The blueprint for this Test match: How can Pakistan win the second Test against Sri Lanka?

[TalhaSyed]

Being 1-0 down in the 2 match series - there is absolutely no point in Pakistan playing for a draw.

So the question is - what does Pakistan need to do to pull off what would be a remarkable victory?

It’s not going to be easy, since we have our backs against the wall and Sri Lanka are well ahead at this stage - but since we have to go for the win, there is no point in messing around!

So here’s what I have in mind:

End of Day 2: End up round about 50/0 In-Shaa-Allah

We then need to somehow bat out Days 3 & 4 whilst scoring at at least 3RPO. If we somehow manage to pull off this tall ask we will find ourselves round about the 600 mark In-Shaa-Allah

On a day 5 spinning wicket we then need to do what we did to SL in the 1st Test and bowl them out cheaply, setting up a remarkable victory In-Shaa-Allah

For this we will need our batsmen - namely the openers, Azhar, Asaq, Babar, Haris & Sarfaraz - to get their heads down and put in a mammoth effort in the first innings.

We would then need Yasir to - somehow - rip through to SL batting line up on Day 5.

A tall and very tough ask - but by no means impossible and it’s what is required if we want to retain our ‘undefeated in UAE’ tag!

[MENTION=46929]shaz619[/MENTION] [MENTION=47617]Red Devil[/MENTION] [MENTION=100918]Square Drive[/MENTION] [MENTION=136079]ahmedwaqas92[/MENTION] - think we need to get the band back together!

 

[Kianig89]

A berserk 150* from Sarfraz as he is the only man capable at scoring with SR of 80+ in this side

 

[Rayyman]

I say bat til Tea on Day 4 having scored 450-odd. Then somehow get SL all out under 200 in 2 sessions. And then chase it in last 2 sessions.

Need to bat at over 3.5 rate tomorrow.

 

[Rayyman]

A berserk 150* from Sarfraz as he is the only man capable at scoring with SR of 80+ in this side

Sami is batting at 60+ atm. That's fine.

Azhar can do it. Did against SL in Maghrib chase.

Asad can do it. Did it in his 137 vs NZ.

Babar, Harris and Sarfraz can do it too.

Only Shan can't. I wouldn't mind it if he got out now tbh.

 

[TalhaSyed]

End of Day 2: End up round about 50/0 In-Shaa-Allah

Miraculously some how managed to pull that off

 

[Abdul]

A berserk 150* from Sarfraz as he is the only man capable at scoring with SR of 80+ in this side

Except he can't score that much. He's likelier to throw it away after scoring flashy 20-25 runs. At that rate, it'd take him 6 innings to score 150 runs in total.

 

[TalhaSyed]

I say bat til Tea on Day 4 having scored 450-odd. Then somehow get SL all out under 200 in 2 sessions. And then chase it in last 2 sessions.

Need to bat at over 3.5 rate tomorrow.

Hmm - I think that could be a good option but that’s basically exactly what we aimed to do in the last Test match & we struggled big time against Herath on a Day 5 pitch.

I think getting into a position where we only need to bat once & SL need to deal with Yasir on Day 5, rather than us having to deal with Herath on Day 5 will give us our best chance of a win

 

[cricketerB94]

Bat once. Set lead of around 300 runs for Sri Lanka. Let them bat on last day. Win by an innings.

 

[Rayyman]

Hmm - I think that could be a good option but that’s basically exactly what we aimed to do in the last Test match & we struggled big time against Herath on a Day 5 pitch.

I think getting into a position where we only need to bat once & SL need to deal with Yasir on Day 5, rather than us having to deal with Herath on Day 5 will give us our best chance of a win

Bat once. Set lead of around 300 runs for Sri Lanka. Let them bat on last day. Win by an innings.

You guys do realize that you are asking for a score of 700-800 from our batsman right?

 

[IndYeah1]

Need a healthy 1st innings lead, and then bowl out SL cheaply with a minimal chase. That's pretty much the only possibility. And a remote one at this point.

 

[Square Drive]

Yup - bat next 2 days and we should be fine.

 

[aloo paratha]

Need to score at least 600 and then hope to get them out below 200, meaning we'll have to chase a maximum of 50, I hope we don't screw that up

 

[msb314]

I would say need to bat well for 4-5 sessions and hope to score around 500-550.

Put SL in to bat around Tea on Day 4 and hope they fold for at most 200 runs so we would e left chasing 150-200 on the final day (and hopefully won't collapse again!)

 

[TalhaSyed]

You guys do realize that you are asking for a score of 700-800 from our batsman right?

Check out the OP - I’m talking 550-600

Get a lead of round about 100 and look to skittle SL out for 150ish

 

[sam_ahm]

This is difficult now, very difficult. I'd say Pakistan's best chance is if they score 600 and that is a long long way away.

 

[msb314]

Except he can't score that much. He's likelier to throw it away after scoring flashy 20-25 runs. At that rate, it'd take him 6 innings to score 150 runs in total.

Even if he scores a brisk 50 - it will be worth its weight in gold if Azhar/Haris/Babar/Asad make substantial scores.

One of our top 3 has to make a big hundred now...

 

[shaz619]

Being 1-0 down in the 2 match series - there is absolutely no point in Pakistan playing for a draw.

So the question is - what does Pakistan need to do to pull off what would be a remarkable victory?

It’s not going to be easy, since we have our backs against the wall and Sri Lanka are well ahead at this stage - but since we have to go for the win, there is no point in messing around!

So here’s what I have in mind:

End of Day 2: End up round about 50/0 In-Shaa-Allah

We then need to somehow bat out Days 3 & 4 whilst scoring at at least 3RPO. If we somehow manage to pull off this tall ask we will find ourselves round about the 600 mark In-Shaa-Allah

On a day 5 spinning wicket we then need to do what we did to SL in the 1st Test and bowl them out cheaply, setting up a remarkable victory In-Shaa-Allah

For this we will need our batsmen - namely the openers, Azhar, Asaq, Babar, Haris & Sarfaraz - to get their heads down and put in a mammoth effort in the first innings.

We would then need Yasir to - somehow - rip through to SL batting line up on Day 5.

A tall and very tough ask - but by no means impossible and it’s what is required if we want to retain our ‘undefeated in UAE’ tag!


[MENTION=46929]shaz619[/MENTION] [MENTION=47617]Red Devil[/MENTION] [MENTION=100918]Square Drive[/MENTION] [MENTION=136079]ahmedwaqas92[/MENTION] - think we need to get the band back together!

I agree with this plan was thinking the same just before I saw your thread, our best bet is to aim for a lead of 150 god willing. Will be tough but it can be done

 

[Kroll]

Putting Lanka in again is going to severely dent our chances. Best way would be go big and bat once with 600+. Time is here for the likes Haris, Babar and Asad to write their names in the history books.

 

[Asif khan]

Match their score and then bowl Yasir into the ground hoping he gets all the wickets and then call it a wonderful team effort if we manage to win.

 

[Syed1]

If we can knock off the rest of the deficit tomorrow and have enough wickets in hand to score a 150 run lead by mid-day on the 4th day.

That would mean 430 odd runs on day three. Pakistan cannot do that even if every batsman got two chances.

 

[Syed1]

Match their score and then bowl Yasir into the ground hoping he gets all the wickets and then call it a wonderful team effort if we manage to win.

That's nicely put


Actually there are only two players playing against Lanka. Shah and Azhar, Haris also if you want to stretch it. But it is team effort

 

[Abdul]

Even if he scores a brisk 50 - it will be worth its weight in gold if Azhar/Haris/Babar/Asad make substantial scores.

One of our top 3 has to make a big hundred now...

Except he'd need 2 innings to score 50 runs.

 

[Hasan123]

Need to aim for a 120 run lead. Sri Lanka seam attack isn't that great . We need to be positive against them and try make sure they over bowl there spinners. Don't think we are out of this game yet. But it will need a big effort from our batters to win this game.

 

[MMHS]

I think, PAK is 2 bowler's short now. Only slim chance I see is by sharing work load of 2.5 bowlers left & take a risk on that extra batting. Bat positively for 75 overs & try to score as much as possible - may be 350 - that takes the team within 100 of SRL, then declare or get all-out. Bowl aggressively for 1 hour, of Day 3, Day 4 morning & expect to get them all out for 250 or so 2nd time to set a target of 325-350 in last 100 overs.

If Micky thinks, they can score 600, thereafter with a 1-0 lead & no chance of winning, SRL will go crazy in 2nd innings to post a target of 250 in 50 overs for PAK - good luck. Probably, Lakmal & this Gamage guy would be able to kick around for an hour on this wicket, if they are happy to pass time.

This is a long weekend here & I have few guests coming, we also are going out - on top of that last week of WC qualifiers ... thanks God, otherwise the Test show that's going around in 2 fields now, probably even I would have joined the band wagon to stop Test cricket, if I had no other distractions

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Score 600 in the next two days.

 

[Hasan123]

I think, PAK is 2 bowler's short now. Only slim chance I see is by sharing work load of 2.5 bowlers left & take a risk on that extra batting. Bat positively for 75 overs & try to score as much as possible - may be 350 - that takes the team within 100 of SRL, then declare or get all-out. Bowl aggressively for 1 hour, of Day 3, Day 4 morning & expect to get them all out for 250 or so 2nd time to set a target of 325-350 in last 100 overs.

If Micky thinks, they can score 600, thereafter with a 1-0 lead & no chance of winning, SRL will go crazy in 2nd innings to post a target of 250 in 50 overs for PAK - good luck. Probably, Lakmal & this Gamage guy would be able to kick around for an hour on this wicket, if they are happy to pass time.

This is a long weekend here & I have few guests coming, we also are going out - on top of that last week of WC qualifiers ... thanks God, otherwise the Test show that's going around in 2 fields now, probably even I would have joined the band wagon to stop Test cricket, if I had no other distractions

Your excited about WC qualifications?

 

[giri26]

It is going to be a huge task to turn this around after conceding nearly 500 runs in the first innings. The best chance is to get as close as possible to the Sri Lankan first innings score and hope to bowl them out cheaply in the second innings. The biggest issues with that for Pakistan is that they would have to chase whatever SL set them in the final innings. If the pitch breaks or misbehaves, that would be a challenge as well.

 

[MMHS]

Your excited about WC qualifications?

Watched almost every "business" match for last 3 days, hence hardly any cricket. Not much to see in cricket either

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Sami Aslam is capable of scoring big and at high SR. He can hit the spinners well and lot will depend on him.

Haris, Babar and Sarfraz should aim to score faster while Azhar and Asad need to keep one end locked.

This pitch is better for shot making and outfield is good too. If we play positively, we can definitely have a lead of 180 at end of day 4.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Reporting for Spirit Squad duty guys !!

So let's now mathematically look at where we are and what we can do to ensure a win, as [MENTION=3474]TalhaSyed[/MENTION] bhai said, no point in going for a draw in this one - Too much is at stake here.

We have 270 overs left in game and since this is the U.A.E. more or less, barring some extremely surprising chain of events, we will hopefully (Inshallah) get all the overs in. To win the game we need to bowl SL out again once more which is why I am allotting 70 overs for our bowlers to achieved the latter on a Day 4 or Day 5 wearing pitch.

The question now arises in those last 70 overs how much our bowlers can defend, because as much as I hate to admit it, we do not have a stock containment bowler in the lineup at the moment and all of them leak runs faster than a punctured water hose. I'd say that a lead of 170-200 would be something that I might be comfortable with however, lets realistically put it at a number that our batsmen also can effectively put up on the board ~ so in that case I am going with 160 runs lead at the end of Pakistan's Innings.

482 + 160 = 645 ~ 650 runs (approximately) at the end of our innings. We've already scored 50 of those so we're left with 600. As stated above out of the 270 overs we need to consume 200 to bat SL out of a contention to win it.

600 runs in 200 overs is 3 runs per over but to look at it in such a way will be suicidal, we need to further break it down into smaller targets to make it relatively achievable. 200 overs is 6.5 sessions

Day 3 Afternoon Session - 75 runs ~ at 2.8 RPO (consolidate and reassess pitch and conditions)
Day 3 Post Tea - 85-90 runs ~ 3.15 to 3.3 RPO (Increase pace, assert authority and punish loose balls regardless)
Day 3 Post Dinner - 130 runs minimum ~ 3.5+ RPO (Proper Blitz, someone needs to take charge and go all out)

At the end of Day 3 if we lose 4 wickets then the score would look something like this 50+75+85+130 = 340/4 which is a decentish position as the lead will be only a hundred odd runs and we would have a could of bats to come as well.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day 4 Afternoon Session - 85 runs at 3.0 RPO (Approximately) ~ first half of the session should be used to consolidate, reassess conditions once again and then in the next half of the session run scoring should be carried out
Day 4 Post Tea - 100 runs at 3.3-3.4 RPO (Blitz session, lead knocked off and we go 50 odd in front)
Day 4 Post Dinner - 100+ runs at 3.5+ RPO (Afridi session, we bat SL out of a winning position and ensure there are only two outcomes remaining in the game)

I will say we will loose 5 wickets on day 4 with the middle order doing the bulk of the lifting for the runs being scored. This would mean that our score would be somewhere around 620+ for 8 or 9 wickets.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day 5 Afternoon Session - 25 runs (slogging) and SL wrap up the tail eventually. SL then proceed to loose two wickets in the remaining overs
Day 5 Post Tea - Grueling test match session, SL blitz to 90 runs but we pick up 3 wickets so SL are five down at 110 (approximately).
Day 5 Final Test match session - SL start of well by smacking golden boy for a couple of boundaries but then Mr.Aggressive (finally shows up) and along with Messi collapse the Sri Lankans for the next 30 odd runs. - Pakistan win by an Innings and 10-15 runs.

MOM - Yasir Shah for his 10-fer
MOS - Shan Masood for dead lifting 200 Kgs all throughout the tour.

 

[msb314]

Reporting for Spirit Squad duty guys !!

So let's now mathematically look at where we are and what we can do to ensure a win, as [MENTION=3474]TalhaSyed[/MENTION] bhai said, no point in going for a draw in this one - Too much is at stake here.

We have 270 overs left in game and since this is the U.A.E. more or less, barring some extremely surprising chain of events, we will hopefully (Inshallah) get all the overs in. To win the game we need to bowl SL out again once more which is why I am allotting 70 overs for our bowlers to achieved the latter on a Day 4 or Day 5 wearing pitch.

The question now arises in those last 70 overs how much our bowlers can defend, because as much as I hate to admit it, we do not have a stock containment bowler in the lineup at the moment and all of them leak runs faster than a punctured water hose. I'd say that a lead of 170-200 would be something that I might be comfortable with however, lets realistically put it at a number that our batsmen also can effectively put up on the board ~ so in that case I am going with 160 runs lead at the end of Pakistan's Innings.

482 + 160 = 645 ~ 650 runs (approximately) at the end of our innings. We've already scored 50 of those so we're left with 600. As stated above out of the 270 overs we need to consume 200 to bat SL out of a contention to win it.

600 runs in 200 overs is 3 runs per over but to look at it in such a way will be suicidal, we need to further break it down into smaller targets to make it relatively achievable. 200 overs is 6.5 sessions

Day 3 Afternoon Session - 75 runs ~ at 2.8 RPO (consolidate and reassess pitch and conditions)
Day 3 Post Tea - 85-90 runs ~ 3.15 to 3.3 RPO (Increase pace, assert authority and punish loose balls regardless)
Day 3 Post Dinner - 130 runs minimum ~ 3.5+ RPO (Proper Blitz, someone needs to take charge and go all out)

At the end of Day 3 if we lose 4 wickets then the score would look something like this 50+75+85+130 = 340/4 which is a decentish position as the lead will be only a hundred odd runs and we would have a could of bats to come as well.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day 4 Afternoon Session - 85 runs at 3.0 RPO (Approximately) ~ first half of the session should be used to consolidate, reassess conditions once again and then in the next half of the session run scoring should be carried out
Day 4 Post Tea - 100 runs at 3.3-3.4 RPO (Blitz session, lead knocked off and we go 50 odd in front)
Day 4 Post Dinner - 100+ runs at 3.5+ RPO (Afridi session, we bat SL out of a winning position and ensure there are only two outcomes remaining in the game)

I will say we will loose 5 wickets on day 4 with the middle order doing the bulk of the lifting for the runs being scored. This would mean that our score would be somewhere around 620+ for 8 or 9 wickets.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day 5 Afternoon Session - 25 runs (slogging) and SL wrap up the tail eventually. SL then proceed to loose two wickets in the remaining overs
Day 5 Post Tea - Grueling test match session, SL blitz to 90 runs but we pick up 3 wickets so SL are five down at 110 (approximately).
Day 5 Final Test match session - SL start of well by smacking golden boy for a couple of boundaries but then Mr.Aggressive (finally shows up) and along with Messi collapse the Sri Lankans for the next 30 odd runs. - Pakistan win by an Innings and 10-15 runs.

MOM - Yasir Shah for his 10-fer
MOS - Shan Masood for dead lifting 200 Kgs all throughout the tour.

The only problem is by your strategy if we are down 340/4 at the end of Day 3. Shafiq and Sarfraz will have to score the bulk of 310 runs to get to 600+. That is almost an impossible task lol

Our only hope IMO is to preserve wickets and hope one of Masood/Sami/Azhar go on to make a double hundred.

I would say score around 500-550 by Tea Day 4 and declare. On a day 4/5 pitch - put SL into bat with Wahab/Yasir and bundle them out within 2/3 sessions. Chase whatever we have left in the final session. If we are chasing less then 200 in the final session - we may have a glimmer.

 

[captain.hansolo]

Pakistan cannot and will not win this game. Considering how ineffectual your bowling attack has been (surprising mind you, expected Aamir to rip through the Sri Lankan batting) and that Sri Lank has already registered nearly 500 runs inside of two days, there is a slight chance Pakistan may salvage a draw by batting till mid Day 4.

If by some freak chance thereafter Sri Lanka collapse in a heap to spin, Pakistan would need to sprint to a 300 total in under three sessions.

All other options lead to a defeat for Pakistan.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

You can easily win this test. This SL attack is rubbish. Your bats need to take them to the cleaners and play without pressure. Svore around 650 by the middle of the last session tomorrow and then you can bowl SL out cheaply with Yasir taking another fifer.

 

[another drop catch]

Get lead of 100 plus that will be enough for this lankan side ( for their second innings )

 

[ask_analyse_act]

bat once and try not to bat again... at the end of day 4 they should somehow reach 700 and can bundle SRL out on the 5th day, on the contrary i think pak trying to be aggressive and will be bowled out for 400 today and give SRL atleast a 50 run lead and a repeat of what happened in the 1st test will be back with a bigger target say 220 or 280...

 

[Abdullah]

The important thing today is not speed. It is about solidity. If we score 270-3 i will be happy.
Even tomorrkw for 2 sessions 90 runs per session is fine. It will be the last session wherebwe get a move on.
If we r batting at the end of the next 2 days we will automatically have 620.
We jhst need to take it a session at a time. But we should definitely not look to score too fast.
Also got to remember we r a bowler down so we can only win if there are 75 overs left in the game and SL find themselves 150+behind. No other scenario builds enough pressure ( or deteriorates pitch enough) for sl to cock it up

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Sami is batting at 60+ atm. That's fine.

Azhar can do it. Did against SL in Maghrib chase.

Asad can do it. Did it in his 137 vs NZ.

Babar, Harris and Sarfraz can do it too.

Only Shan can't. I wouldn't mind it if he got out now tbh.

Asad usually only plays quickly when the pressure is down and the game is already lost.
Shan can actually bat at 50+ strike rate like he did against SL in pallekele and his 55 against England in UAE but I highly doubt he will do it.

But it's too much of an ask from our batsmen. I feel like they are just going to bat like they normally do with 40 strike rate except Sarfraz who is only scoring like 20s and 30s recently.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

I think we all know it's either a draw or a loss for us sadly if we play like we usually do around under 3 an over.

The best we can do is to bring a Sharjah's New Zealand of 2014. That way the worst that can happen is us losing the match which is already pretty much on the cards. Need to come out and bat with aggression. Maybe if we can score over 4 an over, there might be a chance to salvage some pride by winning it. Otherwise too hard to see us winning.

 

[AsadRaza1]

They should change the battting order today
Sarfaraz at 3
Babar at 4
Azhar at 5
Haris at 6
Asad at 7
This will get us more that 3.5 rpo which would be helpful.Today Pakistan should try to get till 390-400.SARFARAZ should score 100 with SR of 70+ but I dont expect him to score more than 40.PAKISTAN should then score 200 tomorrow then Yasir should destroy Sri Lanka and we would get around 100 target which should not be a problem

 

[Napa]

A tall and very tough ask - but by no means impossible and it’s what is required if we want to retain our ‘undefeated in UAE’ tag!

I remember about a year ago, with Pakistan down 2-1 in the Test series you had charted a series of events necessary for Pakistan to get the #1 Test ranking. It had seemed fanciful to me then, but it came true!

Events laid out in your OP post seem fanciful too, but hey... maybe it will work this time too.

Herath could mess up your plans.

Anyway, good luck!

 

[GLORY OF '92]

This is over. Pathetic performance.

 

[babajee]

Only hope now is a big partnership between Azhar and Shafiq ....

 

[DRsohail]

only positive will be shafiq and babar back into form...

 

[Abdullah719]

Only hope now is a big partnership between Azhar and Shafiq ....

Azhar and Haris... then Sarfaraz... then Amir.

 

[James]

What is going on in this series? Sri Lanka have really turned up.

 

[Mamoon]

Blind optimism will not take anyone anywhere. We fully deserve this humiliation.

 

[babajee]

Azhar and Haris... then Sarfaraz... then Amir.

Watch out bhai... time for

Azhar and Haris

 

[IndYeah1]

What is going on in this series? Sri Lanka have really turned up.

Atrocious team selection - Masood is not a test opener. Playing a lone spinner on these tracks is indefensible. It appears Pak took SL batting too lightly, and it backfired massively.

SL are just coming off a hard series of cricket against a consistent and quality opponent, most teams raise their games after a series like that. This was entirely too predictable. Think back to the West Indies winning a test match in UAE, right after they got caned by India at home.

 

[another drop catch]

these batsmen(harris and azhar ) needs to play as long as possible

 

[babajee]

Blind optimism will not take anyone anywhere. We fully deserve this humiliation.

Mamoon bhai, what do you think our lineup should be going forward?

 

[Mamoon]

Mamoon bhai, what do you think our lineup should be going forward?

The main issue is the lack of quality alternatives. There is not enough top quality batting talent coming through to replace the non-performers.

As things stand, we don't have a single proven world class batsman whom the opposition fear and respect, and apart from Yasir (who is also a comfort-zone bowler), we don't have anyone who can be a reliable wicket-taker. Maybe Hasan Ali will be that bowler, but he is very raw at Test level at this point.

For the short-term, Masood, Babar, Shafiq and Wahab should be relieved of their duties, and if Amir doesn't have the courage to give his 100% in tough conditions, then he should be put on the warning list as well.

However, the big problem is that the replacements and alternatives are not going to change our fortunes either. The talent pool is quite low at this point.

 

[JaDed]

Watch out bhai... time for

Azhar and Haris

Lmao you are on a jinx roll.

 

[shaz619]

What is going on in this series? Sri Lanka have really turned up.

So has [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION],

It took months after this:

Before he could be himself again

 

[Abdullah719]

Watch out bhai... time for

Azhar and Haris

In the second innings insha'Allah

 

[Brilliance]

They should change the batting order in the 2nd innings straightaway. Promote Haris to 4 and push Asad & Babar one steps down or switch with Asad.

 

[Stallion__]

Need to keep this thread alive :

 

[msb314]

Can we bundle out SL for less than 50 and chase down 280 odd or so?

Call me optimistic but I'd say we have a chance now. The key is not to let SL drag their innings out too much and wipe out the remainder of their batting ASAP tomorrow.

If we SL are all-out for 50 - we would be chasing 271 for victory.

Seems like a lot but within the realms of possibility.

We just have to be positive and stay at the crease plenty of time left in the game and we should have 5+ sessions to bat out.

Lets go Pakistan!!

 

[Enigma_]

Even if we do can we chase the score? Already a pretty big lead for a 4th innings chase.

 

[The_Odd_One]

No, the lead is already too big. A team which could not chase 138 will not magically chase 318.

 

[Abdul]

We couldn't even chase 136, how are we going to chase this?

 

[MMHS]

Only once, a side came back to win after opponents didn't enforce the follow on - AUS vs SAF in 1951-52. Neil Hervey played the 2nd best ever Test innings while chasing - someone from PAK will need to do so if they are to chase 350. Time won't be a factor I guess - 180 overs left.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

Can we chase ~300 in 4th innings ?

I hope so but we have to change the batting order for that.

Should go with left/right opening combo and Haris & Sarfraz should come early.

 

[Syed1]

Can Pakistan dismiss Sri Lanka in the next 50 odd runs and chase 300 in a day and a half?

Pretty much said what I needed to say in the thread title. We have Lanka on the ropes, 5 down with the last officially recognized pair at the crease. Perera and Herath can chip in as well.

What we need is a Wahab and Yasir blitz early tomorrow to dismiss Sri Lanka for 80 odd and us having to chase 300 to win the match.


The question is not can we dismiss them, but the question is can our batsmen chase 300-350 on a day 4 or 5 pitch?

Still can't believe we have two full days left

 

[Kohli The King of Chase]

Easier said than done.

 

[Syed1]

DiCkWeLlA says hi! It's not the last recognized pair.

Sir the two batsmen at the crease are Mendis and Dickwella... last recognized pair.

 

[ExpressPacer]

If you look at how the pitch is turning, it almost seems impossible. We couldn't chase 130 in the last match, don't expect us to chase more than double of our previous target.

 

[Rayyman]

Yes we can.

People are acting like 39 year old Herath is some god. Fgs, we spanked him for 3.65 an over in the previous innings.

And are we really afraid of Dilruwan Perera, Suranga Lakmal, and Gamage??!?!?

 

[Syed1]

If you look at how the pitch is turning, it almost seems impossible. We couldn't chase 130 in the last match, don't expect us to chase more than double of our previous target.

Time is not an issue. If we get on top of Herath and not let him dominate we should make it. It's not like we haven't done it before.

I think Sarfaraz might have to come up the order and make his kamayi halal... and Shafiq and Babar also have to get rid of the cotton wool they are wrapped in. It has to be team effort. Cannot rely only on Harry and Azhar.

Masood I have no hope from. Sami might blunt the new ball thats about it.

 

[Mamoon]

The match is already over and we are simply doing well now because we have accepted defeat and are playing without pressure. Our players are world renowned chokers and they often stage so-called "comebacks" when the match is already over.

This mini-comeback reminds me of the Brisbane run chase, which was only executed because we were playing without pressure and had accepted that result of the match. We actually thought the team would capitalize on that momentum and win at the MCG, but we got drubbed in the remaining two matches.

It is just another useless moral victory, and it should not mask the frailties of this team and how pathetic we have been over the course of the two Tests.

 

[Rayyman]

Time is not an issue. If we get on top of Herath and not let him dominate we should make it. It's not like we haven't done it before.

I think Sarfaraz might have to come up the order and make his kamayi halal... and Shafiq and Babar also have to get rid of the cotton wool they are wrapped in. It has to be team effort. Cannot rely on Harry and Azhar.

Masood I have no hope from. Sami might blunt the new ball thats about it.

We need an encore from him http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/...n-3rd-Test-pakistan-in-sri-lanka-test-series/

 

[ExpressPacer]

Time is not an issue. If we get on top of Herath and not let him dominate we should make it. It's not like we haven't done it before.

I think Sarfaraz might have to come up the order and make his kamayi halal... and Shafiq and Babar also have to get rid of the cotton wool they are wrapped in. It has to be team effort. Cannot rely only on Harry and Azhar.

Masood I have no hope from. Sami might blunt the new ball thats about it.

If Sarfraz bats at 3, this may be possible but still very tough. Our batsmen cannot play Herath to save their lives and the mere thought of having to avoid him is going to crush them in itself.

 

[Kohli The King of Chase]

Sir the two batsmen at the crease are Mendis and Dickwella... last recognized pair.

Sir, Perera is a decent bat.

 

[Rayyman]

The match is already over and we are simply doing well now because we have accepted defeat and are playing without pressure. Our players are world renowned chokers and they often stage so-called "comebacks" when the match is already over.

This mini-comeback reminds me of the Brisbane run chase, which was only executed because we were playing without pressure and had accepted that result of the match. We actually thought the team would capitalize on that momentum and win at the MCG, but we got drubbed in the remaining two matches.

It is just another useless moral victory, and it should not mask the frailties of this team and how pathetic we have been over the course of the two Tests.

Don't accuse Amir of having no character if you are going to be speaking rubbish like this.

 

[Mamoon]

Don't accuse Amir of having no character if you are going to be speaking rubbish like this.

Amir has been rubbish throughout the series, and the lack of effort has been apparent. Also, he has a documented history of lacking character.

 

[msb314]

Only once, a side came back to win after opponents didn't enforce the follow on - AUS vs SAF in 1951-52. Neil Hervey played the 2nd best ever Test innings while chasing - someone from PAK will need to do so if they are to chase 350. Time won't be a factor I guess - 180 overs left.

Yes history may not favor us but it has happened several times in recent past.

Notably the 1st test against WI when Azhar’s triple put us in the driving seat only for us to bottle the third innings and for WI to get within 60 runs of the target lol.

Also who can forget the Brisbane test lol!

 

[msb314]

Amir has been rubbish throughout the series, and the lack of effort has been apparent. Also, he has a documented history of lacking character.

If Amir was carrying an injury - then I can sympathize with him...

 

[msb314]

We couldn't even chase 136, how are we going to chase this?

Don’t give up!

The Pakellele chase in 2015 came out of nowhere after we had lost the 2nd test to SL as well.

 

[Rayyman]

Amir has been rubbish throughout the series, and the lack of effort has been apparent. Also, he has a documented history of lacking character.

Having the mentality-"The match is already over," is the biggest example of lack of character shown in a cricket match. Unless there is a statistical limit, i.e. 36 runs off 1 ball to win.

 

[Mamoon]

If Amir was carrying an injury - then I can sympathize with him...

Well, he always seems to be carrying injuries on flat pitches unless he has 340 to defend in an ODI.

This is what Azhar Mahmood had to say about him after the CT:

I felt Amir seemed to be holding himself back so that he was only putting in 70% effort at times. I mentioned this to Amir before the final against India that he must go flat out and bowl the fastest he can. And we saw in that game in the way he was running in, in his body language that he was fired up and went in full throttle at the Indian batsmen

His lack of effort is quite obvious and he seems to "hold himself back" a little too much. While his tendency to perform in big matches is appreciable, but if that "big match" is going to come once every few months then he is going to be a bit of a problem in the long run. It is quite clear that he is one of those players who are not easily motivated and fired up.

 

[Mamoon]

Having the mentality-"The match is already over," is the biggest example of lack of character shown in a cricket match. Unless there is a statistical limit, i.e. 36 runs off 1 ball to win.

I will give a you a better example of lacking character: doing spot-fixing.