Pakistan's comeback stirring but incomplete

Pakistan made a significant turnaround on the fourth day at the P Sara Oval, but by the end of the day Sri Lanka were still favourites to wrap up a series-levelling win. Pakistan fought hard to overturn a large deficit, moved to a point where a match-winning lead looked a realistic possibility, but lost wickets in a clump to end the day feeling like they could have accomplished a lot more. The thread running through all that was Azhar Ali's 117.

Azhar made his ninth Test hundred, held Pakistan's innings together, and showed all the virtues that have made him the team's most respected batsman next to Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq. But Pakistan, while no doubt grateful for his efforts, might have hoped for a little more from him, hoped that he could turn his defiance into dominance. It might have made the difference between setting a target of 153 and a target of 200.

Azhar's runs came at a strike rate of 37.98. Part of this - as he himself explained during the end-of-day press conference - was down to the slowness of the surface and the discipline of the Sri Lankan bowlers. And his solidity was essential to setting the base for Pakistan to mount a comeback after they had been bowled out for 138 in their first innings. But there was one phase in his innings when he could, perhaps, have asserted himself a little more, and seized the initiative.

At the fall of Misbah's wicket, Pakistan were 57 runs ahead with six wickets in hand. It was a pivotal moment in the game: a big partnership could have put Pakistan on course for a lead of well over 200; a couple of quick wickets, on the other hand, would have swung the game Sri Lanka's way.

Azhar was batting on 85 at that point. At lunch, which came four overs later, he was still on 85, while Asad Shafiq had scored 10. By the time Shafiq was out for 27 in the second session, Azhar had moved his score to 97. By the time Sarfraz Ahmed was dismissed for 16, Azhar had moved to 107.

While Shafiq and Sarfraz, new to the crease, had scored 43 off 73 balls at the other end, Azhar had scored 22 off 78. He was the set batsman, and he was facing the same bowlers on the same pitch. It isn't as if Azhar is not capable of scoring quickly: since taking over as Pakistan's ODI captain, his runs in 50-over cricket have come at a strike rate of over 90.

Azhar seemed in a slightly dull mood when he walked into the press conference, perhaps reflecting the sense of frustration in Pakistan's dressing room that they hadn't been able to extend their comeback far enough to set a truly challenging target.

"Everyone plays the way their game is and you can't play the way others play," he said, when asked why he hadn't been able to accelerate as his innings progressed. "Obviously we all like the way Sarfraz plays but everyone has their own way to play and I have mine. In Test cricket you go inside, see the situation accordingly and then do your best.

"I think as a batsman in every innings I have a role to score runs for my team. I tried again and scored a hundred and I am happy with it. Now I am hopeful that the hundred I scored will play a role in a winning cause as we have fought hard and it's a matter of one more day."

As wickets fell around him, Azhar was eighth out, stumped off Rangana Herath. Pakistan lost their last five wickets for 28 runs.

"I think it turned quite sharply," Azhar said, when asked about his shot. "I wanted to play a positive stroke but he bowled in a very good area and I missed it completely.

"There is always something for the bowlers and you have to be on top of your game and be more focused while playing on such kind of pitches. Also, they have bowled very well in good areas and kept us on the back foot."

Pakistan have managed to overturn a deficit of 177 and set Sri Lanka a target of 153, with a full day's play left. Azhar said Pakistan were aiming to set a target of "230-240."

"We could have been in a bit better position but still we have runs on the board (to defend)," he said. "We fought back from the first day, I think that's the best part. Every day we came out, kept on fighting, and that's a good sign.

"We lost few wickets at a very crucial stage as we were going along very well. I think we were in a situation to get 230-240 lead but we fell a few runs short but still as a team we believe in working hard to defend it. We need to bowl in the right areas as there is something for the spinners. These kind of totals always are dodgy and with a few early wickets we can again make a swift comeback in the game."