27
SUNDAY CHRONICLE June 28, 2015
Paraguay Fifties from Shehzad, Ali power Pakistan to 171-2 down Brazil on (Reuters) - Gritty half-centuries from Ahmed Shehzad and Azhar Ali steered Pakistan to 171 for two against Sri Lanka when bad light ended the third day of the second Test yesterday.. Shehzad fell for 69 to the first ball after tea having shared a 120-run second-wicket partnership with Ali (64) who was unbeaten after registering his 20th test fifty. Veteran Younus Khan was on 23 not out at the close as Pakistan trailed Sri Lanka by six runs with eight wickets in hand at the P Sara Oval. Earlier, Pakistan had claimed the last Sri Lankan wicket in the morning session to bowl out the hosts for 315 with leg-spinner Yasir Shah (6-96) dismissing Dushmantha Chameera 15 minutes after a rain-delayed start. ADVERTISING Younus held a good running catch to send back Cha-
be caught by Kumar Sangakkara in the slips. Shehzad and Ali proved there were no demons in the pitch and they frequently used their feet to negate the threat posed by Sri Lanka’s left-arm spinner Rangana Herath. Shehzad overcame a
blow on his helmet by a Chameera bouncer to bring up his fifty in the 35th over. The opener, however, perished straight after tea when he edged a pull shot against Dhammika Prasad through to keeper Dinesh Chandimal.
SCOREBOARD
Azhar Ali meera as Sri Lanka, pressing for a series-levelling victory, took a 177-run first-innings lead. Shot out for 138 in their first innings, Pakistan did not make a great start in their second either as a leaden-footed Mohammad Hafeez (eight) poked at an Angelo Mathews delivery to
PAKISTAN 1st innings 138 (K. Silva 5-42) Sri Lanka 1st innings (Overnight: 304-9) D. Karunaratne c S. Ahmed b J. Khan 28 K. Silva run out 80 K. Sangakkara c Shafiq b Babar 34 L. Thirimanne cAz. Ali b Shah 7 A. Mathews lbw b Shah 77 D. Chandimal b Shah 1 K. Vithanage b Shah 3 D. Prasad lbw b Hafeez 35 R. Herath not out 18 T. Kaushal c Misbah-ul-Haq b Shah 18 D. Chameera c Y. Khan b Shah 2 Extras (b-6 lb-4 nb-1 w-1) 12 Total (all out, 121.3 overs) 315 Fall of wickets: 1-47 D. Karunaratne,2-98 K. Sangakkara,3-119 L. Thirimanne,4-191 K. Silva,5-194 D. Chandimal,6-202 K. Vithanage,7-275 D. Prasad,8-275
A. Mathews,9-303 T. Kaushal,10-315 D. Chameera Bowling: W. Riaz 9 - 2 - 19 - 0(nb1),J. Khan 29 - 5 - 89 - 1(w-1) Z. Babar 32 - 8 - 82 – 1, Y. Shah 41.3 - 5 - 96 – 6, M. Hafeez 10 - 2 - 19 - 1 PAKISTAN 2nd innings M. Hafeez c Sangakkara b Mathews 8 A. Shehzad c Chandimal b Prasad 69 Az. Ali not out 64 Y. Khan not out 23 Extras (b-2 lb-1 nb-2 w-2) 7 Total (for 2 wickets, 59 overs) 171 Fall of wickets: 1-9 M. Hafeez,2-129 A. Shehzad To bat: Misbah-ul-Haq, A. Shafiq, S. Ahmed, W. Riaz, J. Khan, Y. Shah, Z. Babar Bowling: D. Prasad 13.3 - 0 - 46 1(w-1),A. Mathews 5 - 3 - 5 – 1, R. Herath 14 - 3 - 33 – 0, D. Chameera 8.3 - 1 - 28 - 0(w-1), T. Kaushal 18 - 2 - 56 - 0(nb-2)
Sri Lankan great Sangakkara to quit Tests during India series
.. Wants Sri Lanka to play ‘fearless cricket’ under Mathews By Ranga Sirilal COLOMBO, (Reuters) Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara will quit international cricket during the Test series against India in August, the island nation’s most prolific batsman said yesterday. “I have decided to call it a day...(after) the second Test of the India series,” the 37-year-old told reporters on the sidelines of the ongoing second test against Pakistan of his decision to end a 15-yer-old illustrious career. Sangakkara said he wanted to quit all formats of the game after Sri Lanka’s World Cup campaign this year but promised to be available for the backto-back home series against Pakistan and India. “But at the same time I said that I would be unable to play six Test matches. I could do four and if that was okay, I will give my 100 percent commitment to these four Test matches,” said Sangakkara who will skip the
third and final Test against Pakistan. India arrive in early August to play three Tests in Sri Lanka but the dates and the venues have not been finalised. “I wish I could keep on playing but I know when the time comes you have to go and I know this is my time,” he added. Sangakkara made his international debut in 2000 and is currently playing his 132nd Test against Pakistan, having amassed 12,305 runs at an average of over 58 and including 38 centuries. Sangakkara is the fifth highest Test scorer of all time and is one short of Australian great Donald Bradman’s record of 12 double centuries in Tests. Before giving up keeping, Sangakkara made 20 stumpings to go with his 179 catches in tTsts. His ODI record is no less impressive, having totalled 14,234 runs in 404 matches, averaging nearly
Kumar Sangakkara 42 and including 25 centuries. He took 402 catches in ODIs and has 99 stumpings against his name. Adjudged ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2012, the former Sri Lanka captain was part of the 2014 Twenty20 World Cup-winning squad. He was also a member of the teams which reached the 50-over World Cup finals in 2007 and 2011. Sangakkara’s retirement, following that of his former team mate Mahela
Jayawardene, creates a big void for Sri Lanka but the he has no doubt the team under Angelo Mathews will cope. “Angelo is a fantastic captain, a fantastic cricketer. I think he is the ideal man to lead this team of youngsters,” Sangakkara said. “They are into the future and I just wish that there’ll be a real culture of fearless cricket, positive cricket where they are unafraid to make mistakes.”
penalties, meet Argentina
CONCEPCION, Chile, (Reuters)-Derlis Gonzalez slotted two penalties, one in regular time and again in the shootout, to help Paraguay beat Brazil 4-3 after a 1-1 draw yesterday that advanced them to a Copa America semi-final against Argentina. It was the second tournament in succession that Paraguay have beaten Brazil on penalties at the quarter-final stage after 2011 when they went on to the reach the final. They face Argentina on Tuesday for the second time in the tournament, having fought back from two goals down for a 2-2 draw in the teams’ opening group match. Gonzalez netted the decisive Paraguayan penalty with the fifth spot kick having scored his team’s equaliser during normal time. Robinho started and finished a fine move in the 15th minute to put Brazil ahead before Gonzalez equalised with 20 minutes to go when he converted a penalty after a hand ball by Thiago Silva. “Unfortunately, our game dropped in the second half,” said Robinho. “We had chances to kill the game off. “Paraguay with all respect aren’t one of the best sides. We didn’t kill the game and unfortunately we lost a goal with a silly mistake and we lost.” Brazil, who had won 12 of their previous 13 matches since Dunga took charge after last year’s World Cup, had more possession in the first half and weaved some good attacks but Paraguay were quick and dangerous on the break. Paraguay became more adventurous in the second half and winger Edgar Benitez soon won a free kick when he was brought down by Dani Alves, though goalkeeper Jefferson parried the ball away from Roque Santa Cruz’s attempt. With an hour gone, Jefferson made a diving reflex save from centre back Paulo Da Silva’s header and later made a similar save from Gonzalez in a counter-attack. Paraguay captain Justo Villar then had to make a scrambling save from a Philippe Coutinho shot as Brazil piled on late pressure. In the shootout, the writing was on the wall for Brazil from their second penalty which was put wide by Everton Ribeiro and another substitute, Douglas, missed their fourth to give Paraguay two penalties to settle the outcome. Santa Cruz then skied his penalty, Philippe Coutinho gave Brazil hope by netting his but Gonzalez made no mistake. Hosts Chile meet Peru in tomorrow’s other semi-final.
Eastman is 2015 ... From Back Page finished third (7.56:28). Fraser-Green clocked 9.26:63 in winning the ladies category. Malike Dick (10.14:16) was second and Toshawana Doris (10.41:29) was third. In the junior category, Jamal John continues to impress as he returned 8.13:11 to win the category ahead of Romelo Crawford (8.31:67)
and Andrew Hicks (8.37:08) respectively. Briton John (9.32:85) was the winner of the Juvenile category and Kemo Logan (9.38:91) the second place finisher. The veterans’ category was won by Jaikarran Sukhai (8.49:35). Second was Leer Nunes (8.51:16) and third was Shameer Baksh (9.10:25).