Pak send Lanka on leather hunt
Colombo, June 30: Mohammad Hafeez roared back to form with a careerbest 172 not out as Pakistan made Sri Lanka pay for a failed gamble in the second Test in Colombo today.
Pakistan, trailing 0-1 in the three-match series, took advantage of Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene’s surprise decision to field first on a good batting track at the Sinhalese Sports Club.
Hafeez led the Pakistani charge with his fifth Test century — and the first after 10 innings — as the tourists moved to a commanding 334 for one by stumps on the opening day.
The Pakistan vice-captain has put on 256 runs for the unbroken second wicket with Azhar Ali (92 not out) after sharing an opening stand of 78 with Taufeeq Umar (65).
It was the first time since making 379-4 against India in Faisalabad in 2006 that
SCOREBOARD PAKISTAN 1ST INNINGS: Mohammad Hafeez batting 172, Taufeeq Umar c P. Jayawardene b Mathews 65, Azhar Ali batting 92. Extras: (lb3, nb2) 5. Total (for one wicket in 90 overs) 334. FoW: 1-78. Bowling: Kulasekara 20-4-60-0, Mathews 12-1-45-1, Pradeep 133-52-0, Randiv 20-0-83-0, Herath 24-3-82-0, Dilshan 1-09-0. Pakistan scored over 300 runs on the first day of a Test match. The century helped Hafeez overcome the disappointment of losing the first Test in Galle by 209 runs, where he led Pakistan in the absence of the banned Misbah-ul Haq.
The all-rounder had been under pressure to retain his place in the Test side after a barren run of 10 innings since making his previous best of 143 against Bangladesh in Chittagong last year. — AFP