Rain dampens Sri Lanka's hopes
Heavy rain gave Pakistan an outside chance of salvaging a draw against Sri Lanka after only 32
overs were bowled on Saturday on the fourth day of the Asian Test
Championship cricket final.
Pakistan will be hoping for more rain on the fifth and
final day on Sunday. They finished the penultimate day at 248
for five. The defending champion still need 46 runs to make
Sri Lanka bat again after the visitors had scored 528 in reply
to Pakistan's first innings total of 234.
Pakistan did not lose a wicket in rain-shortened sessions
after resuming at the overnight 193 for five. Inzamam-ul-Haq,
39 overnight, posted his 31st half century in Test cricket and
was not out on 72 at stumps, while all-rounder Shoaib Malik
was unbeaten on 19. Haq hit just three boundaries and spent
nearly 4 1/2 hours at the crease.
Heavy downpours twice took the players off the field but
the groundstaff at the Gaddafi Stadium - with the help of
super sopper and few Sri Lankan players - managed to clear
loads of water off the covers soon after the tea interval. It
allowed 18 overs in the last session under floodlights but
both Pakistan batsmen survived against Sri Lankan bowlers
Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas.
"It's always disappointing to have rain in cricket, but
you can't fight against nature," Sri Lankan coach Dav Whatmore
said as he watched his players trying to help the groundsmen.
"It was just a goodwill gesture as we wanted to continue
with the game," he explained. "I hope it doesn't rain
tomorrow."
Only 4.5 overs were possible in the first session before
players went off the field for the first time as the rain
started heavily. They had to wait until 35 minutes after lunch
to resume under floodlights and a thick cloud cover.
Strong showers again interrupted play after the Sri
Lankans had bowled another 8.1 overs during which Haq survived
a confident bat and pad appeal off ace spinner Muralitharan.
Malik survived a chance during the short first session as
Mahela Jayawardene dropped a regulation catch in the slip
which denied Muralitharan his fourth wicket of the innings.
Mail Cricket Editor
