnight rain over the past three days, and showers are predicted over the following two as well. With eight sessions remaining, Pakistan's miniscule chances of saving this game depends on the Sri Lankan monsoon.
Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 1st Test, Galle: Pakistan bowled out for 100 | Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 1st Test, Galle, 3rd day Report | Cricket News | ESPN Cricinfo
In a week when the ICC will yet again discuss the Decision Review System, the Galle Test provided more evidence for making the system mandatory for all international matches. There had been a handful of wrong umpiring decisions in the first two days, and another one early on Sunday undermined Pakistan's already slim chances of mounting a fightback, as Younis Khan was adjudged lbw even though he inside-edged the ball.
Pakistan had been given a taste of the challenge ahead in the first over of the day as Nuwan Kulasekara first found Younis' inside-edge and then the outside-edge. The spinners kept testing the batsmen with turn and bounce, and once Younis fell to Rangana Herath in the tenth over of the day it seemed Pakistan would keel over quickly.
Ayub, Pakistan's oldest debutant in since 1956, however, showed remarkable composure against the spinners, defending solidly and using the sweep regularly. He was less composed when Adnan Akmal called him for a second after paddling the ball to fine leg. Akmal was going to the danger end, but Ayub started, hesitated and then turned back, meaning both batsmen found themselves at the same end. Akmal was livid, shouting "My call, my call, I said 'yes'," at Ayub before departing in a huff. That exposed the Pakistan tail, and Sri Lanka's spinners finished off the job at the stroke of lunch.
There had been overnight rain over the past three days, and showers are predicted over the following two as well. With eight sessions remaining, Pakistan's miniscule chances of saving this game depends on the Sri Lankan monsoon.
Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 1st Test, Galle: Pakistan bowled out for 100 | Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 1st Test, Galle, 3rd day Report | Cricket News | ESPN Cricinfo
