**11.30 am Pakistan win the toss and choose to bowl
**
Misbah: “Looks like a batting track but it is a situational decision (given the rain and the possibility of more). There is always something on a fresh pitch in a Test match.”
Mathews would have batted first. Says the pitch looks pretty dry and should hopefully turn after the first couple of days
******Pakistan: Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Junaid Khan
Russell Arnold doing the pitch report on air says there will be some early movement with all the rain around, a breeze is also blowing. It is a hard wicket, and the best time to bat is now, says Arnold, for there will be turn later on. Pakistan will want to strike in the first session of an hour and 15 minutes
Thanks for the Zimbabwe and now Sri Lanka that at last they agree to play with Pakista else bIG 3 & ICCC don’t want to see Pakistan playing cricket anymore. Wahab is improving but he has to work more on his swing.
Our legendary opener hafeez did what he does best, got out for 2 after facing a massive 6 balls. bravo. The guy is improving day by day.
Our other legendary opener Mr. selfie also got out for 9 after playing 10 balls. As usual these two gave Pakistan a flying start. Flying back to the pavilion that is.
Misbah said they had a plan against Herat. While that might be true as he has only had one wicket so far, what Misbah didnt say was that they have no plan against anyother SL bowler, hence 106/5
Pakistan in trouble at 118 for 5, still not clear of the revised follow-on mark of 151, as the first day was lost to rain. The new ball moved a bit for Sri Lanka, while it had not for Pakistan. The openers went early, Azhar Ali tied himself up against Herath once again, and Younis and Misbah fell after a fifty stand. Last proper batting pair at the crease now for Pakistan
Batting remains the same, wobbly, inconsistent & fragile. Despite so much time lost to bad weather, this game could still be over inside 4 days esp. as Pakistan have to bat last (need another 33 to avoid the follow on) on this pitch. Asad and Sarfraz must dig deep and bat long. Can they get us out of the hole?
Beautiful inning by Sarfraz once again. Hats off. Very unfortunate to get out on 96 but that was a very good bowl and i think he went unlucky but thats cricket.
95.5
Perera to Asad Shafiq, 3 runs, dances out again, this has been floated wider, and his heave produces a thick edge that eludes Mathews’ dive at slip
95.4
Perera to Asad Shafiq, FOUR, that will be Test hundred number seven for Asad Shafiq, he gets there with a burst down the pitch, and lifts it dead straight over the bowler, top stuff from the No 6, captain Mathews applauds too
