Patience Pays as Azhar Ali Leads Pakistan Fightback Against Sri Lanka

Patience and discipline probably aren't the first characteristics that come to mind when describing Pakistan's top order. Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shehzad showed both in abundance against hosts Sri Lanka on Saturday, putting the visitors right back in contention in the second Test in Colombo.

Misbah-ul-Haq's side closed on 171 for two when bad light brought a premature end to the Day 3 proceedings. Sri Lanka's lead stands at just six runs. With two days left, the match is beautifully poised.

Sri Lanka added 11 more runs to their overnight total of 304 for nine before Yasir Shah dismissed Dushmantha Chameera to pick up his sixth wicket of the innings.

It capped another fine effort for the young leg-spinner, who has taken 13 wickets in his last two innings.

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RT @PCB_Master: Yasir Shah Last 9 innings in Tests: 5/79 4/193 3/86 0/123 3/58 4/73 2/79 7/76 6/96 #SLvsPAK

— ICC Live Scores (@Cuite_Cricscore) June 27, 2015"

Pakistan's attempt to wipe away at the 177-run first-innings deficit got off to a sketchy start after Mohammad Hafeez nibbled at a wide one from Angelo Mathews and was caught behind with the score on nine.

There's no better batsman in a crisis for Pakistan at present than Ali, though. The 30-year-old was largely untroubled during a 120-run second wicket partnership with Shehzad.

When Shehzad top-edged a shortish ball from Dhammika Prasad through to Dinesh Chandimal on the first ball after lunch, a potential wobble was on.

Sanka Gayashan/Associated Press

However, Ali and the reliable Younis Khan, playing in his 100th Test match, steadied the ship for Pakistan and had almost reached parity by stumps.

It's been a remarkable few months for Ali, whose impressive run of form has been an integral part of Pakistan's recent Test renaissance.

Since October 2014, Pakistan have played nine Test matches—including this one. They've won five, drawn two and lost just one.

That terrific run started with a two-nil thrashing of the best side in the world, Australia. They shared the spoils with an exciting New Zealand team before beating a rapidly improving Bangladesh.

After collapsing in the first innings of the first Test against Sri Lanka, Pakistan fought back superbly to claim a hugely impressive 10-wicket win. And all this has been achieved from their temporary base in the United Arab Emirates or away from home. Captain Misbah deserves huge credit.

So too does Ali, whose form has been one of the cornerstones of Pakistan's five-day revival. In those matches, the doughty right-hander has scored 978 runs at an average of 69.85. That's over 25 runs above his career average of 44.36.

Ali also looks the most likely successor when 41-year-old Misbah finally calls time on his Test captaincy.

His reign as one-day skipper got off to a rocky start after Pakistan were whitewashed in Bangladesh. They bounced back against Zimbabwe in a series that was about much more than mere results.

Playing their first international on home soil for six years, Ali told a press conference, relayed by MSN, “It became important for us, as many of us never played in Pakistan, and winning makes it more significant because it gives you confidence.”

That confidence has continued in the series in Sri Lanka.

The first Test in Galle was a cracker. If Pakistan can set a target of 240 on a wearing Day 5 pitch with Yasir Shah waiting in the wings, the second Test in Colombo could follow suit.