Pakistan ended the third day of the first test match against Sri Lanka at Galle needing only 97 more runs to win, with eight wickets standing. Chasing a rather low total of 168, Pakistan was 71/2 when play was ended due to bad light, with Salman Butt and first innings’ century scorer, Mohammad Yousuf at the crease.
Resuming on their overnight score of 0/0, Sri Lanka was jolted in the very first over of the day when Umar Gul had Malinda Warnapura edge one to Younis Khan in the slips. Overnight night-watchman, Rangan Herath was then joined by Tharanga Paranavitana and the duo looked increasingly comfortable at the wicket in a 68-run stand that took them past the Pakistani lead and in a good position at lunch.
However, things began to change dramatically for Pakistan in the second session, as debutant Mohammad Aamer scythed through the middle-order with a hostile spell of bowling when the ball swung both ways and caused enough trouble for the Lankan batsmen.
Paranavitana edged an ongoing delivery to the ‘keeper for a well-compiled 49, and almost identically, Mahela Jayawardene did the same to be dismissed for a duck. Kumar Sangakkara hung around for 50 minutes for his 14 runs, but was done in by a well pitched up delivery that deviated a little after pitching and taking the edge to give Kamran Akmal his third successive catch and Aamer as many wickets.
T.Dilshan and Thilan Samaraweera played aggressively but Younus Khan’s brilliant swing bowling accounted for Dilshan as he failed to evade a wide-looking half-volley and guided it straight to the second slip. Samaraweera (34) also did not last too long after that, falling victim to a Doosra bowled by Saeed Ajmal, and while the tail wagged well – Angelo Mathews and Nuwan Kulasekera scoring 27 and 25 each – the Lankans were dismissed after tea for 217; a lead of 167 only. Aamer and Ajmal, both bagged three wickets each.
Pakistan began their reply with an opening stand of 36, but Ajantha Mendis bagged the first wicket of the game by inducing an edge from Khurram Manzoor to the slips. Captain Younus Khan added three more, but was declared LBW to Angelo Mathews and bad light ended play soon after that. Pakistan was 71/2 at close, with Salman Butt and Mohammad Yousuf at the crease.