Ton-up Mathews helps Sri Lanka foil

Cricket: Ton-up Mathews helps Sri Lanka foil
Pakistan

Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews hit a
pugnacious hundred to pull Sri Lanka out of
trouble on the fourth day of the first Test against
Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
Mathews notched up 116 not out under pressure
for his second Test hundred and put on
invaluable 138-run partnership for the fifth wicket
with Dinesh Chandimal (89) and 99 for the
unfinished sixth wicket with Prasanna
Jayawardene (48 not out) to take Sri Lanka to
420-5 at close at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
Sri Lanka resumed the day at 186-4, but
Mathews' career-best score and resolute innings
by Chandimal and Prasanna helped Sri Lanka add
234 runs for the loss of only one wicket.
They now lead by 241 runs and with five wickets
intact can harbour hopes of an unlikely win on
the fifth and final day or at least salvage a draw.
Chandimal praised Mathews's knock.
"He batted well at a crucial stage and batted like
a captain," said Chandimal. With a bit of spin on
the pitch we keep our fingers crossed (for a win)
and a 300-plus target might be a winning one."
Mathews batted with resolve, blunting off-spinner
Saeed Ajmal and had the better of Pakistan's
three-pronged pace attack, reaching his hundred
in the final session, taking two off Bhatti. His
hundred came off 239 balls.
In all the Sri Lankan captain batted for 370
minutes, hitting 12 boundaries and six off Ajmal,
who conceded 96 runs in 42 wicket-less overs.
Neither Mathews nor Chandimal were bothered at
all early on and even the second new ball, taken
at 249-4, failed to benefit Pakistan with a wicket
as Sri Lanka reached 285-4 at lunch.
Pakistan had one chance to dismiss Chandimal in
the second over after lunch when a edge off
Bilawal Bhatti flew close to Ahmed Shehzad's
outstretched hands in the second slip when the
batsman was 71.
Finally, Junaid broke the stand at 324 when he
had Chandmial caught at deep fine-leg off a
miscued hook. Chandimal batted for 251 minutes
and hit a dozen boundaries.
But even after Chandimal's exit, Mathews and
Prasanna batted without any problems to leave
Pakistani bowlers frustrated.
Mathews's previous best of 105 not out came
against Australia at Colombo in 2011 and
followed up his 91 in Sri Lanka's first innings
total of 204. Pakistan had made 383 in their first
knock.
Prasanna has so far hit five fours and six in his
able assistance of Mathews.
Left-arm paceman Junaid was the best Pakistani
bowler with 3-81 while fellow fast bowler Bilawal
Bhatti took 2-131.
Pakistan coach Mohammad Akram said his
bowlers did their best.
"Our bowlers put up their best effort but Mathews
and Chandimal batted very well," said Akram. "If
they are bowled out in the first hour we can fancy
our chances of winning the match."
Pakistan started the day on a wrong note when
wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal was ruled out of the
three-Test series with a fractured finger and
Younis Khan had to keep wickets.
Sarfraz Ahmed has been summoned as Akmal's
replacement for the next two Tests, second in
Dubai (January 8-12) and Sharjah (January
16-20).