Pakistan's Azhar Ali celebrates after scoring a century during the fourth day of the third and final Test match against Sri Lanka in Pallekele Wednesday. — ReutersPALLEKELE, Sri Lanka – Pakistan's Azhar Ali smashed a second century in successive matches Wednesday to leave the final Test against Sri Lanka poised for an intriguing finish. Azhar made 136 as Pakistan wriggled out of a corner to post 299-8 in its second innings by stumps on the fourth day, a lead of 188 runs with two wickets in hand. The tourists now have three sessions on the fifth day to conjure a series-levelling win on a wearing pitch that will offer some turn to prolific off-spinner Saeed Ajmal. But Sri Lanka remains favorite to win or draw the match and clinch its first series victory in three years since beating New Zealand at home in 2009. The host won the first Test in Galle by 209 runs before the second in Colombo was drawn. Azhar, who made 157 in the Colombo Test, held the innings together for six hours, hitting 13 boundaries in his fourth Test century and the third this year. The 27-year-old put on 94 for the second wicket with his overnight partner Mohammad Hafeez and 48 for the third with Younis Khan after Pakistan resumed the day at 27-1. But the most crucial partnership came towards the end of the day when Asad Shafiq helped Azhar add 100 for the fifth wicket after Younus and skipper Misbahul Haq had departed quickly. Fast bowler Dilhara Fernando and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath sparked a lower order collapse in the final hour as Pakistan slipped from a comfortable 276-4 to 299-8. Fernando had Azhar caught behind and then claimed his 100th Test wicket by trapping Mohammad Sami leg-before. Herath claimed Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal leg-before, but Shafiq saw out the day for Pakistan in the company of injured wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal. Shafiq was unbeaten on 55 after top-scoring with 75 in the first innings, while Akmal, batting with a hairline fracture in his left hand, had yet to score. Misbah out Kamran in Test and one-day captain Misbahul Haq was dropped by the Pakistan Cricket Board Wednesday in the preliminary list of 30 players for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka. Misbah was also not considered for the two Twenty20s against Sri Lanka last month. Mohammad Hafeez led the side in the shortest format of the game. Kamran Akmal made the provisional list after the wicketkeeper-batsman appeared before the PCB integrity committee last week. Akmal has not played international cricket since last year's World Cup and claimed he has a letter from the International Cricket Council that no inquiry is pending against him. Allrounder Abdul Razzaq and opening batsman Imran Nazir, who both have not played international cricket for a while, were also on the list. The World Twenty20 is in September. — Agencies
