Mohsin Khan with Misbah ul Haq and Umar Gul

Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohsin Khan and Umar Gul talk while waiting for the rain to subside, Pakistan v Sri Lanka, 3rd Test, Sharjah, 5th day, November 7, 2011

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Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohsin Khan and Umar Gul talk while waiting for the rain to subside, Pakistan v Sri Lanka, 3rd Test, Sharjah, 5th day, November 7, 2011©AFP

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M Usman Arshad

The rare sight of rain delaying play in Sharjah

The rare sight of rain delaying play in Sharjah, Pakistan v Sri Lanka, 3rd Test, Sharjah, 5th day, November 7, 2011

©AFP

The rare sight of rain delaying play in Sharjah, Pakistan v Sri Lanka, 3rd Test, Sharjah, 5th day, November 7, 2011

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Pakistan v Sri Lanka, 3rd Test, Sharjah, 5th day

Pakistan take series after rain-hit draw

The Report by Siddarth Ravindran

November 7, 2011

Taufeeq Umar

Pakistan extended their impressive run in Test cricket since the spot-fixing scandal deprived them of three first-choice players, securing a series win over Sri Lanka on a rare rain-hit day in Sharjah. Fittingly Misbah-ul Haq, the man who took over as captain and provided a backbone to a team that was in disarray last year, remained unbeaten to ensure there were no implosions and confirm the draw.

The result extends Sri Lanka's winless streak to 14 Tests, again highlighting their struggle to come to terms to the loss of the legendary Muttiah Muralitharan. They betrayed a lack of killer instinct by batting on the final day of this must-win Test, despite a three-hour rain delay. They were 237 ahead by stumps on the fourth day, a sufficiently large lead in a match where the run-rate has been around two-and-a-half over the first four days, but they weren't confident enough to declare at the start of play when 67.2 overs remained. Instead of going all out for a victory, they inexplicably batted out four overs before calling an end to their innings.

Pakistan needed a high-octane start if they were to make a serious tilt at the target of 255 in 61 overs. Their openers began briskly, with Mohammad Hafeez slashing a couple of fours past point early on. Pakistan were 20 for 0 midway through the fifth over, but their momentum was taken away by a direct hit from substitute Lahiru Thirimanne at midwicket, which caught Hafeez short.

Taufeeq Umar and the usually watchful Azhar Ali decided to shut shop, and Pakistan focused on playing out the overs for a draw. With the Sri Lankan spinners getting some turn, Pakistan scratched out six runs in a 11-over spell. Rangana Herath and Suraj Randiv kept the batsmen on a leash, and Sri Lanka kept a clutch of close-in fielders as they hunted for quick wickets.

Sri Lanka's strikes came from contrasting deliveries. A ripper from Herath accounted for Azhar, trapped lbw after the ball drifted in before curling sharply away, while Younis Khan was dismissed by a pedestrian length delivery that he punched to the mid-on fielder.

Still, Taufeeq firmly resisted and Misbah showed off his defensive mastery once again to drain Sri Lanka's hopes. Their 15-over blockade nearly put the match to bed, but Sri Lanka perked up when Taufeeq irresponsibly slapped a short Randiv ball to Kumar Sangakkara at point. The spinners persevered and should have had another breakthrough when Asad Shafiq nicked to the keeper but the umpire failed to spot it.

It was comfortable for Pakistan in the end, with Shafiq and Misbah stonewalling 16 overs in the fading light. Misbah even shared a light-hearted moment with Sangakkara as the match wound down, jokingly imitating a left-hand batsman. With Pakistan winning their first series over a better-ranked team since 2005, Misbah could well afford to smile.

Siddarth Ravindran is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo

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Kevin Pietersen receives some treatment

Kevin Pietersen receives some treatment on his wrist after being struck by the ball, England v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Lord's, 5th day, June 7, 2011

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Kevin Pietersen receives some treatment on his wrist after being struck by the ball, England v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Lord's, 5th day, June 7, 2011
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A broken window in the England dressing room

A broken window in the England dressing room caused a stir on the fifth afternoon at Lord's, England v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Lord's, 5th day, June 7, 2011

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A broken window in the England dressing room caused a stir on the fifth afternoon at Lord's, England v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Lord's, 5th day, June 7, 2011
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Matt Prior apologises to MCC members after smashing a window in the England dressing room at Lord's

Matt Prior apologises to MCC members after smashing a window in the England dressing room at Lord's, England v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Lord's, 5th day, June 7, 2011

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Matt Prior apologises to MCC members after smashing a window in the England dressing room at Lord's, England v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Lord's, 5th day, June 7, 2011

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An MCC member looks at the shattered window

An MCC member looks at the shattered window, England v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Lord's, 5th day, June 7, 2011

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An MCC member looks at the shattered window, England v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Lord's, 5th day, June 7 2011
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A familiar scene on the final morning in Cardiff

A familiar scene on the final morning in Cardiff, England v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Cardiff, 5th day, May 30, 2011

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A familiar scene on the final morning in Cardiff, England v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Cardiff, 5th day, May 30, 2011©Getty Images

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Chris Tremlett took a return catch to remove Tillakaratne Dilshan

Chris Tremlett took a return catch to remove Tillakaratne Dilshan, England v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Cardiff, 5th day, May 30, 2011

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Chris Tremlett took a return catch to remove Tillakaratne Dilshan, England v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Cardiff, 5th day, May 30, 2011©Getty Images

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England v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Cardiff, 5th day

Tremlett rattles Sri Lanka top order

The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan

May 30, 2011

James Anderson

With few spectators to witness it, Chris Tremlett produced a hostile spell with the new ball to rattle Sri Lanka's top order on the final afternoon in Cardiff. After heavy morning rain Ian Bell was given a chance to reach his hundred then Andrew Strauss declared, to leave his attack 51 overs at the visitors, and both openers were back in the pavilion within the first four although Sri Lanka steadied themselves to reach 33 for 2 at tea.

Tremlett struck with the last ball of his first over when Tharanga Paranavtiana edged a low catch to first slip and his second came when Tillakaratne Dilshan got into a tangle against a shorter delivery. The catch lobbed back to Tremlett and Dilshan was given out immediately but opted for the DRS only for it to show the ball had brushed glove and Sri Lanka were 10 for 2. Even though time remained against a victory push England were laying down useful markers ahead of Lord's.

The experienced pair of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene found it tough to battle through to tea, especially against Tremlett who maintained a probing line. Sangakkara spooned a square drive just wide of point and Jayawardene edged in front of the slips off Stuart Broad, who looked in better rhythm than the first innings.

The merits of allowing Bell to reach three figures are likely to be debated because of the signal it sends out that personal milestones are given such importance. It took Bell two overs to collect the two runs he needed as he edged the first ball of the day to fine leg then guided a boundary to third man off Thisara Perera. For the record it was Bell's 13th Test hundred and came from 159 deliveries.

Andrew McGlashan is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo

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Umar Akmal is congratulated after taking a sharp catch to dismiss Ravi Rampaul

Umar Akmal is congratulated after taking a sharp catch to dismiss Ravi Rampaul, West Indies v Pakistan, 2nd Test, St Kitts, 5th day, May 24, 2011

© Associated Press

Umar Akmal is congratulated after taking a sharp catch to dismiss Ravi Rampaul, West Indies v Pakistan, 2nd Test, St Kitts, 5th day, May 24, 2011 © Associated Press

Saeed Ajmal poses with the Man of the Series award

Saeed Ajmal poses with the Man-of-the-Series award, West Indies v Pakistan, 2nd Test, St Kitts, 5th day, May 24, 2011

 © Associated Press

Saeed Ajmal poses with the Man-of-the-Series award, West Indies v Pakistan, 2nd Test, St Kitts, 5th day, May 24, 2011 © Associated Press