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Misfiring fast bowler picks up first three wicket haul in five years
Thursday, 12 July 2012 - 11:45 AM SL Time
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Sri Lankan team members congratulate bowler Dilhara Fernando, second right, for dismissing Pakistan batsman Azhar Ali, unseen, during the fourth day of the third Test cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, July 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
It was a tough day s Test cricket at Pallekele yesterday, as Sri Lanka toiled hard to take seven Pakistani wickets and the tourists had reached 299 for eight, extending their lead to 188 runs at stumps, on day four of the third and final Test between the two countries here at the Pallekele International Stadium.
Left-arm-spinner Rangana Herath finished with four for 64 and took his 150th Test wicket, when he had Younis Khan spectacularly caught at silly point by a diving Tharanga Paranavithana.
He joined former stars Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas as the third Sri Lankan to claim 150 wickets.
There was also some redemption for battered fast bowler Dilhara Fernando, who claimed his 100th Test wicket, when he trapped Mohammad Sami leg before wicket. It took him 40 Test matches to complete 100 Test wickets, while Herath reached his 150th wicket, also in his 40th Test.
Fernando, the blue eyed fast bowler of a succession of Sri Lankan captains, finished with three for 65, the first time he has taken three wickets in an innings, since July 2007, after 20 Test innings.
Although Fernando has looked past his prime, the country s selectors have persevered with him, despite numerous let downs like he did in Southampton last year, where he limped off, having bowled just 10 overs in the entire game.
Duleep Mendis, the Chairman of Selectors at that point, vowed not to consider him for selection unless he proves himself and he wasn t part of the squad when the tracks were flat in the UAE, but for the seamer friendly conditions in South Africa, he came back into the side and Mendis was forced to eat his words.
His supporters, who include Kumar Sangakkara and Sanath Jayasuriya, have argued that Fernando has been unfortunate as he has been bowling on flattest of decks. However, it s not a fair assessment as since taking three wickets in an innings in July 2007 against Bangladesh, Fernando has played at venues such as Hobart, Brisbane, Lord s, Southampton, Centurion and Durban.
Yesterday, however, it was he who gave the team two vital breakthroughs although they weren t the best two deliveries bowled that day.
The overnight pair of Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar Ali had looked set during the extended morning session s play and Hafeez went after a full and wide Fernando delivery, but ended up giving Tharanga Paranavithana a comfortable catch at slip. He made 52.
Herath had accounted for the experienced duo of Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq in the afternoon session, to reduce Pakistan to 176 for four.
However, Azhar Ali teamed up with the top scorer of the first innings, Asad Shafiq, and added 100 runs for the fifth wicket and in the post tea session, nothing was going Sri Lanka s way. Even the new ball failed to bring the breakthrough and finally Fernando was brought in for a fresh spell with the new ball, 10 overs old and in his second over during the new spell, he produced the breakthrough as Azhar was caught behind.
Azhar had scored 136 then, his fourth Test century and the second in the series. Having come in at the fall of Taufeeq Umar on day three with the total on 16, Azhar batted for over six hours and faced 284 deliveries, hitting 13 fours.
Sri Lanka lead the three match series 1-0, having won the first Test in Galle and only require a draw here to win their first series, in three years.
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