Once bitten Sri Lanka, twice shy

Rex Clementine
in Galle

You never take chances with Pakistan, cricket’s deadliest team. Either they will get bowled out for 150 or they go onto achieve the insurmountable. Sri Lanka were given a rude wakeup call last week when they were at the receiving end as Abdullah Shafique inspired the tourists to chase down a record target of 342. No team had chased that many ever in Galle. Sri Lanka’s fortress had fallen.

The last time Pakistan were in Sri Lanka in 2015, we witnessed the fall in the Kandyan kingdom, another fortress of Sri Lankan cricket. That time they were set a target of 377, to win the last Test and the series was in line. No team had ever chased that many to win a Test in Sri Lanka in any ground. Pakistan did it hardly breaking a sweat winning by seven wickets. One Mr. Younis Khan took the game away with an unbeaten 171. There was also Shan Masood, who posted 125. He’s in the Pakistan squad this time around but unable to break into the side. Such is the quality and depth of Pakistan cricket.

Sri Lanka have an opportunity to square the ongoing two match series in Galle. They lead by 323 runs and have five wickets in hand. There’s a nice 59 run partnership developing between Dhananjaya de Silva and Dimuth Karunaratne.

Ramesh Mendis, who featured in the post-match media briefing after the third day’s play having taken his third five wicket haul told the press that Sri Lanka would be comfortable with a lead of 400 runs. That’s fine against most teams but not with Pakistan. Pardon the rookie for speaking out of turn.

Credit to Mendis though as he bowled so well after being nearly dropped for the second Test. Credit to selectors too for giving the long rope for one of the brightest prospects in the game. Like Kanchana Wijesekara, despite catastrophic failures, they get a few decisions right.

Sri Lanka enjoyed a first innings lead of 147 but there were too many loose shots in their second innings and when they slumped to 117 for five in the second over after tea, you sensed Pakistan would begin the run chase later yesterday targeting something less than 300.

However, Dhananjaya de Silva and Dimuth Karunaratne, who was batting with back spasms ensured sanity, prevailed.

The pitch has lost its bite though. With too much time left in the game, Sri Lanka will have to at least bat till lunch to put the game beyond Pakistan’s reach.