Another Akram hat-trick, Lanka doomed

DHAKA, MARCH 14: Wasim Akram became the first bowler to claim a Test hat-trick in successive Tests after Ijaz Ahmed and Inzamam-ul Haq po...

DHAKA, MARCH 14: Wasim Akram became the first bowler to claim a Test hat-trick in successive Tests after Ijaz Ahmed and Inzamam-ul Haq pounded away to double centuries as Pakistan were poised to score a massive win over hapless Sri Lanka in the Asian Test cricket championship final on the third day today.

The 33-year-old left-arm paceman, who produced the feat in the final league tie of the series against Sri Lanka at Lahore earlier this month, struck off the last two balls of his first over and completed the sensational effort by firing out Mahela Jayawardene first ball of his second over. The Pakistan skipper left Sri Lanka reeling at nine for three in their second innings, still needing 354 runs to avoid the looming innings defeat.

Earlier, Ijaz Ahmed and Inzamam-ul Haq struck career-best knocks of 211 and 200 not out respectively as Pakistan piled up 594, to take a 363-run first innings lead. Debutant leg-spinner Upul Chandana proved the lone saving grace for Lanka, as he toiled to finish with asplendid haul of six for 179.

Ijaz Ahmed, who returned to form with a vengeance, eclipsed his previous best of 155 by a long way and completed 3000 runs in Tests when he reached 148.

Ijaz and Inzamam-Ul Haq piled up 352 runs for the third wicket before Haq retired hurt. He returned to be unbeaten on 200 as Ahmed8217;s dismissal led to Pakistan losing their last seven wickets for only 79 runs.

Akram triggered the early collapse this time to have magical figures of 1.1-0-5-3. He began his feat with the fifth delivery of the very first over, a short lifting ball which left-hander Avisha Gunawardene fended and Shahid Afridi at third slip dived to come up with a one-handed catch.

Chaminda Vaas, sent as nightwatchman, was then beaten by sheer pace to be bowled off-stump. With expectations running high, Akram angled a widish ball to Mahela Jayawardene off the first ball of his second over, but the batsman needlessly tried to drive and tamely edged to Wajahatullah Wasti at third slip as Pakistan fielders mobbedtheir jubilant skipper in celebration.

Story continues below this ad

8220;It is a great achievement and I am delighted,8221; Akram told reporters. 8220;This is a double delight as my father was watching from the stands,8221; he said.

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka 1st innings: 231

Pakistan 1st innings: S Anwar c amp; b Arnold 57, W Wasti c Jayawardene b S De Silva 22, I Ahmed st Tillekeratne b Chandana 211, Inzamam-ul Haq not out 200, Y Youhana c sub Hathurasinghe b Chandana 19, S Afridi camp;b Chandana 21, M Khan c S de Silva b Arnold 10, W Akram c Vaas b Chandana 8, S Mushtaq run out 4, Arshad Khan c Tillekeratne b Chandana 3, S Akhtar st Tillekeratne b Chandana 4. Extras b 13, lb 14, nb 8: 35. Total 184.4 overs: 594

Fall of wickets: 1-75 2-117 3-483 4-515 5-518 6-534 7-542 8-555 9-560.

Bowling: Vaas 32-4-101-0, Wickremasinghe 20-4-53-0, S De Silva 25.4-3-75-1, Chandana 47.4-8-179-6, A De Silva 12-0-44-0, Arnold 37.2-6-80-2, Jayawardena 10-1-35-0.

Story continues below this ad

Sri Lanka 2nd innings: R Arnold batting 8, A Gunawardenac Afridi b Akram 0, C Vaas b Akram 0, M Jayawardena c Wasti b Akram 1. Extras: 0. Total for three wickets, 2.1 overs: 9

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-5, 3-9.

Bowling: Akram 1.1-0-5-3, Akhtar 1-0-4-0.

AKRAMAK FEAT

Akram8217;s feat was the 25th hat-trick in 123 years.

He became the third bowler to claim a hat-trick twice, and joined Australians H Trumble vs England at Melbourne in 1901-02 and 1903-04 series and TJ Mathews vs South Africa at Manchester in 1912. Mathews is the only bowler to claim a hat-trick in each innings of the same match.

Akram is the first bowler to take hat-tricks in two successive Tests. He is also the only bowler to take hat-tricks in Tests and one-dayers. Akram has two hattrick in one-dayers 8212; in Sharjah against Australia and West Indies.

Akram took his tally of wickets to 378, ahead of Malcolm Marshall8217;s 376. He is now fifth on the list of Test wicket-takers, behind Kapil Dev 434, Sir Richard Hadlee 431, Courtney Walsh408 and Ian Botham 383.