Shoaib Malik Helps Pakistan Build Big Lead in Colombo

Shoaib Malik Helps Pakistan Build Big Lead in Colombo

Misbah and Malik put on 119 for the fifth wicket.

©REUTERS/Vivek Prakash (SRI LANKA SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Pakistan 299 & 300-5 (Shoaib Malik 106no) v
Sri Lanka 233 (Danish Kaneria 5-62)
Scorecard
Third Test, Colombo, day three
By Peter Exley

Pakistan built an imposing lead of 366 runs in the third and final Test match against Sri Lanka as they moved to 300 for five in their second innings thanks to a century from former captain Shoaib Malik.

Overnight, the tourists were 16 for one and suffered further struggles as they looked to be heading for another collapse. They fell to 67 for four losing star batsmen Younus Khan and Mohammad Yousuf cheaply as they looked to the struggling middle order for runs.

Captain Younus Khan had hit out recently in the media saying that he is powerless to help his team if the experienced middle order continues to falter. However, they answered their criticisms in the best way possible as first Misbah-ul-Haq scored 65 and Shoaib Malik went on after the loss of Misbah to finish the day unbeaten on 106. Kamran Akmal also added a quickfire 60 not out as they progressed to lead by 366 at the end of the day.

With so much time left in the match, it is hard to see how Pakistan can possibly lose, or even draw this match. However, that was the case in the first Test and Sri Lanka came back strong, but the tourists will want to go home with some pride intact which would dispel any rumours of splits in the dressing room.

© Cricket World 2009

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