WATCHING this Test series, I have not really been able to figure out whether Sri Lanka is trying to match Pakistan or Pakistan is trying to match their opposite number in performance — especially batting and bowling.

The second Test somehow have always looked like swinging in favour of the visitors who, despite their second innings failure with the bat, have managed to bring themselves back to keep Pakistan players stroke-less and clueless.

In fact, the story here, much like the first Test victory for Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, has not been much different.

Earlier on Monday, the Sri Lankans were dismissed cheaply in their second innings for 96 but still managed to set Pakistan a target of 317 to win. Wahab Riaz and Yasir were the main destroyers but that really was not enough to bring Pakistan to safer shores. As I wrote these lines, Pakistan were ominously poised, having lost five of their top order batsmen with just 50 on the board in a snail-paced batting display.

For this I will not hesitate to blame the two Pakistan openers Shan Masood and Sami Aslam who looked so ordinary and out of place as the Sri Lankan bowlers Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Gamage and Nuwan Pradeep repeatedly beat their bats and had them groping at the ball.

Shan’s statue like existence was not only painful to watch but also left the handful of fans annoyed as he needlessly went into a shell to put pressure of his partners who came in after the fall of Sami’s wicket.

His 21 runs off 101 deliveries and an unimpressive 15 in 69 balls in the first innings do not speak much of his skills as an opening batsman of an international team.

As for Babar Azam, he may be a talented ODI player but he has clearly looked out of sort at the Test level, having lost his wicket cheaply on many occasions during the six Tests he has played.

Serious cricket needs serious players who should be technically sound too and could tackle spin and pace as well as combat the nature of the wickets and conditions that change from session to session in five-day cricket.

The Sri Lankans who have clearly dominated the two Tests would no doubt be smiling at the conclusion of this series for their professional approach paying off in every possible way.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2017