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Nick Browne produced his second career-best innings in a week as he held Essex together against Derbyshire at Queen’s Park

Les Smith at Queen's Park08-Jul-2014
ScorecardMark Footitt claimed two top-order wickets but proved expensive•Getty ImagesNick Browne produced a second career-best innings within a week to hold Essex together on an intriguing second day against Derbyshire at Chesterfield. Browne dug in for more than five hours for an unbeaten 86 before a storm prevented any play after tea.Browne had a previous top first class score of 65 and he scored that last week at Chelmsford against Gloucestershire. He is a big man with powerful arms, and he is strong through the offside. Although his innings was a prolonged one, 60 of his runs came from boundaries.The day started badly for his side. Ravi Bopara was caught behind down the leg side off the tenth ball of the day, bowled by Mark Footitt. Bopara was not happy about the decision and lingered at the crease before trudging to the pavilion.This brought in Jesse Ryder, who scored a century against Gloucestershire a week ago. Ryder went to 32 briskly. He was dropped at slip by Alex Hughes but chopped an inside edge onto his stumps without adding to his score.James Foster, so often the man to go to when things are dodgy in the Essex middle order, launched his innings with a boundary through midwicket off his first ball and made his way to 29 before he too dragged a ball from Tom Taylor onto his wicket shortly after lunch.At lunch Essex were still 159 runs behind Derbyshire, and in a game which has seen wickets fall frequently, apart from Monday afternoon’s stand between Wayne Madsen and Wes Durston, they were in no position to feel secure. Madsen was at the ground but unable to field because the medics judged he was still concussed after the blow to his head delivered by Graham Napier on Monday evening.In the afternoon session Browne pressed on, never looking troubled by the Derbyshire attack but scoring at a sedate pace. Derbyshire used six bowlers, including Madsen who has ten first class wickets to his name from 107 matches, which provides an indication of how easy the pitch had become, as was predicted on the first morning by the locals who know the Queen’s Park square well.After James Foster was dismissed, Ryan ten Doeschate arrived to offer the solidity he has done so often but was trapped on the back foot by a ball from Alex Hughes that appeared to keep a little low, and Hughes had his eighth first-class wicket.Greg Smith, approaching veteran status now, joined Browne and together they added 37 which, in the context of a relatively low scoring match, could turn out to be invaluable, especially if they can extend their partnership on the third morning.Browne has done his time earning his stripes in the Essex second team. Last week at Chelmsford he showed that he has what it takes, and today he was the rock upon which a solid Essex response to Derbyshire was built.

A round-up of the Ram Slam T20 matches on November 2, 2014

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Nov-2014Chris Gayle starred with the ball and bat for Lions in their Ram Slam T20 opener, taking four wickets and scoring a fifty to help the side beat Dolphins by six wickets at the Wanderers.Cody Chetty (68) and Vaughn van Jaarsveld had forged a recovery for Dolphins with a 71-run stand for the third wicket but Gayle’s introduction into the attack turned the game in Lions’ favour. He took a wicket in each over of his spell to finish with 4 for 36, breaking the Dolphins middle order by accounting for van Jaarsveld, Chetty, Jonathan Vandiar and Khaya Zondo. Prenelan Subrayen struck a few blows towards the end of the innings to lift the Dolphins total to 172.Lions began their chase with an 18-run over from Daryn Dupavillon but, by the fourth over, were struggling at 36 for 3. Gayle and Jean Symes’ 89-run stand put the chase back on track and both batsmen finished with half-centuries. While Gayle struck 56 off 38 balls, Symes finished on an unbeaten 50-ball 58 to guide Lions to a win in the 19th over.Kieron Pollard’s all-round contribution with bat and ball was the difference between the Cobras and the Titans in Johannesburg. Pollard led the Cobras final assault with the bat with 72 runs at a strike rate of 200, and was the architect of their 80-run plunder off the last six overs of their innings. He then took three wickets in two overs to derail the Titans’ chase.The Cobras were set up by Richard Levi, who faced just 34 balls for his 81 runs, but the Titans may have thought that was as bad as it got for them. They got rid of the Cobras’ top and middle order cheaply, with their slower bowlers doing the bulk of the containing. Roelof van der Merwe conceded just 14 runs in three overs while Dean Elgar took 3 for 20 and bowled a full quota to keep the Cobras quiet.That was before Pollard made his entrance. He spoilt the figures of Ethy Mbhlati and Rowan Richards and ensured the Cobras posted a run more than the Knights did in the early game.Unlike the Warriors, who collapsed in their chase of 206, the Titans looked set to get to their target of 208. Openers Elgar and Henry Davids were merciless in equal measure and shared in a first-wicket stand of 151 inside 15 overs. Again, it was Pollard who changed proceedings.In his third over, he had Elgar caught at long-on, Davids off against a slower ball and also accounted for Darren Sammy with a short ball- all in the space of seven deliveries. The Titans needed 45 runs off the last three overs but could only manage 30 in what became a tense finish.Warriors’ batting woes from the first-class and fifty-over formats have carried over into the shortest version of the game as well. Overseas signing Craig Kieswetter, who made 51, was the only batsman in their line-up who managed a score of more than 20 as they were beaten by the Knights in their campaign opener.Set a tall 206 for victory – a target built on the back of Knights’ opening stand of 78 runs and topped off by Diego Rosier’s second T20 half-century – the Warriors were never in the chase. Dillon du Preez’s four wickets dismantled them – his first pair dismissed the openers and second bored into the tail. In between that, all the other members of the Knights attack enjoyed success, except the slower bowlers, with the medium-pace of Malusi Siboto and the spin of Werner Coetsee costing more than eight runs an over.Those numbers only indicate indiscipline of the Warriors in the first half of the fixture. They used seven bowlers and none of them conceded at less than seven runs to the over, with Jon-Jon Smuts hauling in the best return of 2 for 28.Smuts’ strike pegged the Knights back after they were off to a speedy start thanks to Rudi Second and Gerhardt Abrahams. A mid-innings wobble saw them lose four wickets for 42 runs and they seemed to be losing their way but Rosier put them back on track. He shared in a 67-run stand with Obus Pienaar, which came in just 3.2 overs, to tip the Knights total over 200 and ensure they took maximum points from the first match of the campaign.

The Gunners have done some incredible deals down through the years – GOAL picks out their best ever signings below…

From the dominant days of manager Herbert Chapman’s tenure in the 1930s right through to the modern era, Arsenal have signed some sensational players who have gone on to write their names into the history books.

But which transfers rank as the greatest in the Gunners' long and illustrious history.

GOAL reveals all below…

Eddie Hapgood

Arguably Arsenal’s best ever signing.

Hapgood was plucked from lowly Kettering Town by Gunners manager Herbert Chapman in 1927 for just £950 ($1,170) and went to captain Arsenal’s all-conquering side of the 1930s.

He made 440 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal and won the First Division title five times, as well as the FA Cup twice.

The left-back spent 12 years with Arsenal before the onset of the Second World War, scoring twice. 

He died in 1973, at the age of just 64.

AdvertisementGettyIan Wright

Many questioned Arsenal’s decision to spend a club record £2.5 million ($3m) to sign Ian Wright from Crystal Palace in 1991.

The Gunners had just won the First Division title and had two-time golden boot winner Alan Smith leading the line, with Kevin Campbell also at George Graham’s disposal.

But from the moment Wright opened his account with a goal at Leicester City on his Arsenal debut, he quickly silenced any of his doubters.

He went on the score 185 goals for the club, overtaking Cliff Bastin to become Arsenal’s all-time record goalscorer in 1997.

Wright won a Premier League title during his time in North London as well as two FA Cups, a League Cup, the Cup Winners Cup and the Golden Boot.

Alex James

Known as one of the finest players to have ever played for Arsenal, James arrived from Preston in 1929 for £8,750 ($10,800).

The playmaker quickly established himself in Chapman’s stellar side and scored the opening goal as Arsenal beat Huddersfield 2-0 in the 1930 FA Cup final – a victory which gave the club its first ever major trophy.

James went on to make 261 appearances for Arsenal and formed a formidable partnership with legendary attackers Ted Drake and Cliff Bastin.

The Scotland international won four league titles for the Gunners and a second FA Cup in 1936. He was forced to retire due to injury the following year.

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Sol Campbell

There is plenty of debate over who is the best free transfer of the Premier League era, but not amongst Arsenal fans.

Sol Campbell’s move across North London from Tottenham in the summer of 2001 is the stuff of legend.

Members of the media were all expecting to see goalkeeper Richard Wright unveiled when they arrived at a press conference at Arsenal’s training ground, so there was an audible gasp when Arsene Wenger walked out accompanied by Campbell – who was football's most in-demand free agent at the time.

Arsenal had taken Spurs’ captain without having to pay them a penny and they had to watch their former idol go on to win two league titles and three FA Cups during his time at Highbury.

Chris Duckworth, a former South Africa batsman, died on May 16 at his home in Johannesburg

ESPNcricinfo staff21-May-2014Chris Duckworth, a former South Africa batsman, died on May 16 at his home in Johannesburg. Duckworth, 81, represented the country in two Tests during the home series against England in the summer of 1957, when the hosts fought back from a 2-0 deficit to share the series 2-2.Duckworth, who began his career with Rhodesia as a 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, played a total of 77 first-class matches, including one season for Natal where he made more than 2500 runs with three centuries. He also toured England in 1955 and 1960 as an understudy to the team’s first-choice keeper Johnny Waite.”On behalf of the CSA Family I extend our heart-felt condolences to his family, friends, cricketing colleagues and all the people who were close to him and who were touched by his life,” Haroon Lorgat, the CSA chief executive, said in a statement.

A fine half-century from captain Daryl Mitchell was enough for Worcestershire to pick up a five-wicket victory in their NatWest T20 Blast clash with the Leicestershire at Grace Road

Press Associaiton06-Jun-2014
ScorecardDaryll Mitchell flicks to leg on his way to his first T20 half-century•Getty ImagesA fine half-century from captain Daryl Mitchell, his first in T20 cricket, was enough for Worcestershire to pick up a five-wicket victory in their NatWest T20 Blast clash with the Leicestershire at Grace Road.Leicestershire still only have one victory in this season’s North Division after failing to defend their total of 164 for 6.Mitchell was the star of the show for the visitors as he scored an unbeaten 67 from 50 deliveries, with the Rapids reaching their total with four balls remaining to take their third straight win of the competition.Leicestershire skipper Josh Cobb set off in quick fashion but was caught off the bowling of Chris Russell in the fifth over, having scored 27 from 18 balls. Fellow opener Niall O’Brien fell in the same over having just smashed a six, leaving the hosts 44 for 2 from their opening five overs.Greg Smith and Ned Eckersley both helped move the score along before being dismissed by Mitchell and Colin Munro in close succession.It was left to Tom Wells to take the Foxes to a defendable total, he hit an unbeaten 45 from 28 balls, with Saeed Ajmal taking the wickets of Scott Styris and Rob Taylor in his final over.Set 165 to win, Richard Oliver and Mitchell put on 26 runs before the former was well bowled by Ben Raine.Mitchell continued to score consistently and was ably supported by Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Munro before Jigar Naik and Nathan Buck took a wicket apiece to bring Leicestershire back into the match.But victory was assured as Mitchell remained unmoved at the crease and, despite Alexei Kervezee and Ross Whiteley unable to stay with their captain until the end, a six and four at the start of the final over from the 30-year-old steered Worcestershire to another win.

Roddy Estwick, the West Indies U-19 coach, has challenged his batsmen to step up if they intend to overcome Australia in the ICC World Cup quarter-finals

Renaldo Matadeen22-Feb-2014Roddy Estwick, the West Indies U-19 coach, has challenged his batsmen to step up if they intend to overcome Australia in the ICC World Cup quarter-finals. Estwick said his side’s loss to South Africa exposed frailties in the line-up as they crumbled for 104, chasing 199. Though West Indies posted over 270 against Zimbabwe and Canada, Estwick sees room for improvement.”We started off terribly against South Africa,” he said. “But after that, we batted first and lasted the entire 50 overs and we hope to continue like this against Australia. Before we left the Caribbean, we knew we weren’t doing well batting-wise and that’s still a challenge. We need to spend more time in the crease, build big partnerships and get top scores from the people in the top four [positions].”We’re doing some work in the nets in the short space of time we have and we have gotten accustomed to the conditions here,” he said. “Our batsmen need to play what they see and not what they expect. Take it one ball at a time.”Estwick said Australia were not as strong a side as in the past and was confident West Indies would be able to hold their own. “Watching the scores, the games they played and such, they’re not playing spin as well as other Australian teams so once we focus on this as well as our game, and we concentrate on keeping our discipline, we’ll do well,” he said.Australia lost to Afghanistan, were beaten by Zimbabwe and Pakistan in the warm-ups and before that came to the tournament on the back of a difficult tour of Sri Lanka.Having played their first game in Dubai, Estwick counted on the advantage of familiar conditions to challenge Australia, who are yet to play at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. “It was colder in the earlies but now it’s getting hotter and pitches are moving from green to drier,” he said. “Balls are moving around more too and this showed when we played Canada at Abu Dhabi. We have adjusted to the heat and also in case the pitch loses liveliness.”

South Africa will play a Test series in Sri Lanka for the first time since 2006, following the confirmation of the venues and dates for a short tour comprising two Tests and three ODIs

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Mar-2014Tour itinerary

July 3 – 50-over warm-up, Moratuwa

July 6 – 1st ODI, Colombo (RPS)

July 9 – 2nd ODI, Pallekele (day-night)

July 12 – 3rd ODI, Hambantota

July 16-20 – 1st Test, Galle

July 24-28 – 2nd Test, Colombo (SSC)

South Africa will play a Test series in Sri Lanka for the first time since 2006, following the confirmation of the venues and dates for a short tour comprising two Tests and three ODIs. Cricket South Africa (CSA) has stated that the team will arrive on June 30 and begin the tour with the ODIs, followed by the Tests.The three ODIs will be played at different venues across the country, with Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium hosting the first game on July 6. Only the second ODI, in Pallekele, will be a day-night contest. The two Tests will be played in Galle (starting July 16) and Colombo’s SSC (starting July 24).This will be Sri Lanka’s first home Test series since they hosted Bangladesh in March 2013. The original schedule had specified three Tests, in addition to the five ODIs and three Twenty20s that had already been played last year. But Sri Lanka Cricket had requested the Tests be moved to 2015, ostensibly to vacate the schedule for a Sri Lanka Premier League, but space in both teams’ schedule in July has allowed a change of plans.In February, SLC and CSA had agreed to bring it forward to 2014 and one Test was dropped to accommodate ODIs.”The Test series is the one that was postponed from last year at Sri Lanka’s request and is indicative of the good progress we are making in finalising commitments with all countries in terms of the ICC Future Tours Programme,” said CSA chief executive Haroon Lorgat.In the limited-overs series played last year, Sri Lanka won the ODIs 4-1 while South Africa took the T20s 2-1.

A round-up of the third day’s play of the eighth-round Group B games of the Ranji Trophy 2013-14

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Dec-2013
ScorecardVineet Saxena’s 83 helped Rajasthan close in on Tamil Nadu•ESPNcricinfo LtdUttar Pradesh’s pace duo of Ankit Rajpoot and Imtiaz Ahmed took nine wickets between them to dismiss Madhya Pradesh for 115. By close of play, UP had extended their 135-run lead to 213, with Suresh Raina unbeaten on 41.The second day of the match was lost to bad weather, but Rajpoot gave UP an early advantage on the third morning, dismissing openers Jalaj Saxena and Zafar Ali in successive overs. The MP middle order got starts, but kept losing wickets regularly and produced only two partnerships of any note – a 30-run fourth-wicket stand between Devendra Bundela and Mohnish Mishra and 37 runs for the seventh wicket between Anand Bais and Salman Beig. Rajpoot, playing his second match of the season, finished with figures of 5 for 37 while Imtiaz took 4 for 39. UP were struggling at 20 for 2 in their second innings before Raina steadied things.
ScorecardRajasthan were all set to take the first-innings lead against Tamil Nadu after an opening partnership of 163 between Vineet Saxena and Siddharth Saraf. The duo began the day with the score on 89 and proceeded to make half-centuries each. Tamil Nadu hit back with three quick wickets but Rajasthan captain Hrishikesh Kanitkar stonewalled his way to an unbeaten 38 off 154 balls to deny the hosts. Ashok Menaria stroked 62 off 69 at the other end, taking the game away from Tamil Nadu. Rajesh Bishnoi was giving his captain company at stumps on 20.
ScorecardRailways collapsed after a strong start and were propped up by Mahesh Rawat’s unbeaten fifty against Services in Delhi. Shivakant Shukla and Murali Kartik put on 75 upfront but seamer Suraj Yadav’s three wickets stunned Railways. Shadab Nazar picked up the next two as Railways slid to 130 for 6, an overall lead of only 84. Rawat stroked an unconquered 67 and Ashish Yadav dug in with 32 to resist Services’ charge and increase the lead to 178. Earlier, Services were bowled out for 153, adding only two runs to their overnight 151 for 8.

For Jonathan Trott to mark his return to representative cricket with an unbeaten 176, batting for nine hours, was some achievement

Ivo Tennant in Paarl13-Jan-2015
ScorecardJonathan Trott made his first hundred in an England shirt since 2013 (file photo)•Getty ImagesIt was not the cauldron of Brisbane, the pitch was shorn of pace, the attack, ultimately, devoid of energy, and the smattering of spectators were not remotely inimical towards him. Yet for Jonathan Trott to mark his return to representative cricket with an unbeaten 176, batting for nine hours, was some achievement. No matter that too many balls were directed at his pads, feeding his favourite clip through midwicket, for these were prominent runs.Trott was never sated, not even in temperatures which were well above 30 degrees. He collected his runs just about everywhere, off all manner of bowling, adding century partnerships with James Vince, Jonny Bairstow and Adil Rashid. There was no indication of emotion when he reached three figures, just a tug on the buckles of a pad and a brief kiss of his England helmet. No ostentatious fist pumping or imitation of the high jump.Apart from having been dropped the previous day when on 7, Trott gave no chance. Once, he cut Ryan McLaren uppishly past a wide slip, but otherwise there was a lovely flick through the leg side to the midwicket boundary and a controlled, cover-driven four, both off Dane Piedt’s offspin, that were masterly shots. In fact just about everything about this innings, including his emotions and his judgement of a run, was thoroughly controlled.Trott had resumed on 57 and was briefly outscored by Vince, who reached his half-century off 108 balls with eight fours, despatching Beuran Hendricks through the leg side and, in cutting Chris Morris for four, bringing up their century partnership off 290 balls. The South Africa A attack once again was dependant on Northampton-bound Rory Kleinveldt, whose medium pace looks to have come on since he had an unremarkable summer with Hampshire in 2008.’Never doubted Trott could come back’

Vincent Barnes, the South Africa A coach, said that Jonathan Trott, whom he coached as a young man in Cape Town, had told him a month ago he was ready to return to international cricket. “He said he thought he was over his stress-related illness and could come back again. I never had a doubt he could do so. When I coached him, I thought he would become one of the best players in the world.”
Nonetheless, Trott would not be drawn on when he might be ready. “This is part of the process towards the goal of coming back to Test cricket, but I feel no nearer or farther away from that after this innings,” Trott said. He praised James Vince, of whom he said: “He was always ear-marked for England. He struck the ball very fluently – I thought when I first saw him that he was a fantastic player.”

Now, he had Vince, who that year was still in Hampshire’s academy, caught at slip, cutting without moving his feet. So ended a partnership, a match-saving one, of 165 from 53 overs. Vince has benefited through coaching from both Andy Flower and Graham Thorpe on this trip, the upshot being 78 with 12 fours from 171 balls. Very few of his runs are ever scratchy.Piedt, who is a cousin of Hendricks – they are both from the northern suburbs of Cape Town – should have had Bairstow stumped on 22, having beaten him through the air. Rudi Second, who dropped Trott on Monday, a difficult chance, should have snaffled this opportunity. A further three-figure partnership followed, the Yorkshireman lofting Piedt for six to long-on and reaching 63 from 75 balls before Kleinveldt brought one back into him and beat his checked drive. His innings included nine fours.Rashid became the third batsman to bring up a century stand with Trott, his 78 from 105 balls carrying less significance than Vince’s innings but full of wristy uppercuts and drives nonetheless. It made up for his rather expensive bowling and was a counterpoint, more than useful at this stage of the innings, to Trott’s remorselessness on the ground on which he represented Boland when straight out of school. “Like a machine,” said Mark Robinson, the Lions coach, and indeed he was.Trott, having reached his 37th first-class century shortly after lunch, simply ground on, making his 176 runs from 350 balls with 14 fours. He was fit enough to manage an all-run four in the final over, when the Lions took the lead. His last first-class century in England colours (or, more accurately, helmet) was against a Western Australia Chairman’s XI at the start of the 2013-14 tour of Australia. By now, even Kleinveldt, who has known Trott since boyhood and who had tried everything from short-pitched bowling to men out for the hook and still more men to close off his scoring through midwicket, could not come up with anything innovative.

Sri Lanka’s prospects of winning their first away series since 1999-00 (excluding those in Bangladesh and Zimbabwe) improved significantly after Angelo Mathews and Dilruwan Perera batted vast periods of time on the second day

The Report by George Binoy17-Jan-20140:00

Fernando: Mathews’ batting was incredibly restrained

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsDilruwan Perera was picked for his bowling but made a telling contribution with the bat•AFPSri Lanka’s prospects of winning their first away series since 1999-00 (excluding those in Bangladesh and Zimbabwe) improved significantly after their captain Angelo Mathews and debutant Dilruwan Perera, picked primarily for his offspin, batted vast periods of time on the second day in Sharjah. Both batsmen were dismissed in the 90s, and because of their slow run rate Sri Lanka scored only 428 despite batting nearly two days, but Pakistan’s inability to take ten wickets deprived them of precious time in a Test they need to win to level the series.Having resumed on 220 for 5, Sri Lanka continued at snail’s pace. They scored 82 runs in 35 overs for the loss of Prasanna Jayawardene during an extended first session, and 57 runs in 29 overs for the loss of two wickets in the second. They were quicker in the third – 69 in 18 overs – but Sri Lanka’s last two wickets added those runs. Pakistan had not bowled so many overs in an innings – 172 – since the Rawalpindi Test against India in 2004. They were able to keep their sense of humour, though, and several players shook Saeed Ajmal’s hand after he bowled his 50th over.The day’s centrepiece was the seventh-wicket stand between Mathews and Perera that spanned 53.2 overs and produced 112 runs. But their resistance would not have reached such proportions if Pakistan had better luck. They had been on the wrong end of four reviews on the first day – three umpire’s-call decisions went Sri Lanka’s way – and the trend continued.In Abdur Rehman’s first over, the day’s fifth, Mathews was struck low on the front pad while pushing forward to defend, but umpire Richard Kettleborough said not out. On review, replays indicated the ball would have hit a sizeable portion of leg stump, but the on-field umpire’s call remained. Pakistan’s count of unsuccessful reviews in this series was now 14 out of 15, and Mathews went on from 34 to score 91 off 256 balls.The partnership between Mathews and Perera was only 20 when Ajmal pitched a doosra in line with the stumps from round the wicket and hit Perera’s pad, but umpire S Ravi denied the appeal. Pakistan had exhausted their reviews and were frustrated as replays indicated Perera was plumb. He made 95 off 247 balls.The day had begun with the Pakistan players examining the rough on the pitch, but its appearance proved deceptive because the surface did not misbehave. There was no pace, seam and swing, and the turn was slow. The ball after Mathews survived the review, though, Prasanna hooked a bouncer from Mohammad Talha straight to long leg to end Sri Lanka’s sixth-wicket partnership on 73. It was perhaps the only delivery to hurry a batsman.Smart Stats

Dilruwan Perera became only the second Sri Lanka batsman to be dismissed in the nineties on debut after Chamara Dunusinghe, who was dismissed 91 against New Zealand in Napier in 1995. Click here for a list of batsmen to be dismissed in the nineties on Test debut.

Perera is only the second batsman to get out in the nineties on debut, batting at No. 8 or lower. The first such instance was Ashton Agar’s 98 at Trent Bridge last year.

Sri Lanka’s run rate of 2.48 in their innings was the second lowest by a team with a score of 300 or more in a Test innings in the UAE. Two of the top three instances in this list came in this Test, also involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka, at the same venue in 2011.

Pakistan bowled 172 overs in Sri Lanka’s first innings in this Test. This is the highest they have bowled in an innings since the 177.2 overs they bowled against India in Rawalpindi in 2004. The last instance of them bowling more overs in the first innings of a Test came in 2000, when they bowled 196 overs against England in Lahore.

This was only the second instance in Tests when two batsman batting at No. 6 or lower got out in the nineties in an innings. The first instance came when South Africa played Sri Lanka in Cape Town in 2001, and Mark Boucher and Lance Klusener both got out in the nineties.

This was only the second time that two Sri Lanka batsmen got out in the nineties in a Test innings. The other such instance came against Zimbabwe in Colombo in 2001, when the batsmen were Sanath Jayasuriya and Hashan Tillakaratne.

With runs coming relatively easily against the fast bowlers, Misbah-ul-Haq brought Rehman on and he dried one end up. And after Ajmal was introduced in the 12th over of the day, Sri Lanka slowed to a crawl. Perera had cut his first ball in Test cricket – off Talha – to the boundary and then proved he had both patience and solid defensive technique.It was soon after Ajmal’s first appeal against Perera was turned down that Sri Lanka’s pace picked up. Perera swept the offspinner for four and then charged Rehman to clear the long-on boundary. In between those shots, Junaid Khan had returned for his second spell and Mathews pulled him for four. He later reached his half-century off 157 balls.Mathews also brought up the 100-run stand by pulling Rehman for four, and then had a chat with Perera after Ajmal began to trouble the batsman. Perera was on 43 when Ajmal struck his pads and appealed for another lbw. It wasn’t as close as the previous ones but on another day, another umpire might have given it out and few would have complained. Umpire Ravi did not, and Ajmal’s rage was on full display. Perera inside edged the next ball from Ajmal past his stumps to the boundary.Like Sangakkara on the first day, Mathews’ wicket was sudden. Junaid bowled a wide one and Mathews slashed to hole out to deep point when a century was there for the taking. Rangana Herath lasted just one ball, with Junaid doing what the spinners had strived to all day – earn an lbw.There was no more relief for Pakistan, though. Perera began to open up, and brought up his 50-run stand with Shaminda Eranga off only 77 balls with a flurry of shots against Ajmal. He moved to 95 with an on-the-up drive off Talha, but hooked the next ball in the air and was caught at fine leg. Perera missed becoming the fourth Sri Lankan batsman to score a Test century on debut, but his innings ensured Sri Lanka were on their way to a series win.