Wasti, Nazeer help Pak take command

March 4: Wasti, playing in only his second Test after his poor debut against India in Calcutta last month, stood firm after seasoned open...

March 4: Wasti, playing in only his second Test after his poor debut against India in Calcutta last month, stood firm after seasoned opener Saeed Anwar’s third ball dismissal and burly Inzamam-ul Haq also fell for nought, to be on the verge of his maiden Test hundred.

The 20-year-old Wasti and 18-year-old Nazir, with a hard-hitting 64, ensured their team suffered no further hiccups till lunch, taken at 98 for one.

The day’s play was interrupted by unseasonal rain and well over two hours of play was lost, including the entire post-lunch session. At close Yousuf Youhana was giving Wasti company with an unbeaten 40.

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The depleted Sri Lanka, seeking to get a difficult seven points, threatened to embarrass the hosts, who have already qualified to the final of the championship.

Lankan medium pacer Pramodya Wickremasinghe, spearheading the attack, bowled Anwar with a straight delivery off the very third ball of the day and then removed Nazir and Haq at 105 to finish the day with three for 61.

Imran, hailedas an exciting and free-scoring batsman after a rousing series against the visiting South African Colts, lived up to his promise by putting the depleted Sri Lankan attack to sword.

He struck 10 fours besides a six off medium pacer Chandika Hathurasinghe in a knock lasting a shade over two hours, after racing to his half-century in only 67 balls.

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Imran’s adventurous knock finally led to his downfall as he hooked Wickeramasinghe to Sajeeva de Silva at deep fine leg. Inzamam, who was forced to miss the Calcutta Test with a head injury, edged the fourth ball he faced onto the stumps, but Wasti thrived on a few chances to remain unbeaten.

He has struck 12 boundaries in an innings which has lasted close to four and half hours and with the stylish Youhana having played himself in, Pakistan look set for a big score tomorrow.

Scoreboard

Pakistan (1st innings): Saeed Anwar b Wickremasinghe 0, Wajahtullah Wasti batting 80, Imran Nazir c Sajeewa b Wickremasinghe 64, Inzamam-ul Haq b Wickremasinghe 0,Yousaf Youhana batting 40;

Extras (b2, lb3, nb3): 8.

Total (for 3 wickets, 65 overs): 192

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-105, 3-105.

Bowling: Wickremasinghe 19-7-61-3, De Silva 11-0-66-0, Hathurasinghe 10-3-21-0, Bandaratilleke 18-7-25-0, Kalpage 7-1-14-0.