Misbah, you absolute beauty! Pakistan win! He curls an imaginary moustache at his dressing room and punches the air in triumph! It was short of a length and he guides it to point and just rushes through for the single. The fielder misses the direct hit and Pakistan pull off an incredible, improbable victory to square the series
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, 3rd Test at Sharjah, Jan 16 2014 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
3rd Test, Sharjah, January 16 - 20, 2014, Sri Lanka tour of United Arab Emirates
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6.10 pm The trophy is shared between both teams as the three-match series is drawn 1-1. Phew, after four days of rather depressing cricket, this has ended up one of the most thrilling finishes ever. Thank you for being with us through all five days and do not miss out on Andrew Fernando and Umar Farooq's pieces on what has been a truly remarkable day's cricket. For now this is Alagappan Muthu, signing off
Misbah-ul-Haq says this is the best moment as captain. Really much wanted win, especially for Dav [Whatmore]. We wanted to win it for him and level the series. We really enjoyed being with him for all two years. We love you and we wish you all success. Sometimes the situation really gives you a guideline. We were one-down and everyone thought we should go for it. Even when they scored 400-plus everyone was positive and even with this 300 target, we knew we could go for it and get the win. Great knock by Azhar. It's surely a great moment and it gives great confidence to the team for more success in the future
Angelo Mathews is the Man of the Series. I thought the first three and a half days we were brilliant and the batting in the second innings, we collapsed. We should have got more than 260. They were desperate to win because they were 1-0 down so we held on. Did that well for the first three and a half days, but our batting failed. Can't blame the spinners, it was more our batters' fault
6.00 pm Azhar Ali is the Man of the Match for a terrific match-winning innings. The message was clear from the management [to go for it] and when I went in and I just played my game. Talked to Younis Khan before the game, I didnt play well before this match. I wanted to play positively and I did that. Most valued innings in my career
5.50 pm Pakistan players invade the field and everyone wants a piece of Misbah. Dav Whatmore hugs him. Both sides exchange pleasantries. Younis Khan nearly squeezes the life out of Azhar Ali. Famous scenes here in Sharjah! Sri Lanka did their absolute best to slow down the game, but at the end of it all, those tactics came down to bite them. Rangana Herath's leg-stump line was whacked away. And once that happened Sri Lanka were just too rattled to work out a plan B. Credit to Pakistan, they did not falter when they lost their openers and that cameo from Sarfraz Ahmed - 48 off 46 balls - shifted the balance and Azhar and Misbah-ul-Haq rode it home. If ever a century was best described as match-winning, it is Azhar's today. Battling a fifth day pitch, a steep chase and some questionable tactics from Sri Lanka, he's guided Pakistan home in the kind of match you dream of as a young cricketer.
Shabaib: "Pakistan has proved one thing over and over again that they are really unpredictable. Hats off to you guys "
Vinod Pathiyal: "FINALLY!!!! Misbah made it! What a pretty innings from Azhar Ali too!!!!! My heart goes out for both of them. Well, Sri Lanka this time was negative in their whole approach that I had to shift my support radars to Pakistan :-) Quite happy"
lishan: "For 4 days and 2 sessions I was a Sri Lankan fan. For the final session I became a Pakistani fan "
57.3
1
Eranga to Misbah, 1 run
only 1 needed now
57.2
1b
Eranga to Shafiq, 1 bye
short ball as he sways under it and Misbah runs through for a bye!
57.1
1
Eranga to Misbah, 1 run
bouncer outside off stump as Misbah goes back and pulls it down to deep square leg for a single
Pakistan need only 3 off 12 to win this. Everyone in the Pakistan dressing room is up on their feet.
kashif: "pak won the hearts of millions of peoples but sri lanka lost there lot of fans by showing that kind of attitude....."
end of over 579 runs • 1 wicket
PAK: 299/5CRR: 5.24
Misbah-ul-Haq66 (70b 4x4)
Asad Shafiq1 (1b)
Suranga Lakmal 12-0-79-3
Shaminda Eranga 15-0-66-1
56.6
1
Lakmal to Misbah, 1 run
full on middle as he moves his back leg outside off and clips it to midwicket and keeps strike
56.5
2
Lakmal to Misbah, 2 runs
full with a little bit of width outside off as he smears one through the covers and they sneak a couple of runs. Great running from these two
56.4
1
Lakmal to Shafiq, 1 run
chips it over the bowler's head and picks up a single to return strike to Misbah
Asad Shafiq is the new man
56.3
W
Lakmal to Azhar Ali, OUT
he's out and Azhar Ali is running off to the pavilion to try and ensure not too much time is wasted. Nicks off to the keeper while he was looking to clear the straight boundary. Lakmal's persistence with a length ball on the stumps. It had hit the stumps too, but the bails were not dislodged
Azhar Ali c †Jayawardene b Lakmal 103 (137b 6x4 0x6 238m) SR: 75.18
56.2
1
Lakmal to Misbah, 1 run
settles into a slogging position as he goes deep in his crease outside off. Drills it to long-on for a single
56.1
4
Lakmal to Misbah, FOUR runs
length ball on the pads as he moves outside off stump and heaves it away to the long leg boundary. The fielder complains that he cannot see the ball
end of over 565 runs
PAK: 290/4CRR: 5.17
Azhar Ali103 (136b 6x4)
Misbah-ul-Haq58 (66b 3x4)
Shaminda Eranga 15-0-66-1
Suranga Lakmal 11-0-70-2
55.6
•
Eranga to Azhar Ali, no run
brilliant yorker from Eranga. Quick inswinging yorker seeking the base of leg stump but Azhar does well to keep it out
Umpire Ravi is having a word with Mathews now, warned for wasting time I think
55.5
1
Eranga to Misbah, 1 run
full toss on leg stump as he whips it down to long leg and Silva keeps it to a single
55.4
2
Eranga to Misbah, 2 runs
moves well outside leg stump and he cracks the short ball through point. Chance of a run-out but the throw comes in rather wide
55.3
•
Eranga to Misbah, no run
short ball, curving in at him as Misbah sinks low and sways inside the line. Keeper does well to take it behind the stumps
55.2
1
Eranga to Azhar Ali, 1 run
he makes a bit of room outside leg but the bowler does well. Its a slower ball which foils his timing as he hits it in the air. But long-off is back
55.1
1
Eranga to Misbah, 1 run
full and tails in on middle and leg as Misbah whips it to long-on to bring up the century partnership between these two. Off only 111 balls
17 off 24 needed. Sri Lanka are pestering the umpires about the light, but play will go on
end of over 5513 runs
PAK: 285/4CRR: 5.18
Azhar Ali102 (134b 6x4)
Misbah-ul-Haq54 (62b 3x4)
Suranga Lakmal 11-0-70-2
Shaminda Eranga 14-0-61-1
54.6
2
Lakmal to Azhar Ali, 2 runs
heaves it away to deep cover again as they pick up another couple
54.5
2
Lakmal to Azhar Ali, 2 runs
two more as he moves outside leg stump and thumps it through extra cover. That's his century! What an innings! It's the kind that would define a player's career. Punches the air in delight, he senses a win here
54.4
2
Lakmal to Azhar Ali, 2 runs
moves across to the off stump and clips it to long-on. They race between the wickets to pick up a couple, but Chandimal sends in a direct hit. Third umpire is called, but he's well in
54.3
4
Lakmal to Azhar Ali, FOUR runs
that's outta here! Plants his front foot outside leg stump and slogs this length ball over midwicket. Punishing heave goes on the bounce and into the boundary
54.2
1
Lakmal to Misbah, 1 run
pulls it towards deep midwicket for a single, did not time that at all as Lakmal bowls a length ball on off stump
54.1
2
Lakmal to Misbah, 2 runs
length ball on middle as he nudges it softly through the midwicket region. Azhar is pushing him for the double and they sneak through! Lakmal seems to have been struck on the hand and the physio was looking to come out onto the field but the umpires send him back
30 off 30 needed now as Lakmal returns
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