Overseas Tests

Kumar Sangakkara

Pakistan v Sri Lanka
After Pakistan had occupied the crease for some of the first day, all of the second and most of the third to accumulate 511, Sri Lanka batted the fourth day out with the same endeavour, scoring just 251 for the loss of 4 wickets. Thanks chiefly to Kumar Sangakkara's unbeaten 161 and inept Pakistani catching, Sri Lanka are within 16 runs of making Pakistan bat again. Five catches were grassed, three of them by Mohammad Hafeez off the blade Lahiru Thirimanne, including misses at slip of successive deliveries from Junaid Khan. Thirimanne added 153 with Sangakkara who also had his share of luck being dropped twice by Younis Khan. As often happens, after such a long partnership, Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan fell inside ten overs of Thirimanne's dismissal but Sangakkara continued to resist with Angelo Mathews and Prasanna Jayawardene, bringing up his 26th Test century, 14 of which have been beyond the 150 mark. In fact, if he reaches his double century, it will be his eighth, leaving Hammond behind and with only Lara and Bradman scoring more. They say you are defined by the company you keep.

Pakistan couldn't catch on Day 4

As great as this Sri Lankan team is, they are in steady decline with Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara in the same bracket as Ricky Ponting: still good players who can hurt you on occasion but unlikely to bat you out of a series because their high scoring consistency is dissipating. Dilshan never was a great, averaging no better than early forties which once was well considered but not in the modern game where only averages over 50 attract attention. Since Murali and Vaas left, allowing the wallpapered cracks to weather and be exposed, Sri Lanka have not found youngsters of the same verve. There are too many conservatives with no audacity in the batting and their bowlers are at best honest. Malinga was a match winner but he prefers to win matches for more generous paymasters. Angelo Mathews, now vice captain, also stands apart from the bunch but whether team mates will be prepared to follow a leader with only a two syllable surname is debatable.

Pakistan should win on the last day if the lofted ball doesn't continue to find Hafeez. On a docile wicket, their bowlers have worked hard for the victory and deserve a change of luck. Their batting lacks endeavour, with Azhar, Younis and particularly Taufeeq batting like children hiding in a bedroom cupboard from the boogie man. On a placid pitch, against an opposition which appear to be finding cricket a chore and an opposing captain who shows as much interest in the game as a nun at an underwear party, there was no excuse for personal scoring rate below 50 per hundred balls.

Tamim Iqbal made 52

Bangladesh v West Indies
The Stuart Law coached Bangladesh started their first home series since March of 2010, with the opening day against the West Indies at Chittagong. Mushfiqur Rahm won the toss in his debut Test as Bangladesh captain and batted. Much confidence has been placed in the 23 year old, who will also keep wicket. He debuted as a 16 year old - the youngest of all nations to have played at Lords - and despite concerns about his form a year ago, has risen to the top. He top scored on a day of steady batting which threatened to run away from the West Indies only to be pegged back by its own enthusiasm for stroke play. Darren Sammy did a good job on a dead wicket, changing his bowlers around often and varying angles of attack and field placings. Iqbal Kayes was the only batsman not to make a start, snicking o Baugh of Ravi Rampaul. The others all made inroads but failed to take it all the way down the highway.

As a result, quick wickets tomorrow could well undo their good work.

Nafees was felled by Fidel Edwards

Davendra Bishoo got spin after lunch and the odd ball kept disturbingly low for a first day track. Marlon Samuels, cast into the second spinner role despite getting first use of the ball, was gifted two wickets when Iqbal and Hasan threw their hands away with senseless slogs after they had batted their way into command. Fidel Edwards was his usual aggressive self, channelling Charlie Griffiths with an around the wicket bouncer which sent No 3 Nafees from the field with a bloodied nose when the ball either snuck between visor and grill or just hit with enough impact to force the grill back into his face. Cause was irrelevant as effect was the same.

An even day that could have been even better for Bangladesh but they don't play enough cricket to have that experience on hand. Rain will be the biggest threat to both sides over the next few days.