Friday, February 27, 2009

Jayawardene targets farewell win

Second Test, Lahore:
Pakistan v Sri Lanka
Play begins Sunday 1 March 0500 GMT


Mahela Jayawardene
Jayawardene is preparing to captain Sri Lanka for the final time in Tests

Mahela Jayawardene will try to end his career as captain on a winning note when Sri Lanka take on Pakistan in the second and final Test in Lahore.

The 31-year-old will step down as skipper after this series to concentrate on his batting, having led Sri Lanka to 15 wins in 27 Tests.

"I think I am just going to enjoy it the way I have enjoyed the last three years," he said.

"It is going to be quite an honour for me to lead the side (a final time)."

Both teams hope they get a more bowler-friendly pitch for the second Test after batsmen dominated in the first match, with 1,553 runs scored for the loss of only 18 wickets.

Jayawardene hit 240 and was involved in a world record fourth-wicket stand with Thilan Samaraweera (231) in the draw in Karachi, but his performance was overshadowed by home captain Younus Khan's epic 313.

The tourists will have the option of bringing in recently-arrived paceman Nuwan Kulasekara, who replaced injured Farveez Maharoof, for the second Test.

Pakistan may select rookie paceman Mohammad Talha in place of Sohail Khan, who struggled with fitness on a flat track.

"We batted with guts and bowled well in the second innings (in Karachi) so if we field well and take chances then we can win (in Lahore)," said Younus.

"They are a good team so we need to be at our best, irrespective of what they are thinking. We have our game plan and we would like to stick to it."


Pakistan (from): Younus Khan (capt), Salman Butt, Khurram Manzoor, Ahmed Shahzad, Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Asim Kamal, Fawad Alam, Yasir Arafat, Danish Kaneria, Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Talha, Sohail Khan

Sri Lanka (from): Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Malinda Warnapura, Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara, Thilan Samaraweera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Prasanna Jayawardene, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dilhara Fernando, Thilan Thushara, Suranga Lakmal

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