An intersting sight was to see the Sri Lankan players led by their coach come onto the ground to ostensibly help remove the covers. However, the covers had lage puddles of water and it spilled onto the turf causing more work for the super-sopper. This raised a few eyebrows amongst the ardent Pakistani supporters but all was taken as a display of high spirits and anxiety to carry on with the game.

Inzamam (54) and Shoaib Malik (11) resumed Pakistan’s innings at 218 for 5. Fearing adverse effects of rain on the pitch, the batsmen adopted go slow tactics scoring only 3 runs in 5 overs from Vaas and Muralitharan. The outfield being soggy and slow the run rate had to be obviously below par. Even the bowlers were quite careful about their run up. Vaas used a short runup.

It was dull and dreary cricket offering no excitement to the spectators and looked more like a ritual to be completed. Pakistan’s aim was to save the match or at least prevent an innings defeat.

Now Inzamam having scored a defiant 72, the need for completion of his century would be the new objective in sight. This would certainly go to Pakistan’s advantage.

The day’s play ended with Pakistan at 248 for 5 with Inzamam (72) and Shoaib Malik (19) holding the fort with the intention of emerging as Pakistan’s saviours. On account of repeated disruptions for rain only 32 overs were bowled accruing 55 runs. Pakistan still remains in a deficit of 46 runs to avoid the innings defeat.

Having lost most of their batsmen and a big chunk of deficit still hanging, Pakistan was in a miserable situation. Their only hope of ‘survival’ was to wish for continuous rain but to expect a long spell of rain when it is the ‘off season’ maybe wishful. Playing with his natural flair, Inzamam cut Muralithana to the point boundary to hoist his 50 of the innings. This was followed by a bat and pad appeal against him that was rejected by the umpire s the replay showed it was off his pads alone. The score showed 218 for 5 with Inzamam (54) and Shoaib Malik (11) when rain started again and the game was suspended.

In the 56th over Pakistan reached 200 still 94 behind to make SRI Lanka bat again.

In the next over, Muralitharan operating from the College End suffered a dropped catch on the third ball when he had bamboozled Shoaib Malik with his special ball. It was edged to Jayawardene in the slips and he dropped a relatively easy one, probably caught by surprise.

The light was poor and several discussions amongst the umpires and players caused some delays and the lights were requested to be turned on. Then the drizzle became stronger and finally at 05:10GMT they went in and the covers were brought on.

The drizzle became rain and an early lunch was called for with Pakistan 204 for 5 after 57 overs. The rain was continuing and play looked unlikely to start till well after lunch.

While Inzamam was on the defensive, Afridi could not possibly control his natural instinct of aggression. By hitting a flurry of shots all round the wicket Afridi and his partner took the total to 110 in 25 overs with 55 runs having flashed from his own bat. With a 294 runs lead and two full days for Pakistan to stay at the crease, the game continued to be in Sri Lanka’s favour. Inzamam being virtually on the defensive, Afridi was fighting a lone battle. He raised Pakistan’s score to an encouraging 150 before losing his invaluable wicket. On a ball from Muralitharan pitching well outside the off stump, he came down the pitch and was smartly stumped by Sangakkara. He had played a heroic innings of 70 when the team was in real crisis. Pakistan was 150 for 3, still a long way from survival. However, one must add that Afridi was encouraged to stay cool time and again by Inzamam otherwise he may not have lasted this long.

Muralitharan the magician, struck again a little later when he despatched Yousuf Youhana back to the pavilion. Youhana was caught by Atapattu for 7, reducing Pakistan to 166 for 4. Again his shot selection needs criticism for he played a one-day style outside in forcing shot to be caught at mid on. With each wicket falling Pakistan’s chances of survival were diminishing. The situation further deteriorated when Abdul Razzaq just came and went. He was lbw off Muralitharan after contributing only 5 runs to the total. The bal hit his back leg and he had gone back to the special faster off-break. Pakistan was now 181 for 5, waiting for the inevitable. With day light completely faded, it was now like playing night cricket. The drum beating of the spectators, however, kept rising, They perhaps liked performing in the dark or hungry for more action.

Finally with the light not permitting continuation, the umpires decided to call off the game for the day. Pakistan was 193 for 5 with Inzamam (38) and Shoaib Malik (6) holding the crease. Of the 5 wickets that fell, 3 were claimed by Muralitharan and one each by Vaas and Zoysa. With the remaining deficit of 101 runs and 5 wickets in hand Pakistan remain vulnerable to an innings defeat tomorrow.

Pakistan opened its 2nd innings with Shahid Afridi and Taufeeq Umar with a deficit of 294 runs. Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa launched the attack again with 4 slips and a gully. Despite suffering a set back in the 1st innings, Pakistan did not abandon its aggressive designs as a result of which Afridi was dropped in the slips off a rash shot. With the total at 31 in 8 overs, Taufeeq Umar was bowled by Vaas after scoring 19 runs. Playing a defensive shot, he left his off stump fully exposed.

Younis Khan joined Shahid Afridi and applying a combination of offence and defence they played all round the wicket adding runs at a reasonable pace. At tea the total was 63 for 1 scored in 15 overs. Shahid Afridi (21) and Younis Khan (16) were at the crease, natural light gradually fading, flood lights were put on.

It was only in the 11th over of the day that Chaminda Vaas opened up slightly to drive Waqar Younis to deep mid off for a four, followed by lifting him to square leg for the second boundary. He tried another hook but the ball fell in the mid-wicket region in-between the two fielders giving him a chance to survive. He received loud applause for this adventurism, especially from the students enclosure. Despite all this the first hour of play brought only 27 runs. With continued shouts and shrieks the excitement among the crowd continued to grow.

Both batsmen having opened their account together, Tillakaratne was playing a subdued game. While Vaas had managed to pile up 33, Tillakaratne was struck up at 6, making no effort to increase his score. The two batsmen were playing with absolute ease. Surprisingly the Pakistan bowlers were not creating an impact on Sri Lanka's lower order batsmen.

Then came the lucky moment when Pakistan achieved an important break-through. In an effort to hook a short pitched delivery from Abdul Razzak, the more adventurous Chaminda Vaas was caught by Taufeeq Umar at deep square leg after scoring an entertaining 43. Sri Lanka was 501 for 6.

Another wicket fell when Samaraweera who had come in at the fall of the 6th wicket, was brilliantly caught by Rashid latif for 8. He flicked a ball from Shoaib Akhtar to leg and Rashid dived to his left to hold. Sri Lanka was 519 for 7. Next, Buddhika Fernando who came in to bat did not last long. He was trapped lbw by Mohammad Sami off a yorker on his toes after scoring 7 runs. At lunch Sri Lanka was 528 for 8, its highest score against Pakistan in test cricket.

The long awaited break-through came when Jayawardene was caught by Inzamam off Mohammad Sami after scoring an invaluable 68. Sri Lanka was now 376 for 3. 400 of the innings came in 93 overs. With such a strong foundation of the innings laid by the first three batsmen, there was no difficulty for the new batsman Russel Arnold to get into stride.

Sri Lanka had a little favour too from lady luck, at the total of 424 Russel Arnold edged a delivery from Sami to Younis Khan in the slips, who failed to hold it. Since the natural light was fading, advantage was taken of the new ICC rule and the flood lights put on to try and complete the required number of overs. In the meantime, by crossing the 200 run mark Sangakkara had jumped into a distinguished group of wicket keepers having scored a double century.

Disaster struck when at the total of 447 a tired Kumar Sangakkara offered a catch to Younis Khan off Abdul Razzaq and was out for a fabulous personal score of 230. He, however missed to beat the world record of the highest score by a wicket keeper held by Andy Flower (232), so is now the 2nd highest. Arnold was the other batsman to leave at the same total. He was bowled by Shoaib Akhtar for 44. This second successive Sri Lanka’s day came to an end at 447 for 5. Chaminda Vaas and Hashan Tillakaratne were the new batsmen at the crease but remained there without opening their accounts.

Sri Lanka dominated the field throughout the day except for the tail end when Pakistan showed a glimpse of its bowling prowess. Though Sri Lanka has gained a definite advantage, only the third day’s play will act as the decider to be able to forecast the final result.

This was not to be, another lucky break was not in sight as the new batsman Mahela Jayawardene was as accomplished as his other colleagues. He got into their mould, quick to settle down and then to punish the virtually ineffective Pakistani bowling. Sangakkara in full command of the game had crossed 150 and was safely heading for a double century. The ease with which the batsmen executed their shots all round the wicket and added runs to the total indicated their complete mastery over Pakistan’s bowling. Their aim looks like piling up a score of around 400 runs by close of the day to achieve even more of a command position.

Then came the tea break with Sri Lanka at 298 for 2 . Sangakkara was batting at 161 getting all the support from his partner, the elegant right-hander Jayawardene at 33. The 2 wickets that fell were equally shared by Waqar Younis and Abdul Razzaq. 37 overs remained to be bowled till end of the day’s play.

The two batsmen continued to play a safe and steady game, real Test cricket. Runs were added through singles and twos with occasional shots to the boundary. There were no fireworks of any kind for the spectators to enjoy. The emphasis was on staying at the wickett and keeping the score board moving. 150 of the innings came in 183 minutes with Sangakkara (77) and Jayasuriya (66) well placed to carry on. Sri Lanka’s no risk policy had neutralized Pakistan’s top class pace attack. During the course of play there were some high pitched appeals from the fielders but turned down by the umpires correctly as confirmed by TV replays.

At lunch Sri Lanka was at 192 for 1 with Sangakkara having scored a magnificent century (100*) and Jayasuriya batting at 80. There was nothing remarkable about the bowlers who had given the two batsmen a free hand to score. It appears today will again be the Sri Lanka’s day.