Pakistan Zindabad read a huge poster as Pakistan cricketers, administrators and in fact the whole of Pakistan mounted cloud nine with their resounding victory by 263 runs in the second of two Test matches against Sri Lanka at the Karachi National Cricket Stadium on Monday in just 16 deliveries on the final day and also win the series. The celebration was fully justified. Sweets were served to all and sundry in traditional fashion. As for Lankans, while their performance was varied, overall it left a ‘sour’ taste and a message that we have a great amount of homework to do going forward.
For the Pakistanis it was a historic Test match. They were conducting an international series for the first time on home soil after a decade for reasons well known.
History also came in the form of setting records by their batsmen and bowlers. They put the cricketing world on notice!
While rejoicing at this victory the Pakistan people will also say a big ‘thank you’ to the Lankan cricketers and Sri Lanka Cricket for boldly stepping forward and touring when other Test playing countries were chickening out.
After the Sri Lankans successfully completed two Limited Over series after being provided security meant for Royalty, when the time for the two match Test series came around, Sri Lanka Cricket were a bit apprehensive to send the team, for reasons known only to them.
But finally saner counsel prevailed and the Pakistan Cricket Board must be congratulated for conducting the tour without any hiccups. Some of the Lankan cricketers were seen moving around in the shopping malls in Karachi doing a bit of shopping and it is hoped that other countries would have watched and would not fear to tour there.
Having said that we move on to the centre where the second Test was played and ended in a memorable and historic victory for the home team after initially looking as they would lose the Test.
On the final day with the Lankans on 218 for 7, the Pakistani bowlers the two Shahs Nazeem and Yasir needed only 16 deliveries to bury the rest of the batsmen including century maker Oshada Fernando for 103 with adding and Ebuldeniya and Vishwa Fernando for blobs.
Fast bowler young 16-year old Nazeem Shah a right armer who will be the star of his kind in the future and safe in the arms of former menacing quick Waqar Younis should rock the cricket world if he continues his unlimited Allah given talent.
That the glorious uncertainties of the game played for the home team there is no doubt. When Azhar Ali called right and elected to bat on a good pitch it looked as though the Lankan bowlers would suffer at the hands of the strong Pakistani batsmen.
But after a slow opening by Sahaan Masood and Abid Ali already tagged a legend for his amazing feats with the bat, left arm paceman Vishwa Fernando struck telling blows knocking the stumps of Masood and Ali with two excellent deliveries to have Pakistan on 21 for 2 and nullifying the early advantage of losing the toss.
With Fernando opening the gates, right arm fast bowler Lahiru Kumara and the lanky left arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya took over from there to skittle out the Pakistanis for 191 on a pitch that was on the slow side, but certainly not unplayable.
At that point the Lankans were on top and all that the batsmen had to do was to put their heads down, bat sensibly, cutting out risks and making a big score and putting on the pressure on the Pakistanis to save the game.
But what one saw was a poor display of batting by the Lankans who other than for Dinesh Chandimal who was in cricket’s wilderness for nine months coming back to form and showing the batsmen to follow how making a fighting 74 the others surrendered meekly.
The Lankans made 271 to gain a lead of 80 which was not much and unless they could dismiss the Pakistanis in their second knock for a score that would not look formidable considering that the pitch would begin to crumble as the game goes on they were going to be in the deep end and struggling.
In the second innings with the pressure on them, the Pakistani openers Masood and Ali showed shrugged off any pressure and gave the Lankans a lesson on how to bat sensibly and intelligently under pressure and on a wicket that was beginning to get worse.
The openers took no risks as they negotiated the bowling until they got past the arrears of 80 and then got on top of the bowling to post a magnificent stand of 278 which took the fight off the Lankans and put their side on top and on the way to a massive second knock that was going to have the Lankans on the ropes and huffing and puffing for survival.
With both openers Masood 135, Abid Ali 174 making centuries and with captain Ali 118 and Babar Azam unbeaten on 100 the homesters made a massive 555 for 3 declared, leaving the Lankan cricketers cricket’s Mount Everest to climb in making 476 if they were to win and make history. This is the second time that the first four batsmen had made tons in Test cricket.
The best way to describe the Lankan batting in both innings as spineless would not be a misnomer. It would have been sweet and sour for Lanka’s new Head Coach Mickey Arthur who takes over in 2020. SWEET to see his former charges Pakistan win and SOUR to see the Lankan cricketers who he is going to show how lose disgracefully.