Pakistan batsmen grind their way into dominant position

Pakistan's batsmen steadily batted their side into a powerful position on the third day of the Unofficial Test Match against Sri Lanka A at NCC Grounds in Colombo today. Sri Lanka's bowlers were forced to toil hard throughout the day and their batsmen are now faced with the difficult task of playing the waspish leg spin of Danish Kaneria on a final day pitch tomorrow.

Pakistan, who started the day on 55 without loss, progressed slowly throughout the day, scoring 63 in the morning session, 77 in the afternoon, and 74 in the evening. Indeed, they may have batted a little too cautiously to force a win: by doing so they sacrificed the option of an all out assault at the Sri Lankan openers tonight, a prospect that the home side would not have relished.

A team cricket, however, is not so much about winning but the experience and the Pakistan coach cum manager, Mudassar Nazar, a tenacious accumulator and proud scorer of the slowest century ever in Test cricket, will have been delighted with the application of Imran Farhat (45), Faisal Naweed (80), and Hasan Raza (54), who guided Pakistan to 269 for six at the close. Pakistan now have a lead of 246 and can be expected to declare early tomorrow morning.

Hasan Raza, the Pakistan captain, admitted afterwards that he would have preferred to score more runs than they did, but defended his side's cautious approach, claiming it was still a fine batting track and that they decided to take the safe option. Perhaps Geoffery Boycott has spent too long with this young crop.

Though a pedestrian day, for a brief moment in the evening session the game threatened to spark into life. Thilan Samaraweera, who had just dropped Hasan Raza at first slip, claimed three wickets in the 79th over of the innings, just when the batsmen were looking to raise the tempo. Pakistan collapsed from 217 for two to 217 for five, a lead of 194 with nearly two hours remaining in the extended last session.

Faisal Naweed started the mini-slide when he threw away the chance of a century with a demented charge down the wicket. Tillakaratne Dilshan completed the second of four dismissals - a very tidy exhibition from a part-time keeper. Naweed had compiled a painstaking five-and-a-half hour 80.

Qaiser Abbas, who had waited three hours with his pads on as Raza and Naweed added 105 for the third wicket, batted like a man itching to get into the action. He flailed enthusiastically at his first delivery, prodded suspiciously at his second, only to be caught behind of his third. The stocky Humayun Farhat lasted just two balls before he too charged down the wicket and was stumped.

Hasan Raza responded by pointed his elbow to the stars and his head to the ground. Although, one hour later, Samaraweera eventually bowled him for 58, the Pakistan innings did not crumble. The languid Hisbah ul-Haq saw to that with a stubborn undefeated 25 from 90 deliveries. Sri Lanka's chance of victory, barring a sensational century from Gunawardene, appears to have vanished.

Thilan Samaraweera was once again the pick of the bowlers, picking up four economical wickets from his 26 overs. Sajeewa Weerakoon, the left arm spinner, failed to threaten the batsmen, though he too was economical and helped to keep the batsmen in check.

Akalanka Ganegama apart, the Sri Lankan seam bowlers were disappointing - both Suresh Perera and Ishara Amerasinghe were unable to maintain a consistent line and length - which perhaps persuaded Samaraweera to not take the new ball.