To say that Pakistan won the three-Test series against Sri Lanka 2-0 (1 drawn) entirely due to one man, would not be quite appropriate because cricket is a team game and to win, the contribution of all 11 players is essential.
However, the presence of Wasim Akram made the difference between the two sides. Arguably the greatest all-rounder in contemporary cricket, Akram displayed his talents as a late order batsman and as a destructive left-arm fast bowler by scoring 198 runs and taking nine wickets in the series.
Akram wouldn't have been in Sri Lanka, had it not been for the Qayyum report on match-fixing which saw his contract with a broadcasting company in England being terminated. His batting and bowling performance in the first Test at the SSC grounds, where he scored 78 and 20 (n.o.) and took six wickets decided the course of the series. Sri Lanka had the Pakistanis pushed against the wall, at 176 for 9 - leading at that stage by 97 runs, when Akram turned the tide with a superb rearguard action with last man Arshad Khan. Arshad's contribution was just nine not out of a record last wicket partnership of 90, that whittled the lead down to just seven runs. Then Akram the bowler ran through the Sri Lanka batting taking 5 for 45 which also included his 400th wicket in Test cricket, as the home team crashed to 123 all out, leaving Pakistan with just 131 for victory. They lost half the side for 89 before Akram again came to their rescue with a sturdy innings.
The win gave Pakistan the impetus for the rest of the series. At Galle, they ran up a massive 600 for 8 declared, and shot out Sri Lanka for scores of 181 and 256 to seal the fate of the series. Akram was again in the limelight scoring a century (100) on this occasion to join three of his team mates who also crossed the three-figure mark - Saeed Anwar (123), Inzamam-ul-Haq (112) and Younis Khan (116). It was the second occasion in the history of the game, that four Pakistani batsmen have made centuries in one innings of a Test.
Overall, it was the fifth instance in Test cricket where four batsmen made centuries in a Test innings. The previous four were : England (C.J. Barnett 126, L. Hutton 100, E. Paynter 216 n.o., D.C.S. Compton 102) v Australia (Nottingham), 1938, West Indies (C.L. Walcott 152, G.E. Gomez 101, E. de C. Weekes 128, R.J. Christiani 107) v India (Delhi), 1948-49, Pakistan (Javed Miandad 126, Zaheer Abbas 168, Salim Malik 107, Imran Khan 117) v India (Faisalabad), 1982-83, and West Indies (C.G. Greenidge 154, D.L.
Haynes 136, P.J.L. Dujon 110, C.H. Lloyd 106) v India (Antigua), 1982-83.
Australia holds the world record for the most number of centuries in one Test innings with five (C.C. McDonald 127, R.N. Harvey 204, K.R. Miller 109, R.G. Archer 128, R. Benaud 121) against West Indies (Kingston) 1954-55.
Akram's virtuoso performances, overshadowed the contributions made by the rest of his team mates. Fast bowler Waqar Younis was destructive as Akram, finishing the series with 11 wickets, while off-spinner Arshad Khan amply compensated for the absence of Saqlain Mushtaq (playing county cricket in England) taking the most number of wickets in the series - 12.
With the exception of Yousuf Youhana and Mohammad Wasim who had a lean series, the rest of the Pakistan top order performed to expectations.
Sri Lanka paid the folly for being over defensive in their approach in the first two Tests. More than the bowling it was the inability of the batsmen to put together a big total that led to their downfall. A much more positive approach in the final Test at Kandy saw them produce their best batting of the series, with the captain Sanath Jayasuriya and vice-captain Marvan Atapattu leading the way with a record opening stand of 335. However luck was not with the team, because at the time the batting clicked, the weather turned foul washing off more three days play and forcing a draw.
Atapattu continuing from where he left off in Pakistan, topped the Sri Lanka batting with an impressive average of 95. His total of 380 runs included an unbeaten double century, the third time he has reached the mark in Test cricket. Jayasuriya by virtue of his innings of 188 at Kandy finished second to Atapattu averaging 55, but the rest of the batting did not play to potential. Much was expected from the two experienced campaigners Aravinda de Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga, but their contributions were average and did not do justice to their inclusions.
De Silva, averaged 13.20, and Ranatunga 27.00. Sri Lanka will have to persist with them for some time in the longer game because the younger batsmen have still not learnt to pace out a Test innings in sessions.
On top it all, Russel Arnold and Romesh Kaluwitharana also had lean series with the bat. Kaluwitharana eventually lost his place to young Prasanna Jayawardene in the final Test. Mahela Jayawardena, shed off the responsibilities as vice-captain batted freely to score 161 runs for an average of 32.20 which included two half-centuries, but for a player of his talents, the contribution was insufficient.
Once again the onus was on off-spinner Muthiah Muralitharan to spearhead the bowling. The tireless bowler reeled off 114 overs for his 12 wickets taken at a cost of 25.50. The ineffectiveness of Chaminda Vaas who went wicketless and the lack of support bowlers for Muralitharan did not provide much options to Jayasuriya who faces the same dilemma as his predecessor Ranatunga. The use of left-armer Nuwan Zoysa sparringly has caused a lot of criticism in cricket circles. Zoysa with a history of injuries behind him is being nursed carefully by physio Alex Kontouri. He is much fitter than he was two years ago. In the only Test he bowled (at the SSC) he took four wickets at 17 apiece. He was rested for the second Test at Galle where the Sri Lanka bowling was pummelled for 600 runs.
Dilhara Fernando made a quite Test debut at the SSC where he took two wickets and bowled with some venom. He needs to be given more exposure to become a consistent performer.
� The Daily News |
