Galle (LTN NEWS): Pakistan was bowled out for 246 in the second Test, which ended the series 1-1, as Sri Lanka’s Prabath Jayasuriya claimed five wickets with the ball.
While chasing a massive 508, Pakistan’s tourists were dismissed for 261 in the second session of the fifth day in Galle, despite skipper Babar Azam’s gallant 81.
Sri Lanka’s celebrations were sparked by off-spinner Ramesh Mendis, who claimed five wickets in Pakistan’s first innings with his off-spin.
Alastair Cook’s team set a new Galle record of 342 to win the first game, with Azam (23rd Test fifty) and Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan putting in courageous stands (37).
After getting Agha Salman down for four in the middle of the match and trapping talisman Azam with an lbw, Jayasuriya ended Pakistan’s fight.
Imam, a left-handed batsman, had added just three runs to his overnight score of 46 when Ramesh struck with his first ball of the day.
Rizwan was on 35 when left-arm spinner Jayasuriya, who had one wicket on day four, ended his stay. Fawad Alam was replaced by a single person.
A review by the batsman overturned the umpire’s lbw call on Azam, and the bowler claimed him for the third time in as many games.
While Azam started the day on 26 and required physiotherapy for lower back stiffness, the batsman has been in excellent form and struck 119 and 55 in Pakistan’s first win.
Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne was forced to withdraw from the field due to back pain, and Dhananjaya de Silva took over the reins with a 109-run stand in the 360-8 declaration.
Day three and four of the match between Sri Lanka and India were postponed because of bad light and rain forecasts for Thursday afternoon, which meant that Sri Lanka’s innings ended early.
Sri Lanka now has a 147-run lead over Pakistan after Pakistan was bowled out for 231 in response to their first-innings total of 378.
