‘Happy’ Sri Lanka salvage draw in first Test

The first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka ended in a draw on the fifth and final day in Abu Dhabi on Saturday after Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad hit half-centuries.

Hafeez finished with 80 not out for his ninth Test half-century, his first in 11 innings, while Ahmed Shehzad notched his maiden fifty on his debut as Pakistan, set 302 runs in a possible of 67 overs, finished on 158 for two.
The draw left the three-Test series open, with the second Test starting in Dubai on Wednesday.
The no-result is also a moral victory for the Sri Lankans who were in a danger of losing after conceding a big 179-run lead in the first innings and were 186 for four after the third day, leading by just seven runs with six wickets intact.
Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews hit a career-best 157 not out to pull his team out of danger on the fourth day when they lost only one wicket in the full day’s play for 234 runs.
Pakistan lost opener Khurram Manzoor early, caught behind off pace man Suranga Lakmal after scoring eight, but Hafeez and Shehzad added 94 for the second wicket stand. Hafeez reached his half-century with two fours in one over.
Shehzad also hit spinner Rangana Herath for his seventh four to reach his maiden 50 before he was trapped leg-before by the same bowler soon after tea for 55.
We hope to continue like this, says Mathews
Mathews said he was happy with his team’s fight back.
“Pretty happy with the result and hope to continue like this in the series,” said man-of-the-match Mathews.
“We were in a spot of bother after the third day but I am happy that we came good in batting and forced a draw.”
Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq was disappointed at his side’s batting collapse in the first innings.
“We need to improve our batting because the way we lost six wickets for 50-odd runs was not good and also our bowling when the wicket is not conducive,” he said.
Earlier, Sri Lanka declared their second innings on 480 for five after batting an hour and 30 minutes but their slow batting showed they had safety on their minds rather than forcing a lead.
It was the unfinished sixth wicket 156-run stand between Mathews and Prasanna Jayawardene (63 not out) that continued on the fifth day and ended all hopes of a Pakistani win.
Pace men Junaid Khan finished with three for 93, while Bilawal Bhatti took two for 146. Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal finished wicket-less in his 49 overs. He conceded 115 runs – only the fifth time that he failed to get a wicket in an innings in his 31 Tests.