Who moved my ball?

Of all the different means of finishing the day's play late, there was an odd one found today, when the ball was misplaced just before the start of play. The umpires had left it on the ground for the Pakistan team to pick it up. But between the time the umpires walked out and when the fielders ran out, a groundsman thought it to be a practice ball and just rolled it over the boundary. There was chaos for five minutes before the ball was found, and play could commence.

In one session of inspired play, Pakistan displayed both the extremes in the field. Mohammad Aamer started the day with a direct hit from mid-off to get rid of Thilan Samaraweera and kickstart a collapse. When his turn came to bowl and get a wicket against his name, Aamer got an edge from Angelo Mathews - a dolly that was dropped by Khurram Manzoor at second slip. Mathews was 4 when dropped, and ended up with 27.

Blame it on the helmets. In the eighth over of Pakistan's innings, the way Fawad Alam played a bouncer from Thilan Thushara could have been fatal. It came straight for the throat, Fawad started to sway out late, the ball followed, and somehow missed the head. Fawad fell over in the effort of saving self from that delivery.

For getting out on 87. His best Test score: 287.

With the lush outfield, and the green square, it seemed this match wouldn't witness any reverse-swing. But Umar Gul managed to do just that, and to a lethal and telling effect. In the eight overs he bowled today, Gul took three wickets for 15 runs.