Pakistan confident ahead of second Sri Lanka Test

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Pakistan confident ahead of second Sri Lanka Test

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The second Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will start in Dubai on Wednesday.

25 October,2011 03:07 am

Misbah-ul Haq will look for an improved performance from his fielders to menace Sri Lanka in the second Test which starts at Dubai sports city stadium from Wednesday.Pakistan snatched a draw from the jaws of a win by dropping as many as seven catches to let the Sri Lankans off in the first Test in Abu Dhabi last week, leaving the three-Test series tied.Led by left-arm paceman Junaid Khan (5-38), Pakistan rocked Sri Lanka to a low score of 197 after Misbha won the toss and elected to field and then took a huge 314-run lead on the back of a career-best 236 from Taufiq Umar.But then the fielders spoiled a good chance of pressing for a win when they dropped six catches on the fourth day, allowing opener Lahiru Thirimanne (68) and Kumar Sangakkara five chances between them.Sangakkara, who notched 211, then punished Pakistan for their sloppy fielding by putting together a record 201-run stand for the sixth wicket with Prasanna Jayawardene who scored 120 to salvage a draw for Sri Lanka.Misbah hoped his players will work hard to overcome fielding weaknesses.Since Misbah took over in the post spot-fixing scandal in England last year, which ended in bans for former Test captain Salman Butt, Pakistan have not lost a series and the skipper feels the Abu Dhabi draw is not going to affect them.Pakistan can bring in left-arm paceman Wahab Riaz in place of Aizaz Cheema who managed a wicket in each of the two innings despite bowling a hostile spell on the first day.Sri Lanka can also bring in off-spinner Suraj Randiv in place of any of the two seamers Nuwan Pradeep or Suranga Lakmal if the Dubai stadium pitch has any chance to help the spinners.Captain Tillakaratne Dilshan said his team will have the psychological advantage after avoiding defeat in the first match.Under Dilshan Sri Lanka have not won a Test, losing 1-0 to both England and Australia in each of the three-Test series.Dilshan hoped his batsmen put up a better show in the first innings.The third Test will be played in Sharjah from November 3-7.