Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, 1st Test at Abu Dhabi, , Oct 18 2011 - Ball by Ball Commentary

That's all from us here. Thanks for joining us. Okay bye

Tony Grieg leads the presentation ceremony. Believe it or not, Mohammad Hafeez is the first man to win a cash award. Five hundred dollars for maximum sixes. A typical middle-east presentation ceremony with cash awards for many things, such as maximum sixes, fours, and some other things I don't remember. Already four people have had cash awards, and we haven't reached the business end. And the commentators didn't even consider Junaid Khan for the Man of the Match award. Kumar Sangakkara gets it. Lovely innings he played. He says, "It was one of the most satisfactory innings I have played. We were expecting a bit of a chase, but it was nice to get out of the hole. The way Prasanna batted was unbelievable, after having kept for two days. I thought our bowlers toiled hard, but they are a new attack. They held their own pretty well, they kept the opposition under 3 an over, that helped us claw our way out in the end."

TM Dilshan says, "Proud of the team for coming back. The way we fielded, our body language in the field, and then the batting over the last two days. But batting is definitely an area of concern. We will watch rugby finals tomorrow, then two days' training, and then next Test."

Misbah-ul-Haq says, "Of course they are a very good team. They showed that by saving the game. At the end a lot of positives. Good bowling and batting, the only negative was fielding. We are going to work on that. That's one thing we can improve by just working hard. Sometimes it is just rotten luck that you dropped so many in one match. We have played a lot of cricket here, and we know that the only assistance for bowlers is on hte first two days. Our bowlers responded really well, even in the second innings they bowled their hearts out. Top drawer."

Oh it's finally over. They shake hands. Got to say that Sri Lanka will be the more satisfied team today. Sanga and Prasanna find a quiet moment to embrace each other and congratulate each other on their work. For Pakistan, this is the one that got away. One of the many. I am just amazed how they keep recovering from these devastating finishes. I can't feel bad enough for the Pakistani bowlers. They had the heat, the dust, their own fielders, their slow batsmen, the umpires working against them, but they made this match, they kept us interested, the bowled their heart, guts, and brains out. Congratulations too to Taufeeq, Sanga, Prasanna, and despite the huge character Sangakkara showed, I am sure he will agree when I say the Pakistani bowlers were the real stars of the match.

"Dilshan should consider himself lucky that this time HAFEEZ did not refuse his offer." Salman, I am sure Hafeez didn't want to put his average in jeopardy

"What was wrong with Dilshan at Columbo. In that match he was soaking his heels in dressing room with Angelo killing the match that too when the series had to be levelled. Ridiculous from Dilshan." Saud, you and I would be brave too when we have nothing to lose. Back then they had a Test to lose. Don't read too much into the overs being bowled now

I have been told TV is getting no adverts between breaks now. I can understand why. If I, say, was a roach-killing spray manufacturer, for example, I wouldn't want to advertise my product now. Nuwan Pradeep to bowl now

I feel I might be imagining this match up. The team that could win doesn't want to win. The team that couldn't win doesn't to go of the field

Come on Dilshan, this UAE, desert, hot, everybody has worked hard. Give them a rest

The match continues. Continues to do what, I don't know