1st Test: Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 50 runs
Sri Lanka snatched an incredible win over Pakistan in the first Test, defending a meager 167 runs to claim the series opener by 50 runs on Tuesday.
Pakistan resumed the fourth day within sight of a convincing win, needing 97 more runs to win with eight wickets in hand and two days to remaining.
But Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Rangana Herath (4-15) and seamer Thilan Thushara (2-21) upended the Pakistan innings, striking at regular intervals to hasten a batting collapse.
Herath struck in the second over, trapping first innings centurymaker Mohammad Yousuf (12) lbw for his overnight score. He soon dismissed Sulman Butt (28) caught by Tharanga Paranavitana.
Thushara then had Shoaib Malik (0) caught behind by Tillakaratne Dilshan and trapped Kamran Akmal (6) lbw. Misbah-ul-Haq’s run out for seven left Pakistan on a precarious 85-7, with all their recognized batsmen back in the pavilion.
Herath wrapped up the innings when he had Abdur Rauf caught by Mahela Jayawardene at slip to hand his side a famous win to kick start the three-match series, the first between the two countries since the Sri Lankan team’s convoy was attacked by terrorists en route to a match at Lahore, Pakistan in March.
Pakistan was seemingly on top of the match from the start.
Visiting skipper Younis Khan won the toss and sent Sri Lanka in to bat, restricting the hosts to 292. Mohammad Yousuf celebrated his return to Test cricket with 112 runs, his 29th Test hundred that helped Pakistan reach 342 in reply.
Rookie bowlers Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Aamer produced three wickets each to end Sri Lanka’s second innings for 217 runs, giving Pakistan what should have been an achievable target. Aamer returned 3-38 and took a match haul of six wickets while Ajmal recorded 3-34 and took five wickets in the match.
