GALLE // Rangana Herath grabbed six for 48 as Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by seven wickets on a remarkable last day of the first Test.
The left-arm spinner turned the game on its head yesterday when Pakistan, which trailed by 82 after the first innings, was bowled out for 180. Sri Lanka needed 99 runs in a minimum 21 overs with dark clouds hovering over Galle International Stadium.
Captain Angelo Mathews (25 not out) showed urgency by hitting two sixes and two fours as Sri Lanka reached 99 for three in 16.2 overs – just in time before the rain arrived.
Mahela Jayawardene, playing in his penultimate Test, set the tempo with a quick 26 as an opener before Mathews took charge under bad light.
“It was one of the best games I have played and Herath was unbelievable,” Mathews said. “What an unbelievable player Mahela is. Hopefully we can win the next game as well.”
It was Pakistan’s fourth loss in a Test match after scoring more than 450 runs in the first innings.
The visitors will look to spoil Jayawardene’s farewell Test in his hometown Colombo when the second Test begins on Thursday.
Kumar Sangakkara’s 10th double century (221) helped Sri Lanka respond solidly by declaring at 533 for nine after Younis Khan hit a brilliant 177 in Pakistan’s first-innings total of 451.
But Pakistan’s batsmen paid a heavy price for protecting their wickets instead of scoring runs after resuming the day at four for one, as Herath got rid of the top order before mopping up the tail just after tea.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfraz Ahmed top-scored with an unbeaten 52 before he ran out of partners.
“Credit should be given to Herath, he knew these conditions very well, especially in Galle, where he’s been so successful,” Pakistan captain Misbah said.
“I think we got under pressure the way Sri Lankan bowlers bowled ... we have to improve our batting.”
Herath ravaged Pakistan’s innings by removing Azhar Ali (41), Younis Khan (13) and Asad Shafiq (8), while off-spinner Dilruwan Perera got rid of Misbah (28) and Ahmed Shehzad (16). Perera’s two for 68 followed his five-wicket haul in the first innings.
“This is not a kind of pitch that is bowler friendly but I realized that on the fifth day there was something in it for the spinners... we had a lot of faith,” Herath said.
“When there is support from another spinner it’s easy to bowl and take wickets. In that aspect Dilruwan supported me very well that’s why I was able to take so many wickets.”
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