Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
10 | 3 Runs | PAK: 21/1

  • Mohammad Hafeez12 (31b)
  • Azhar Ali4 (21b)
  • Nuwan Pradeep1-0-3-0
  • Chanaka Welegedara5-2-9-1

That's all from us here. Thanks for joining us. Okay bye

Tony Grieg leads the presentation ceremony. Believe it or not, Mohammad Hafeez is the first man to win a cash award. Five hundred dollars for maximum sixes. A typical middle-east presentation ceremony with cash awards for many things, such as maximum sixes, fours, and some other things I don't remember. Already four people have had cash awards, and we haven't reached the business end. And the commentators didn't even consider Junaid Khan for the Man of the Match award. Kumar Sangakkara gets it. Lovely innings he played. He says, "It was one of the most satisfactory innings I have played. We were expecting a bit of a chase, but it was nice to get out of the hole. The way Prasanna batted was unbelievable, after having kept for two days. I thought our bowlers toiled hard, but they are a new attack. They held their own pretty well, they kept the opposition under 3 an over, that helped us claw our way out in the end."

TM Dilshan says, "Proud of the team for coming back. The way we fielded, our body language in the field, and then the batting over the last two days. But batting is definitely an area of concern. We will watch rugby finals tomorrow, then two days' training, and then next Test."

Misbah-ul-Haq says, "Of course they are a very good team. They showed that by saving the game. At the end a lot of positives. Good bowling and batting, the only negative was fielding. We are going to work on that. That's one thing we can improve by just working hard. Sometimes it is just rotten luck that you dropped so many in one match. We have played a lot of cricket here, and we know that the only assistance for bowlers is on hte first two days. Our bowlers responded really well, even in the second innings they bowled their hearts out. Top drawer."

Oh it's finally over. They shake hands. Got to say that Sri Lanka will be the more satisfied team today. Sanga and Prasanna find a quiet moment to embrace each other and congratulate each other on their work. For Pakistan, this is the one that got away. One of the many. I am just amazed how they keep recovering from these devastating finishes. I can't feel bad enough for the Pakistani bowlers. They had the heat, the dust, their own fielders, their slow batsmen, the umpires working against them, but they made this match, they kept us interested, the bowled their heart, guts, and brains out. Congratulations too to Taufeeq, Sanga, Prasanna, and despite the huge character Sangakkara showed, I am sure he will agree when I say the Pakistani bowlers were the real stars of the match.

"Dilshan should consider himself lucky that this time HAFEEZ did not refuse his offer." Salman, I am sure Hafeez didn't want to put his average in jeopardy

9.6
1
Pradeep to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run, flicked off the pads, why is he bowling these overs with boundary riders all over?
9.5
1
Pradeep to Azhar Ali, 1 run, short of a length, whipped away past short leg
9.4
1
Pradeep to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run, worked away off the pads for a single
9.3
0
Pradeep to Mohammad Hafeez, no run, angling into the pads, doesn't make contact

"What was wrong with Dilshan at Columbo. In that match he was soaking his heels in dressing room with Angelo killing the match that too when the series had to be levelled. Ridiculous from Dilshan." Saud, you and I would be brave too when we have nothing to lose. Back then they had a Test to lose. Don't read too much into the overs being bowled now

9.2
0
Pradeep to Mohammad Hafeez, no run, half-volley, driven down the ground, hits the stumps
9.1
0
Pradeep to Mohammad Hafeez, no run, length ball, into the pads, misses

I have been told TV is getting no adverts between breaks now. I can understand why. If I, say, was a roach-killing spray manufacturer, for example, I wouldn't want to advertise my product now. Nuwan Pradeep to bowl now

END OF OVER:
9 | (maiden) | PAK: 18/1

  • Azhar Ali3 (20b)
  • Mohammad Hafeez10 (26b)
  • Chanaka Welegedara5-2-9-1
  • Rangana Herath2-0-8-0
8.6
0
Welegedara to Azhar Ali, no run, length ball on off, pushed to cover

I feel I might be imagining this match up. The team that could win doesn't want to win. The team that couldn't win doesn't to go of the field

8.5
0
Welegedara to Azhar Ali, no run, length ball, on off, defended to off
8.4
0
Welegedara to Azhar Ali, no run, length ball, swinging in, defended back to the bowler
8.3
0
Welegedara to Azhar Ali, no run, length ball outside off, left alone
8.2
0
Welegedara to Azhar Ali, no run, length ball on off, defended to cover

Come on Dilshan, this UAE, desert, hot, everybody has worked hard. Give them a rest

8.1
0
Welegedara to Azhar Ali, no run, length ball, on off, defended

The match continues. Continues to do what, I don't know

END OF OVER:
8 | 6 Runs | PAK: 18/1

  • Mohammad Hafeez10 (26b)
  • Azhar Ali3 (14b)
  • Rangana Herath2-0-8-0
  • Chanaka Welegedara4-1-9-1
7.6
4
Herath to Mohammad Hafeez, FOUR, short and wide, cut away for four

Sri Lanka tour of United Arab Emirates 2011-12 News