Pakistan and Australia hunt elusive 20 wickets in series decider

The visitors have named an unchanged side after toiling through 172 overs in Karachi

Andrew McGlashan20-Mar-2022Big PictureBarring one innings which is looking like a significant anomaly, this series has been a never-ending toil for bowlers. The question now is whether either side can find the 20 wickets to give them a chance of breaking the deadlock to take the decider.Australia know there was a golden opportunity in Karachi that they were unable to take – denied by one of the great match-saving innings from Babar Azam – but are also talking positively about having come to Asia for the first time since 2018 and not had the batting problems which have hindered other tours.Related

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Pakistan will be buoyed by having rallied for the draw last week. The first three days of the second Test had suggested a team struggling with the pressure of playing at home, but when a captain produces a performance on the scale of Babar’s it can inspire. Pakistan can channel that. They can channel a result that will have felt like a victory. And Australia will just have to cope. They have to cope with what seemed like certain victory becoming what must feel like an actual loss.It may well come down to who starts strongest in Lahore. While batting first will be the obvious route, Australia will be doubly desperate to do so having come off 172 overs in the field. Again, there will be much interest in the surface on a ground that hasn’t hosted a Test since 2009. But Karachi was a reminder that looks can be deceiving with that pitch never quite becoming the challenge that had appeared likely.If, as expected, the surface is flat, it will be a big ask for the bowlers on both sides. Pakistan have never looked like running through the Australia line-up and some of Babar’s tactics in the field have become defensive quite early. The visitors might have thought they had broken the back of Pakistan’s batting with the first-innings display in Karachi only to be proved emphatically otherwise. At least most of Australia’s Test attack know that after this week they can put their feet up – only Cameron Green is part of the upcoming one-day series.Recent form(last five matches, most recent first)Pakistan DDWWW
Australia DDWDWTravis Head will want to do better having come into the series on the back of a blockbuster Ashes•AFP/Getty Images

In the spotlightShaheen Shah Afridi has bowled much better than a return of four wickets at 51.00 would suggest. Only one of those wickets – Marnus Labuschagne in the first innings at Rawalpindi – has come when a match was anything like in the balance. But with a little more fortune he could have made the impact Mitchell Starc did with that spell of reverse swing on the third day in Karachi. He has it in him to be the bowler who can break open a game if conditions allow.Two innings does not prove much, but Travis Head probably feels he hasn’t made the most of his opportunities so far. Having come into the tour on the back of his Player of the Series performance in the Ashes he has scores of 8 and 23 while others have filled their boots. In Rawalpindi he edged a cut against Nauman Ali then in Karachi was lbw to an umpire’s call against Sajid Khan having looked confident on the second day. A score here would be timely ahead of more subcontinental tours to come.Team newsAn unchanged side would appear the likely route for Pakistan unless they look to shake up the spin attack with a debut for legspinner Zahid Mahmood in place of either Nauman Ali or Sajid KhanPakistan (probable) 1 Abdullah Shafique, 2 Imam-ul-Haq, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Babar Azam (capt), 5 Fawad Alam, 6 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 7 Faheem Ashraf, 8 Nauman Ali, 9 Sajid Khan, 10 Hasan Ali, 11 Shaheen Shah AfridiPat Cummins confirmed an unchanged XI which means Josh Hazlewood again misses out with two spinners retained.Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Usman Khawaja, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Travis Head, 6 Cameron Green, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Pat Cummins (capt), 10 Mitchell Swepson, 11 Nathan LyonPitch and conditionsCummins said that the pitch looked similar to the previous two and the same type of game would likely unfold. The weather is forecast to be hot and dry.Stats and trivia Australia’s previous Test at Lahore was in 1994 when Pakistan secured the draw which took the series. Azhar Ali needs 74 runs to reach 7000 in Tests; Steven Smith needs 66 to reach 8000 – he has two innings left to become the fastest to the milestone. This series currently has the third-highest batting average (55.30) and third-highest bowling strike-rate (128.7) for any with a minimum of two matches.Quotes”I’ve been really happy with how everyone has gone about their own work, the tactics, think it’s just a matter of taking those chances. Wickets are at a premium in this series so you can’t afford to drop too many chances.”
“Looks like the same pitch but I feel it will give turn. It has small cracks from where spinners can get help and patches are formed. But you can’t tell 100% because conditions are different. But whatever it is our spinners are ready for it and will fight.”

"Integral" Chelsea player could now miss next 10 games after injury setback

An “integral” Chelsea player for head coach Enzo Maresca could now miss 10 games after an injury setback, with the Italian appearing very likely to be without him until the turn of the year.

Chelsea prepare for Aston Villa after 2-0 win over Heidenheim

A chopped and changed Chelsea team beat Bundesliga side Heidenheim 2-0 in the Europa Conference League on Thursday, with forwards Christopher Nkunku and Mykhailo Mudryk notching their second-half goals and maintaining the club’s excellent start in Europe.

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Maresca confirmed in the build up to their win that Nkunku won’t be sold in January, but uncertainty still surrounds the future of Mudryk amid reports that Chelsea are keen to offload the Ukrainian in January (Football Insider).

Aston Villa (home)

December 1

Southampton (away)

December 4

Tottenham (home)

December 8

Brentford (home)

December 15

Everton (away)

December 22

Cesare Casadei was sent off in the dying minutes of their 2-0 victory in Germany, though it was a solid evening out overall for the west Londoners, who now face fellow Premier League top-four challengers Aston Villa on Sunday.

“Yes, tough, very tough,” said Maresca after Chelsea beat Heidenheim.

“This is exactly the way we expected the game, against this team away. Small pitch, it’s always complicated but overall I think we did very well. We could have scored more goals but we also conceded some chances. Overall, I think we deserved to win the game and I’m very happy for the players.

“It was a very good challenge for all the aspects. They were high pressing, they were intense, but no matter what the opposition do, it is important we are ready. It’s important also to continue with that mentality; to try and win all the games.”

Reece James could miss next 10 Chelsea games after setback

One player who couldn’t take part was crocked defender Reece James, who recently picked up another hamstring injury to add to his growing list.

The England international had his scan on the problem this week, and while some reports believe Chelsea are becoming more open to selling James, GiveMeSport’s Ben Jacobs believes this is wide of the mark – as the club continue to back their “integral” academy graduate.

However, the right-back won’t be seen for a good while, according to GiveMeSport this week. It is believed James could miss Chelsea’s next 10 games after his latest injury setback, meaning he may not be back until 2025.

While this is bad news on the face of it, Maresca’s side are still feeling pretty positive overall, considering how much more severe it could’ve been.

Forget Bowen: West Ham star who won 10 duels just saved Lopetegui’s job

Julen Lopetegui managed to lead West Ham United to a priceless 2-0 victory over Newcastle on Monday night, putting them on 15 points in the Premier League after 12 games played.

The Hammers held 48% possession in the game, only generating 0.91 xG (expected goals) from 15 shots on the night. Newcastle, on the other hand, generated 1.69 xG from 18 shots, creating two big chances but failing to score.

Tomas Soucek opened the scoring after ten minutes with a headed goal from a corner, before Aaron Wan-Bissaka made it 2-0 in the 53rd minute, with an assist from Jarrod Bowen, who put in a man of the match display.

Jarrod Bowen's amazing performance in numbers

Bowen has now made 14 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring four goals and providing three assists. The 27-year-old is the Hammers’ most consistent forward and provided another assist against Newcastle.

The England winger made three key passes in the game, taking four shots (two on target), and completing two of his five dribble attempts.

But it isn’t just the output Bowen offers, he also works extremely hard off the ball, winning six of his 13 ground duels, making two tackles and three interceptions.

He drew praise from many in the media, with Henry Writer notably writing on social media that he was ‘dribbling at pace’ while ‘carrying a goal threat’ and showing ‘superb work ethic out of possession’.

It wasn’t just Bowen who did his bit off the ball, as another West Ham star who hasn’t had the best start to this new campaign put in a real shift against the Magpies.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast's Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

Lucas Paqueta's performance in numbers

Lucas Paqueta has always been seen as a star man for West Ham, but this season hasn’t started with the usual form for the Brazilian, making 15 appearances so far and scoring two goals, but he’s yet to provide an assist.

Whilst the 27-year-old midfielder didn’t add to his goal contributions against Newcastle, he certainly put a shift in, rewarded with an exceptional 9/10 match rating from LondonWorld, which was well deserved after putting in a cracking display which was arguably his best of the season thus far.

Minutes

90

Touches

84

Accurate Passes

53/66

Key Passes

2

Long Balls

2/4

Ground Duels Won

10/13

Aerial Duels Won

1/1

Tackles

7

Interceptions

1

Paqueta won an incredible ten out of his 13 ground duels, making a whopping seven tackles in the match, to go along with his one interception, and one aerial duel won.

This defensive effort was key in the game, as West Ham spent significant periods under the cosh, managing to show fight and belief, winning duels in the middle of the park, and getting a well-earned three points in the Premier League, and a timely one for Lopetegui’s sake who could well have faced the sack if his team lost.

If you compare this to Paqueta’s last game for the Hammers, in a 0-0 draw with Everton, the 27-year-old didn’t make a single tackle or interception in comparison to the eight against Newcastle, and only won two of his ten ground duels, compared to his 10/13 against Newcastle.

This level of effort will need to be sustained, as when the Brazil star is at his best, the Hammers look like an infinitely better side, winning the ball back, and attacking directly with his brilliant passing range and quality to start counter-attacks.

West Ham could sack Lopetegui and hire PL boss who's a dream for Bowen

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تشكيل ريال مدريد المتوقع أمام فياريال في الدوري الإسباني

يستعد فريق ريال مدريد، بقيادة المدرب كارلو أنشيلوتي، لخوض مباراة مساء اليوم السبت، في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري الإسباني، موسم 2024/25.

ويستضيف ملعب “لاسيراميكا” مباراة ريال مدريد وفياريال، في خضم لقاءات الجولة الثامنة والعشرين من الدوري الإسباني.

طالع | تشكيل ريال مدريد أمام فياريال في الدوري الإسباني.. مبابي يقود الهجوم

ويمتلك ريال مدريد حاليًا 57 نقطة في المركز الثاني، بفارق الأهداف عن برشلونة المتصدر، والذي يمتلك مباراة مؤجلة ضد أوساسونا.

في حين أن فياريال لن يكون خصمًا سهلًا لـ ريال مدريد، مع العلم أنه يحتل المركز الخامس برصيد 44 نقطة. تشكيل ريال مدريد المتوقع أمام فياريال في الدوري الإسباني

حراسة المرمى: تيبو كورتوا.

خط الدفاع: فاسكيز، أسينسيو، روديجر، فيران جارسيا.

خط الوسط: فالفيردي، تشواميني.

خط الوسط الهجومي: جود بيلينجهام، رودريجو، كيليان مبابي.

خط الهجوم: فينيسيوس جونيور.

ويمكنكم مطالعة مواعيد ونتائج جميع المباريات لحظة بلحظة عبر مركز المباريات من هنا.

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England will attack, but 'also give you chances' – Ottis Gibson wants Bangladesh bowlers not to panic

Bangladesh bowling coach extends support to the beleaguered Liton Das, expects Mustafizur Rahman to have an impact soon

Mohammad Isam26-Oct-2021

“We know they will come out hard, but they also give you chances” – Ottis Gibson to the Bangladesh bowlers•ICC via Getty

Ottis Gibson has urged the Bangladesh bowlers not to panic if – and possibly when – they come under the cosh from England’s big hitters during Wednesday’s T20 World Cup match in Abu Dhabi, explaining that the opponents’ aggressive style would offer chances for his side to pick up wickets.Related

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“We have to be on our A game if we want to challenge them and ultimately win the game,” Gibson, the team’s bowling coach, said. “We know that England are a very powerful batting line-up. The key is to be accurate with what we deliver, and back ourselves. We know they will come out hard, but they also give you chances.”The message is not to panic. Understand that you will get hit off a good ball. That’s their mentality. But they also give you opportunity to take wickets. We must be calm to execute our skills and plans, and considered about every ball we bowl.”England beat West Indies convincingly in their opening game but lost four wickets on their way to chasing down the paltry 56-run target in Dubai. Bangladesh have never faced England in T20Is, so they will bank a lot on Gibson’s knowledge of the opposition from his time working with them. But on the subject of “chances”, it is hard to forget how Bangladesh’s last match panned out, when Liton Das dropped Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Charith Asalanka at a crucial stage of the game.Bangladesh have dropped six catches in the tournament so far, but Gibson tried to play down the misses. “One or two catches get dropped in every cricket match. Obviously when the catches play a part in the result, it is highlighted more but we do a lot of catching practice,” he said. “When the guys are out in the middle under pressure, mistakes like catches going down happen. I won’t say it is a concern.”Gibson said that the coaching staff had been fully supportive of Liton, who has also been in the middle of a lean run with the bat, and was also fined for an argument with Lahiru Kumara during the game.”He is one of our best fielders. The fact that a couple of catches went down doesn’t diminish what he contributes to the team. Of course, anybody can drop a catch. It is highlighted because those catches, you can argue, contributed to the result,” Gibson said. “He has been one of our key players for a while. The reality is that any other fielder in that position could have dropped those catches as well. We remind him of his quality, and that he is a key player for us. We support the player, whether it is Liton Das or any other player.”Bangladesh also haven’t got the best from Mustafizur Rahman, who took a four-wicket haul against Oman, but has looked off-colour at times.”Fizz is a key bowler for us in any conditions. His cutters are more effective in Bangladesh but one thing I like about him is his ability to adjust to conditions very quickly,” Gibson said. “He is key especially in the backend of the innings, but he can also swing the ball back in now. We have worked very hard on it. He is a weapon for us with both the new and old ball.”

Colin Munro fears end of New Zealand career 'not by choice' after missing T20 World Cup squad

Coach Gary Stead said that he had spoken to the opening batter about where he stands

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Aug-2021

Colin Munro only made himself available for the World Cup•Getty Images

A “gutted” Colin Munro believes he has played his last international cricket after being left out of New Zealand’s T20 World Cup squad.”Extremely gutted to miss out on this, was definitely a goal of mine that I wanted to tick off,” Munro posted on his Instagram Stories when the squad was named. “Looks like I my [sic] have played my last game for [the Blackcaps] not by choice.”Munro, who has 1724 T20I runs at 31.34 with a strike-rate of 156.44, last played for New Zealand in February 2020 and lost his central contract later that year. He has remained a consistent performer in leagues around the world with strong returns in the PSL, CPL, BBL and currently the Hundred. Overall in that period he has averaged 37.94 with a strike-rate of 140.21.Related

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However, Munro made himself unavailable for either of New Zealand’s pre-World Cup series in Bangladesh and Pakistan, while the emergence of Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips and Tim Seifert – plus the versatility of Mark Chapman – has left no room in the batting order.”Colin’s still available, but for the World Cup only. He wasn’t available for any other tours, and we talked through that decision,” New Zealand coach Gary Stead said. “In the end, we’ve had a lot of success with guys in our squad in the last six months. We know Colin is a fine player – and still is – but unfortunately, we [would be] taking the 15 selected plus Adam Milne.”I’m pleased he’s frustrated. When you have a lot of quality players around, you can’t fit everyone into 15 players. It’s a call we’ve had to make. I’ve spoken to Colin about a week ago and he’s clear on where he sits.”Stead said that pace bowler Adam Milne and allrounder Colin de Grandhomme were unfortunate not to make the World Cup squad, although the former will travel as a reserve. de Grandhomme’s injury-disrupted season allowed Daryl Mitchell to jump ahead of him in the queue as one of the two seam-bowling allrounders alongside Jimmy Neesham.Eight of the World Cup squad, plus Finn Allen, will be part of the IPL resumption that leads into the World Cup, with Stead hoping that their participation can bring valuable insight.”For the players, absolutely ideal, they are playing on the three grounds that we’ll be playing our World Cup games at,” he said. “Hopefully the intelligence we can collect from there and piecing that into the way we want to play all comes together. But it’s really good we have eight, nine, ten players and support staff over there that can bring stuff back to the table.”Overall, New Zealand have selected 32 players across their various squads with the group for the India Test matches to be named later in the year. Ross Taylor, who did not make the World Cup squad and will remain at home to avoid an extra quarantine for a week of ODIs in Pakistan, and Neil Wagner can be expected to be involved in those.”From what I can remember, this would be strongest point from a selection perspective,” Stead said. “When you think about the big picture I think that’s exciting.”

Mahmudullah 'very disappointed' at Covid-19 protocols ruling Mushfiqur Rahim out

Mahmudullah on the positive side of biosecure bubbles: “You can spend more time with your team-mates, discuss plans and strategies”

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Aug-2021No Tamim Iqbal, no Liton Das and no Mushfiqur Rahim. Bangladesh’s plans of putting it past a depleted Australia side in what is the first bilateral T20I series between the two teams have been impacted by the absence of three key batters, but they are particularly unhappy about Rahim missing out, because it’s been caused by Australia’s “stringent” demands when it comes to the biosecure bubble for the series. A day after Russell Domingo, the coach, expressed his displeasure on the matter, captain Mahmudullah, too, said he was “very disappointed” but his focus was on the series and what he and the other players could control.Related

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“Mushfiq is definitely one of our most crucial players, and I am personally very disappointed at not having him in the side for this series,” Mahmudullah said at a press conference on the eve of the first of five T20Is. “But, look, being a player, it’s not in our hands. The aim is to play good cricket and do well in terms of the results.”We are not worrying about it too much, because it’s not an issue we can do anything about. What has happened has happened. The only objective is to start and end the series well.”What has happened is that Cricket Australia and the Bangladesh Cricket Board had agreed to include their respective biosecure bubbles in Zimbabwe and the West Indies – where they were on tour – as part of the mandatory pre-series ten-day quarantine in Dhaka. But Rahim had to leave Harare for home after both his parents contracted Covid-19. As a result, he can’t be in the Dhaka biosecure bubble now.

“The bubble is tiring at times. But there is a positive to it too – you can spend more time with your team-mates, you can discuss plans and strategies and your games with each other a lot more”Mahmudullah

Some team insiders were especially irked because while Rahim wasn’t allowed to join the team, the players who have returned from Zimbabwe have had to do so after going through four airports – Harare, Johannesburg, Doha and Dhaka – with potentially greater exposure to the virus.Speaking on Sunday, Domingo had said, “I can’t understand the stringent rules Australia have placed on Mushfiq’s bubble. Ten days [on re-entering the bubble after visiting family] surely would have been enough, so [it’s] very disappointing the way they went about it.”Stressing that the absence of the three regulars would not make them bring down their expectations against a team they have never beaten in the format, Mahmudullah said the while living in biosecure bubbles was not ideal, there were some positives too.”The bio-bubble system is such that you have to accept it, there is no question of stepping out of it if you want to play cricket,” he said. So yes, it is difficult, not just for me but for everyone, who have parents, partners, children… you miss them. But, having said that, we have to accept it and move forward till we don’t win the fight against Covid.”The bubble is tiring at times. But there is a positive to it too – you can spend more time with your team-mates, you can discuss plans and strategies and your games with each other a lot more. We are together all the time, so we can bring up subjects with each other that can have a positive impact on our games, and that helps the team too.”

Arteta must finally axe Arsenal dud who earns more than Trossard & Raya

Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar have helped turn Arsenal from an underachieving sleeping giant into one of the best teams in Europe over the last few years, and while they are yet to win a major honour, it feels more like a matter of when and not if.

The manager has helped instil a steeling determination to fight in every moment, as we saw against Manchester City on Sunday, while the Brazilian has helped him to bring in the players he needs to carry out his vision.

Moreover, the pair have also overseen a huge number of player departures during their time at the club, be that superstars like former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or academy products who just weren’t of the required level like Eddie Nketiah.

It’s impossible to deny the profound impact they have had on the North Londoners over the last four years or so, but as always, there is more work to be done to the squad, and one former fan favourite, who earns more than David Raya and Leandro Trossard, must be moved on this season.

Raya and Trossard's salaries at Arsenal

Arsenal paid an initial £3m to sign Raya on a season-long loan with an option to buy from Brentford last summer, and saying there was some pushback at the time would be an understatement.

The Gunners had just come off of an brilliant campaign in which Aaron Ramsdale had impressed between the sticks, so when Arteta told the media he now had two number ones, there were more than a few eyebrows raised, with pundits like Gary Neville particularly scathing early on in the season, and towards the end when he described his distribution against City as “terrible.”

However, the manager stuck by his player and spent the £27m needed to make his move a permanent one, and so far this season, he has more than repaid him with match-defining performances in almost every game so far, particularly against Atalanta and Pep Guardiola’s juggernaut.

It would be fair to say that the Spanish shot-stopper is more than justifying his £100k-per-week wages, as is Belgian superstar Trossard, who may have stitched up his teammates on Sunday but has otherwise been imperious in red and white.

The talented winger joined the Gunners from fellow Premier League outfit Brighton & Hove Albion for £27m in January 2023 and ended that season with a seriously impressive haul of one goal and ten assists in 22 appearances before doing just as well last year and racking up 17 goals, and two assists in 46 games.

Leandro Trossard scores for Arsenal

The Waterschei-born ace currently has just one goal in six matches this season, but like Raya, he has more than proven his value to the North Londoner, which is unfortunately not something that can be said about one of their teammates who earns more than the pair of them.

Kieran Tierney's salary at Arsenal

Yes, the player in question is Scottish international Kieran Tierney, who was once tipped to become the ‘Gunners’ future captain thanks to his old-school, no-nonsense style of play.

Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney.

However, despite looking impressive here and there in the five years since his £25m move to the Emirates, the former Celtic ace just hasn’t played enough football to justify his hefty £110k-per-week wages.

For example, in his first three seasons in North London, the Douglas-born star missed a whopping 55 games through injury, and by that point, he was firmly out of Arteta’s plans, and despite remaining fit for the 22/23 campaign, he was sidelined by new signing Oleksandr Zinchenko.

19/20

1

96

19

20/21

4

83

19

21/22

2

114

17

22/23

0

0

0

23/24

3

100

21

24/25

1

97

Total

11

490

76

With it clear he wasn’t going to get much game time, the Scotsman joined La Liga side Real Sociedad on a season-long loan last year. While he looked good on the pitch, he was once again blighted by injury problems. He ended up missing 21 matches due to hamstring and adductor injuries, with the former keeping him out of action this season as well.

In all, the 27-year-old dynamo has officially missed a frankly absurd 76 games through injury since joining Arsenal in 2019, and though he can be exceptional at times and would offer the club a more traditional option at left-back, it’s clear he cannot be relied upon.

Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney.

Therefore, Arteta and Edu must move Tierney on either this January if he’s fit or in the summer. He cannot justify his £110k-per-week wages, and the longer he spends on the sidelines in North London, the more his career is going to stall.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 24, 2024

Praveen Jayawickrama's stunning debut seals Sri Lanka's dominant victory

Praveen Jayawickrama entered the record books as Sri Lanka’s inexperienced spin attack carried them to a 209-run win against Bangladesh in the second Test in Pallekele. Sri Lanka also won the series 1-0. Jayawickrama’s match figures of 11 for 178 was the best by a Sri Lankan bowler on debut, the best by a left-arm spinner on debut and the first bowler to take a 10-wicket haul on debut since Jason Krejza in 2008.Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who kept Sri Lanka in the field for an hour on the fifth morning, was Jayawickrama’s tenth wicket. After making 39, Miraz had telegraphed his lap sweep far too soon, as Pathum Nissanka anticipated the shot, moved to his right and took the catch. Jayawickrama wrapped up the game with Abu Jayed’s wicket, his fifth lbw in the game.The visitors added 50 runs to their overnight score of 177 for 5 but a long tail made sure all the onus was on the Liton Das-Miraz partnership for any chance of survival. But that lasted just 14 balls in the morning when Liton was lbw to Jayawickrama, missing a subtle straighter delivery. Jayawickrama’s left-arm stock deliveries had earlier sucked Liton into thrusting his pad down the line. Taijul Islam offered his usual resistance but Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam and Jayed didn’t.Bangladesh were set a target of 437 runs with roughly 150 overs left to play. Tamim Iqbal was the first to go, undone by Ramesh Mendis’ beautifully dipping offbreak that took his outside edge. Tamim’s streak of four fifties was broken as he was dismissed for 24.Saif Hassan and Najmul Hossain Shanto then stuck around for 56 balls, in which both batters went after the Sri Lankan spinners. Hassan cleared his front leg on several occasions to hit straight, but the approach cost him when he holed out at cover point, giving Jayawickrama his first wicket. Shanto too fell to the left-arm spinner, missing a delivery that spun through his bat and pad.Mominul Haque fell to Mendis for the second time in the match, this time bowled off an inside edge after falling lbw in the first innings. It was a soft dismissal, an attempted late cut that looked lackadaisical. Mushfiqur Rahim also fell to Mendis when an offbreak reared on him, brushed his gloves and gave short leg an easy catch. He made 40.But much like Hassan, Shanto and Mominul, Mushfiqur too was chancy. Lahiru Thirimanne dropped him at slip, before Niroshan Dickwella missed a stumping chance through his legs.

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