Sri Lanka have just beaten Pakistan in Galle by 50 runs.

Typical Pakistan effort as they only needed 167 to win in the 4th innings but were spun out by Mendis and Herath.

Murali not playing - presumably injured?

Herath batted 9 in first innings and then opened in the second innings - why?

And the Yorkshire interest is that Younus Khan skippered Pakistan and whilst failing with the bat he took 4 wickets!!

Funny old game....

Funny old pitch?
Sadly - and I make no inferences here - I'm afraid that eyebrows will be raised in various quarters, and the gambling patterns will be closely scrutinised....

I did read somewhere that Murali was injured. I thought it strange that Herath opened in the second innings. Not sure when the innings started and maybe he was sent in as a nightwatchman although it's rare for an opener to be defended in that way. He was 20 not out in the first innings so maybe he demanded to carry on his innings?
Pakistan will no doubt have been a bit rusty and probably forgot what it's like to bat on a day four and five pitch. I don't think Afridi was playing either which surprised me as I thought his bowling would be plenty good enough to get a game even without his batting.

Looks like their ICL players are back though - Mohammed Yousuf scored a ton on his return.

Wonder if Rana Naved is on their radar for a call up....

Hopefully!

Murali was indeed injured.

Pakistan made a reasonable start as well, 36 for the first wicket's not bad when only after 160 or so.

A 36 opening partnership will have lengthened the odds nicely overnight....

Very cynical, Steve. I'm sure even Pakistan have played the odd legitimate game over the years.

If the powers that be want to investigate anything they might be better looking into how a team batting 4th can manage to score 479 for the loss of only six wickets. There could well be a rich little bookie in Weston-Super-Mare smiling at the thought.

so the West Indies are playing what looks like Darren Sammy and their 3rd team as the senior players squabble over money etc.

Are these the same West Indian players who won the Stanford Million Dollar match less than a year ago?

Have they spent it already or did some of them reinvest it with Stanford and have now seen their winnings go down the plughole?

I wonder if the prize money ever got paid...?

I think most of the team did indeed re-invest their money with Stanford. A few took the money and probably invested it in Jamaican cigarette's and rum, a far better return on risk!
The problem for the WICB is a constant lack of sponsors within the area, that's why Stanford was welcomed with open arms despite a lot knowing he was dodgier than dodgy.
The players say they have never received their contracts and are (or not) playing for nothing and with no insurance for injuries etc. The board say they sent them out but have not received a reply. If that were the case then photocopy a dozen or so off and get playing ten minutes later. I rather think the WICB don't have the money to pay what the players are due and their bluff has been called.
That said, it's given a few journeymen and a couple of kids the chance to live the dream of playing test cricket and given it's Bangladesh they are playing they may even get a win too!