FAISALABAD, Oct 20: Thilan Samaraweera stood on the brink of what could be an invaluable century as right-hander fought a lone battle to rescue Sri Lanka on the opening day of the first cricket Test against Pakistan at the Iqbal Stadium on Wednesday.
Samaraweera's unbeaten 97 has overshadowed the exploits of Pakistan pace duo of Shoaib Akhtar and Muhammad Sami who shared six wickets, as the tourists recovered from a precariously placed three wickets for nine runs to be 233 for seven in 78 overs at the close that came five over early because of fading light.
The 28-year-old Samaraweera, batting with the help of a runner in the later part of his innings due to a hamstring problem, struck 10 boundaries and put on 53 runs for the unbroken eighth wicket partnership with Rangana Herath who was 28 not out.
Samaraweera, also shared two more useful stands, the first with Sanath Jayasuriya for the fourth wicket that yielded 68 runs and put on another 77 for the fifth with Jehan Mubarak.
Called up for the Test series along with four others, Samaraweera batted confidently virtually all day through to complete his seventh half century in 23 Tests just before tea. If he completes his century on Thursday it will be his first on foreign soil.
All in all it was a great effort from the batsman who stuck to his crease for a good 325 minutes, facing 230 balls and he gave shape and respectability to a tottering Sri Lankan innings.
Shoaib and Sami rattled the Islanders by picking up three early wickets after rival captain Marvan Atapattu had won the toss and chosen to bat first on a good batting track.
Of those three wickets, two went to Shoaib, who rocketed in to have Atapattu leg before for a duck off only the third ball of the morning with no runs on board. Kumar Sangakkara was sent back too, as quickly as he came in, caught brilliantly by Imran Farhat in the slips.
Sami compounded Sri Lanka's problems by claiming the scalp of vice-captain Mahela Jayawardene, taken behind the stumps by an efficient Moin Khan for nought with the tourists in deep trouble by the fourth over. But then Jayasuriya and Samaraweera did the damage control as Sri Lanka crawled to 58 for three by lunch.
Jayasuriya, who crossed the 6000-run milestone in his 93rd Test with a fine cover drive off Razzaq was caught by Asim Kamal for 38 but not before being dropped twice, first by Inzamamul Haq in the slips and then again by Shoaib Malik at point.
A victim of Sami, Jayasuriya's wicket was the only success the hosts achieved in the second session. He hit four boundaries in an 88-ball innings for which he needed 147 minutes.
Sami also claimed the scalp of the 23-year-old Mubarak, playing in only his third Test. He was caught in the slips by Inzamam and Sami returned figures of three for 66 in 20 overs, five of which were maiden. Shoaib, dismissed Chaminda Vaas late in the day to finish with three for 55 from 17 overs.
The spinners had little success though with Danish Kaneria taking the only other wicket to fall and Shaoib Malik going wicket-less.
Of the five players called up for the Test series Sri Lanka played veteran wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharana, fast bowler Lasith Malinga, Samaraweera, and Mubarak. Uncapped Ian Daniel, Farveez Maharoof and Thilina Kandamby failed to make the final eleven.
Scoreboard
SRI LANKA (1st Innings):
M.S. Atapattu lbw b S. Akhtar 0
S.T. Jayasuriya c Asim b Sami 38
K.C. Sangakkara c Imran b S. Akhtar 2
D.P.M.D. Jayawardene c Moin b Sami 0
T.T. Samaraweera not out 97
J. Mubarak c Inzamam b Sami 34
R.S. Kaluwitharana c and b Kaneria 4
C. Vaas c Youhana b S. Akhtar 22
H.M.R.K.B. Herath not out 28
EXTRAS (LB-3, NB-5) 8
TOTAL (for seven wkts, 78 overs) 233
FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-6, 3-9, 4-77, 5-142,
6-147, 7-180.
TO BAT: S.L. Malinga, C.R.D. Fernando.
BOWLING (to-date): Shoaib Akhtar
17-3-55-3 (1nb); Mohammad Sami 20-5-66-3 (3nb); Abdul Razzaq 15-5-33-0 (1nb); Danish Kaneria 18-3-53-1; Shoaib Malik 8-1-23-0.
UMPIRES: B.F. Bowden (New Zealand) and S.A. Bucknor (West Indies).
TV UMPIRE: Nadeem Ghauri (Pakistan).
MATCH REFEREE: J.J. Crowe (New Zealand).