Right-arm leg spinner Jeffrey Vandersay spun a web around the Pakistanis taking a five-wicket haul as the visitors were shut down for only 247 all out in the first day of the three-day warm-up encounter between Pakistan XI and Sri Lanka Board President’s XI at Colts grounds on Thursday.
The Pakistan national team was cruising at 152 for 2 in 38 overs but things went south when Vandersay bowled a magical spell of regulation leg-spin bowling to dismiss the team led by Misbah Ul-Haq for 247. The 25-year old former Wesleyite bowled 19.3 overs and gave away 73 runs to pick up his 5 wickets. Earlier in the day, Misbah won the toss and had no hesitation to bat first.
Right-arm speedster Nisala Tharaka trapped Mohammed Hafeez LBW early on for just 3 and 10 overs later, left-arm spinner Milinda Siriwardene got the better of one drop batsman Azhar Ali for 12. Experienced Younus Khan joined the exciting Ahmed Shehzad and they constructed a classic 113-run stand for the 3rd wicket before Khan became Siriwardene’s 2nd victim after hammering 5 fours and 3 sixes in his knock of 64.
Set batsman Ahmed Shehzad was the first wicket for Vandersay as the right-hander perished after an elegant 144-ball 82 and his knock comprised 10 fours and a six. The middle-order consisting Misbah Ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed failed miserably against a leg-spinner who has only made 24 first-class appearances.
Shafiq was looking good but he came down the wicket and missed it completely after scoring 27. Junaid Khan was the last batsman to be dismissed as his cross batted heave found safe pair of hands in Jehan Mubarak as the visitors lost their last 8 wickets for 95 runs.
Sri Lankans in their reply lost their star opener Dimuth Karunarathne in the 2nd ball of the innings as he was trapped LBW by Junaid Khan before troubling the scoreboard. Kaushal Silva and Upul Tharanga cautiously guided through the remaining overs of the day yet the Sri Lanka Board President’s XI still trails by 203 runs in the first innings.
Play will be continued tomorrow (Friday).
Chief Scores
Pakistan XI – 247 all out in 73.3 overs: Ahmed Shehzad 82, Younus Khan 64, Asad Shafiq 27, Jeffrey Vandersay 5/73, Milinda Siriwardene 2/63.
Board President’s XI – 44/1 in 13 overs: UpulTharanga 29*, Kaushal Silva 10*.
