LAHORE, Pakistan, March 6 (AFP) - Pakistan captain Wasim Akram bowled with venom to record his first Test cricket hat-trick for Pakistan on the third day of the third Asian Test Championship against Sri Lanka here on Saturday and became the first bowler to record a hat-trick in both tests and one day internationals.
Wasim's feat, he finished with 4-30, was not enough to stop Sri Lanka from qualifying for the Asian Championship final, edging out India, after they managed 328 in their first innings with sparkling centuries from opener Russel Arnold and wicketkeeper batsman Romesh Kaluwitharana.
But Pakistan finished the day well on top 149-0, a record opening partnership, in their second innings with an overall lead of 219 with all wickets in hand.
Shahid Afridi rode his luck to finish on 81 and Wajahatullah Wasti was on 61 as Pakistan took a firm grip on the Test.
Arnold played an innings of character and his 123 paved the tourists way for a place in the final. Arnold was assisted in the Lankan charge by Kaluwitharana, who made exactly 100 with some aggressive shots.
Sri Lanka accumulated 12 points in two Tests to India's 11 in the same number of Tests. Pakistan had beaten India in the first Asian Test in Calcutta last month while the tie between Sri Lanka and India ended as a draw in Colombo.
Sri Lanka needed to score 300 runs inside 100 overs to gain four batting points which they did with consummate ease before Wasim dismissed Kaluwitharana, Bandaratilleke and Wickremasinghe in his ninth over, becoming the first Pakistani to achieve a hat trick in Test cricket.
''A hat-trick is a great achievemant and I am delighted to have recorded this feat after my two hat-tricks in one-dayers but being the only man to do it in both forms of the game is a singular honour,'' Wasim said.
Wasim's feat is the 24th hat-trick in 123 years of Test cricket and he became the 22nd bowler to dismiss three batsmen on consecutive balls.
Akram's two hat tricks in one-dayers were both recorded at Sharjah against Australia and the West Indies.
Kaluwitharana edged an outgoing delivery to keeper Moin and Bandaratilleke and Wickremasinghe were bowled neck and crop.
Pakistan opened their second innings with Afridi and Wajahatullah. Shahid benefitted from four drop chances and completed his fifty in 111 minutes with seven fours and a six off Bandaratilleke. Wajahatullah was more steady and reached his fifty in 148 minutes with four fours and a six.
Afridi, dropped on 8, 18, 36 and 65, hit 11 fours and a six during his innings. He shared a new record opening wicket stand with Wajahatullah beating the previous best of 128 recorded on two occasions.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka will meet in the Asian Test Championship final in Dhaka, from March 12-16, regardless of the outcome of the current test. |
