DHAKA, March 14 (AFP) - Pakistani captain Wasim Akram on Sunday became the first bowler to claim two test hat-tricks as Pakistan took a firm grip on the Asian Test final here on the third day of the encounter.
Akram's feat came after double centuries by Ijaz Ahmed and Inzamam-ul Haq had left Sri Lanka on the brink of a heavy defeat.
Ijaz made 211 and Inzamam an unbeaten 200 as Pakistan ground the Sri Lankan attack to dust to pile up a mammoth 594 shortly before close of the third day's play.
Akram then created a sensation as Sri Lanka, needing 364 to avoid an innings defeat, slipped to 9-3 in 13 deliveries before stumps.
The lethal left-arm seamer, who achieved a similar feat in last week's Lahore Test against the Sri Lankans, devastated the tired top order with speed and movement.
Akram had Avishka Gunawardena caught brilliantly in the slips by Shahid Afridi off his fifth delivery and shattered nightwatchman Chaminda Vaas' stumps off the next.
After an over from Shoaib Akhtar at the other end, Akram removed Mahela Jayawardena with his first ball of the next over through a simple catch in the slips.
The umpires called off play at that stage, bringing some relief to the beleaguered Sri Lankans who had chased the ball under blistering heat for most of the day.
''It was quite unbelievable,'' said a delighted Akram, who took his tally to 378 Test wickets and joined the queue with West Indian Courtney Walsh (404) to break Indian Kapil Dev's record of 434.
''I think Walsh will certainly get there and I hope I can follow suit,'' Akram said.
''Two hat-tricks in as many matches is something I never dreamt of, but it gives me the confidence to reach the summit.
''My immediate task however is to win the Asian final. We bowlers have to complete the good work done by both Ijaz and Inzamam.''
The hat-trick overshadowed masterly batting by the duo, who notched up career-best scores on the slow wicket at the Bangabandhu National stadium2E
Ijaz, whose previous best was 155 against Australia at Peshawar earlier this season, hit 23 boundaries and a six during his long nine-hour vigil.
Inzamam, retiring hurt with cramps on 156, returned at the fall of the sixth wicket to complete his double century in last man Shoaib Akhtar's company2E
As Akhtar stood his ground, Inzamam moved from 172 to 200 with the help of two sixes and a boundary off leg-spinner Upul Chandana.
It was Inzamam's seventh Test century and passed his previous highest of 177 against the West Indies at Rawalpindi in 1997. For Ijaz, it was his seventh three-figure knock.
The third-wicket stand between Ijaz and Inzamam realised 352 runs, and when Inzamam limped off, Ijaz added another 14 with next man Yousuf Youhanna.
Ijaz was finally stumped by wicket-keeper Hashan Tillekeratne, standing in for the sick Romesh Kaluwitharana, to give debutant Chandana his first Test wicket after 33 expensive overs.
Chandana claimed six of the last seven wickets to finish with 6-179 as Pakistan gifted their wickets towards the end much to the relief of the tired attack.
Pakistan still managed their highest Test total against Sri Lanka, surpassing their previous best of 555-3 at Faisalabad in 1985-86.
The depleted Sri Lankans paid a heavy price for letting off both batsmen early in their innings on Saturday, especially Inzamam who was dropped by Gunawardena before he had scored. |
