KARACHI, April 6: Pakistan ‘A’ paceman Yasir Arafat captured five for 76 as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 237 in their first innings on the third day of the four-day unofficial Test at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy on Wednesday.
Pakistan ‘A’ replied with 105 for four at stumps after part-time bowler Ian Daniel took two important wickets as the rain-hit encounter headed for a draw with one day to go.
The tourists were strongly placed at 84 for one, but Daniel broke the threatening second-wicket partnership of 61 between Wajahatullah Wasti (16) and the makeshift opener Bazid Khan, before sending back Hasan Raza for 10.
Shortly afterwards, umpires Peter Manuel and Tyronne Wijewardene offered the light to the batsmen. The invitation was quickly accepted by Bazid, who was undefeated on 45 having stroked six fours in his 146-minite stay, and Faisal Iqbal who had not yet faced a ball.
Leg-spinner Malinga Bandara dismissed Aamir Bashir for three, caught at slip off the boot of wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene by Sri Lankan skipper Jehan Mubarak.
Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq had earlier gone for 17, trapped LBW by left-arm medium-pacer Gayan Ramyakumara (who is also known as Gayan Wijekoon) in the sixth over of the innings.
Earlier, Jayawardene, who has figured in five official Tests, was chiefly responsible for taking guiding his side to a respectable score after the hosts had resumed at 101 for four.
The right-hander, overlooked for the senior squad because of suspect batting abilities, contributed an unbeaten 66 after arriving in the middle at 113 for five. Jayawardene hit eight boundaries and faced 114 deliveries during his 161-minute occupation of the crease.
It was a brave innings from the 28-year-old wicket-keeper since he was forced to retire hurt with his score on 17 by left-arm paceman Najaf Shah, who struck him on the side of the helmet.
Mubarak made up for a miserable one-day tournament during he averaged almost nothing, with 33.
Najaf finished with two for 42 while Mohammad Asif claimed the remaining three wickets for 70.
Scoreboard
SRI LANKA ‘A’ (1st Innings, overnight 101-4):
M.G. Vandort c Zulqarnain b Asif 31
D.A. Gunawardene lbw b Najaf 6
G.I. Daniel b Yasir 39
J. Mubarak lbw b Yasir 33
R.P. Arnold c Misbah b Yasir 2
M.K. Gajanayake b Asif 4
H.A.P.W. Jayawardene not out 66
W.M.G. Ramyakumara b Najaf 2
C.M. Bandara b Yasir 6
C.R.D. Fernando lbw b Asif 4
P.N. Ranjith c Zulqarnain b Yasir 17
EXTRAS (B-9, LB-11, W-1, NB-6) 27
TOTAL (all out, 80 overs) 237
FALL OF WKTS: 1-15, 2-86, 3-86, 4-89, 5-113, 6-148, 7-168, 8-186, 9-203.
BOWLING: Najaf Shah 16-4-42-2 (1nb, 1w); Mohammad Asif 25-5-70-3 (5nb); Yasir Arafat 24-6-76-5; Imran Tahir 15-2-29-0.
PAKISTAN ‘A’ (1st Innings):
Misbahul Haq lbw b Ramyakumara 17
Bazid Khan not out 45
Wajahatullah Wasti c J’wardene b Daniel 16
Aamir Bashir c Mubarak b Bandara 3
Hasan Raza lbw b Daniel 10
Faisal Iqbal not out 0
EXTRAS (LB-3, NB-11) 14
TOTAL (for four wkts, 33 overs) 105
FALL OF WKTS: 1-23, 2-84, 3-88, 4-105.
TO BAT: Yasir Arafat, Zulqarnain Haider, Imran Tahir, Mohammad Asif, Najaf Shah.
BOWLING (to-date): Ranjith 5-0-25-0 (1nb); Ramyakumara 10-2-38-1 (1nb); Fernando 8-1-18-0 (9nb); Daniel 6-0-12-2; Bandara 4-1-9-1.