Pakistan Wins In Dubai

Pakistan won the 2nd Test against Sri Lanka, taking a 1-0 lead in the three Tests being played in neutral venues in the UAE. 

MOM Saeed Ajmal

It was a strange Test. Despite winning with ease by nine wickets, it was less the work of her bowlers that secured the victory for Pakistan than it was the work of the Sri Lankan batsmen. With a batting order that has been declining in performance for some time, it was again their ineptitude in twice being dismissed around the 250 mark which gifted the match to Pakistan. Kumar Sangakkara and regular keeper Prasanna Jayawardene have nearly 450 runs between them for the series which is the same as the combined runs of the remaining six players who have batted in the top seven. Mahela Jayawardene and captain Tillakaratne Dilshan have a combined aggregate of 81 runs in eight innings which should be the greatest cause for concern, especially as the skipper is calling on his batsmen for more application. Its always a worry when the leader starts talking to himself.

Azhar Ali first Test hundred

It was also strange that Saeed Ajmal was awarded Man of the Match for capturing eight wickets, including 5-68 in the Sri Lankan second innings. Like a good proctologist, his best work was done cleaning out the tail, with only two of his eight scalps in the top seven of the batting order. Why Azhar Ali didn't win is a mystery, as his first Test century after 10 scores over fifty, was the main reason Pakistan were in a winning position and he was not out at the end when the victory was had.

Jayawardene failed again

Sri Lanka resumed at 1-88 and the loss of Sangakkara was the blow they didn't need, especially to yet another roughy from umpire Tony Hill. He has had more howlers this year than a werewolves convention and the ICC needs to act to either improve or remove him from the international panel. The soft middle order again left without resistance: Jayawardene sweeping at a ball outside off from Ajmal and losing his leg stump and Dilshan lbw to Junaid Khan with one that jagged back into his pads from the off. When opener Tharanga Paranavitana's 80 overs of resistance ended soon after, Angelo Matthews was again left to bat with the tail and added another fifty to a growing record which requires another move up the order, probably to four. Prassad tried hardest in the tail but Ajmal was too good for the likes of these. Hafeez and Ali made comfortable work of scoring the 94 needed for victory at four runs an over.

Pakistan were impressive but Sri Lanka were very disappointing and their poor showing in recent months is putting Australia's "improvement" into perspective. Lets not start celebrating just yet.