2 min readAbu DhabiJan 5, 2014 12:17 AM IST
First published on: Jan 5, 2014 at 12:17 AM IST
The first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka ended in a draw on the fifth and final day in Abu Dhabi after Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad hit half-centuries. Hafeez finished with 80 n.o for his ninth Test half-century,his first in 11 innings,while Ahmed Shehzad notched his maiden fifty on his debut as Pakistan,set 302 runs in a possible of 67 overs,finished on 158/2.
The no-result is also a moral victory for the Sri Lankans who were in a danger of losing after conceding a big 179-run lead in the first innings and were 186/4 after the third day,leading by just seven runs with six wickets intact.
Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews hit a career-best 157 not out to pull his team out of danger on the fourth day when they lost only one wicket in the full days play for 234 runs. The target always looked beyond Pakistans reach as their best winning chase in all Test cricket was 314 against Australia in Karachi in 1994. Pakistan lost opener Khurram Manzoor early,but Hafeez and Shehzad avoided any further loss and put on 94 in an unbroken second wicket stand.
Hafeez reached his half-century with two fours. Shehzad also hit spinner Rangana Herath for his seventh four to reach his maiden 50 before he was trapped leg-before by the same bowler soon after tea for 55. Hafeez hit 11 fours during his sedate knock. Younis Khan was the other unbeaten batsman with 13. Earlier,SL declared their second innings on 480/5 after batting an hour and 30 minutes.
BRIEF SCORES: SL 204 amp; 480/5 in 168.3 overs L Chandimal 89,A Mathews 157; J Khan 3/93 drew with Pak 158/2 in 52 overs A Shehzad 55,M Hafeez 85; R Herath 1/37
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