Still we must not take it easy despite the amazing fightback. New ball is due after 17 overs. Ideally need both (and Younis in particular) to be at the crease and target < 100 when new ball is taken.
Morning session tomorrow is the key. Younis is the key
Younis and Shan need to refocus as it is a new day. They must try and get as many runs as possible in the 17 overs remaining with this ball. If these two get out cheaply in the morning, Lanka will be back in the game. We know how fragile our batting is.
There is a reason why 350 plus has not been successfully chased many times in history
This is the 9th successful 350 plus run chase in the 4th innings in test history
Congratz team pak for a great victory.
Their appraoch to the score was very much australian. keeping run rate high.
I feel sad for Asif iqbal. YK showed to critics with his bat. that is the best way to talk. Let these guys play test cricket in peace till they are fit more than so called youngsters. Do the experimentation in ODI and T20
Presentation:
****Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan captain: It is such a big victory. Younis said that the pitch was not doing much for the bowlers. Shan Masood the way he played took the game away from Sri Lanka. After the Younis-Masood partnership, it was easy for us. The youngsters are doing well for the team. When seamers did not get wickets in the first innings, Yasir bowled tight lines and showed his variations. Then Imran came in on the fourth day and too five wickets. The key factor in the game was to keep calm. We have lost a couple of Tests in Sri Lanka last time when he panicked. We just wanted to bat calmly this time. This series means a lot to me after losing two or three series' in Sri Lanka. Sarfraz in the first innings is the main architect of this win. Asad Shafiq was brilliant in the first Test. After playing so well against Zimbabwe at home, we have a lot of confidence in the ODIs. Sri Lanka are tough competitors at home but we can win the ODIs.
***Yasir Shah, Man of the Series:********* I am playing my 10th game, I do not feel much pressure. People say I smile a lot, that is my natural way. I have worked a lot on my action with Mushy bhai, worked on my googly and made my action repeatable. My target was to take 20 wickets. I bowl according to the wicket. In the second innings, I went around the wicket to make full use of the track.
*****Younis Khan, Man of the Match:************* It is not that I train much, but I am involved in everything. I always want to stand up for the team. I play according to the situation. Yesterday when we were fielding, we knew we could chase 400. Credit to Shan Masood, he was amazing. This is a very good bunch of players. Misbah and I keep them calm, they play well under pressure. Yasir Shah has been impressive throughout the series. Imran bowled really well.
*****Angelo Mathews, Sri Lanka captain: It was disappointing. I though we were sitting pretty when he had 377. This was a really good game after both sides were even. The Pakistan bowlers were brilliant in the second innings. Pakistan deserved to win and they played better cricket than us. It turned a little bit but the seamers did not have anything in the last couple of days. We don't have Mahela and Sanga, we will have to take on the challenge and move on. I am trying to contribute both with the bat and ball. The one-day team will be a fresh team. It has been a great Test series for both teams.*****
Incredible win fashioned by YK with vital contributions from Sarfraz, Yasir, Imran, Shan and Misbah. A fine mix of experience and youth in the team made this possible.
Whatta batting...Whatta victory.. Felt like a dream after having such an exciting finish on victory note for Pakistani team. Younus khan once again proved many people wrong. He isnt done yet. Way to go!
Shan Masood grabbed the opportunity when presented but I just hope he stays the same.
Talented Imran khan has great potential for sure but he needs to be consistent. Right now he's all over the place.
And in the end of the day, Misbah is Misbah. Cool and Calm but a great player to have.
I hope they continue the winning spirit in ODIs where we need it most right now.
And yes plz dont ask Younus khan to be there in ODI team as well. The world cup's nightmare has lessons so lets spare him for tests only.
Miandad made his runs against better bowlers and in an era when only 5 batsmen averaged 50 + with the bat in tests. Others being Gavaskar, Greg Chappell, Viv and Border
Awesome performance by Younis no doubt. I like his spirit. He is not in a list of cricket genius but only because of his hard work he has made many records. Hats off for him.
