7-star Yasir guides Pak to memorable win

Published on: 

leg-spinner Yasir Shah took career-best figures of seven for 76 to help Pakistan to a convincing ten wicket win over Sri lanka on Sunday in Galle.After Yasir's effort helped Pakistan to bowl out Sri lanka for 206 in their second innings, the tourists started the run chase after tea and knocked off the target of 90 runs requiring just 11.2 overs.It was Pakistan's first win in Sri lanka since 2006 and their first win in Galle in 15 years. Yasir, who had taken two wickets in the first innings, spun the ball sharply and the steep bounce on the Galle surface gave the batsmen immense problems.Shah had delivered a killer blow when he dismissed star batsman Kumar Sangakkara cheaply on day four and he continued to torment the batsmen in the afternoon session. After lunch he picked up five wickets for 26 runs as Sri lanka collapsed from 144 for four to 203 all out.

Sri lanka lost night watchman Dilruwan Perera to the first ball of the morning. Vice-captain lahiru Thirimanne and opener Dimuth Karunaratne then helped Sri lanka to get past the deficit. Desperate for a wicket, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq introduced strike bowler Wahab Riaz to the attack and he struck immediately by getting the outside edge of Thirimanne's bat when on 44.Sri lanka then lost Angelo Mathews straight after lunch in controversial fashion. The Sri lanka captain was ruled out caught at short leg but he immediately called for a review.  Opener Karunaratne had been solid in defence and played exceptionally well. But after four and half hours at the crease, he lost concentration to give Yasir the charge and was stumped by Sarfraz Ahmed.
Brief Scores
Sl: 300 & 206 (Karunaratne 79, Thirimanne 44; Yasir 7/76) lost to Pak: 417 & 92/0 (Hafeez 46, Shehzad 43) by 10 wickets.
Daily Pioneer
dailypioneer.com