Mathews' high, and Ajmal's low

Stats highlights from the fourth day's play in Abu Dhabi, when Sri Lanka staged a magnificent fightback

03-Jan-2014

Saeed Ajmal completes his bowling action, Pakistan v South Africa, 1st Test, 4th day, Abu Dhabi, October 17, 2013

Sri Lanka's total of 420 for 5 is their eighth-highest score in the second innings of a Test, but only twice have they gone past 450. Their highest second-innings score is 537 for 9 in a drawn game against England at Lord's in 2006. On that occasion, they were forced to follow on after trailing by 359 in the first innings, and ended up batting for 199 overs in the second innings to save the Test. Five of their eight top second-innings totals have been against Pakistan. In terms of overs faced, this is already Sri Lanka's sixth-highest in the second innings.

Angelo Mathews' 116 not out is his highest Test score, and his second century. His previous hundred was an unbeaten 105 against Australia in Colombo in 2011. He also scored 91 in the first innings of this Test, which gives him a match total - so far - of 207, the sixth-highest for a Sri Lankan captain. In nine previous Test innings before this match, Mathews' highest score had been 38 not out. This is also Mathews' fifth 50-plus score in 18 Test innings against Pakistan - his average against them is 53.08.

Sri Lanka's Nos. 5, 6 and 7 have contributed 253 runs so far, which is their second-highest aggregate from those positions against Pakistan. Sri Lanka's highest contribution from those positions is 374, in the ill-fated Lahore Test of 2009 which was called off because of the terrorist attack against the Sri Lankan team.

The 138-run stand between Dinesh Chandimal and Mathews is Sri Lanka's third-best for the fifth wicket against Pakistan.

If Prasanna Jayawardene gets two more runs, he'll become the fifth Sri Lankan to score at least 50 in this Test innings, which will be a new record for Sri Lanka against Pakistan. There have been seven instances of four 50-plus scores from Sri Lanka's batsmen against Pakistan in a single innings. The most fifties scored by Sri Lanka's batsmen in a single Test innings is seven, against England at Lord's in 2006.

Saeed Ajmal has already bowled 42 overs in the second innings without taking a wicket, which is a new low for him in Tests. Ajmal has never waited so long for his maiden wicket in a Test innings: his previous-longest wait was 41.1 overs, in the first innings against England at Lord's in 2010. On that occasion, he took a wicket off his 248th delivery, and ended with figures of 2 for 126 from 44 overs.

This is only the third time Ajmal has bowled more than 40 overs in the opposition's second innings, and all three of these instances have been against Sri Lanka. On the two previous occasions, he had figures of 1 for 95 from 43 overs (in Colombo in 2009), and 1 for 167 from 55 overs (in Abu Dhabi in 2011). Both those Tests ended in draws.

Pakistan have successfully chased a target of more than 240 in the fourth innings only three times - once each against Australia, New Zealand and Bangladesh. Their highest in the fourth innings of any Test is 343 for 3 in a drawn game against South Africa in Dubai in 2010.

Angelo Mathews Saeed Ajmal Pakistan Sri Lanka Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Sri Lanka tour of United Arab Emirates

S Rajesh is stats editor of ESPNcricinfo. Follow him on Twitter