Azhar Ali’s resilience helps Pakistan defy Lanka attack
PAK 5,000RUN TEST CLUB
FINE NICK Dependable toporder batsman plays a patient innings to help Pak reach 266/4 ABU DHABI
: Azhar Ali once more rescued Pakistan’s batting with a fighting half century on the third day of the first Test against Sri Lanka on Saturday. The one-drop batsman was unbeaten on 74 but saw Babar Azam fall for 28 in the last over of the day as Pakistan finished on 266-4 on a Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch which has started to assist spinners.
Pakistan still trail the Sri Lankan first innings total of 419 by 153 runs with six wickets intact. Pakistan had pinned their hopes on Ali in the post Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq era who retired in May this year after shouldering the team’s batting for nearly seven years.
A cautious Ali made sure Pakistan do not concede a big lead in the first innings, having hit only one boundary in his 26th Test half century. In all Ali has so far hit three boundaries during his 297 minutes of batting. He added 79 for the third wicket with Asad Shafiq who made 39 to take the fight to Sri Lankan three-pronged spin attack. Veteran left-arm spinner Herath was the most successful bowler with 2-47.
When on 32, Ali also completed 5,000 Test runs in his 61st Test. But it was the opening pair of Shan Masood and Sami Aslam who set the platform for a big total by putting together a solid 114run opening stand after they resumed at 64 without loss.
Sri Lanka, however, hit back by removing both openers in the space of two runs. Aslam, recalled after being dropped from the West Indies tour on disciplinary grounds, was trapped leg-before by off-break bowler Dilruwan Perera. Two runs later Masood attempted a sweep shot off Herath but missed the ball and was bowled round his legs.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka Ist inn 419 vs Pakistan Ist inn 266 for 4 in 112.4 overs (Shan Masood 59, Sami Aslam 51, Azhar Ali 74*, Asad Shafiq 39; Herath 2/47). Pakistan middle-order batsman Azhar Ali completed 5,000 runs in the longer format during the third day’s play in the first Test against Sri Lanka on Saturday.
The 32-year-old became the eighth Pakistan batsman to reach the milestone in his 61st Test, when he took a single to reach a personal score of 32.
Ali made his Test debut against Australia at Lord’s in Pakistan’s neutral venue series in England in 2010.
He became the first century maker in a day-night Test during his epic triple hundred against the West Indies in Dubai last year.
He scored 1,198 runs in 11 Tests in 2016, also including a fighting double hundred against Australia at Melbourne.
Younis Khan is the leading Test run-getter for Pakistan, with 10,099 runs in 118 Tests.
List of Pakistan batsmen who scored 5,000 or more runs in Test cricket Name Tests Runs Younis Khan 118 10,099 Miandad 124 8832 Inzamam 119 8829 Md Yousuf 90 7530 Salim Malik 103 5768 Misbah 75 5222 Zaheer Abbas 78 5062 Azhar Ali 61 5042