GALLE: Sri Lanka redeemed in the second Test to level the series 1-1 as they defeated Pakistan by 246 runs on the final day, here on Thursday.
Spinner Prabath Jayasuriya stormed through the batting line as he bagged his fourth five-wicket haul in the six innings he played so far, aiding his side to knock down Pakistan for 261.
Set to chase a mammoth 508-run target, Pakistan displayed a dismal batting show in the second innings after they were bowled out for 231 in the first to put Sri Lanka ahead in the game.
While the team lost nine wickets on the final day to end the game in the second session, captain Babar Azam shone with his defiant knock of 81 off 146 before Jayasuriya dismissed him in a leg-before wicket.
Spinner Ramesh Mendis had the first breakthrough for Sri Lanka as he got rid of opener Imam-ul-Haq – one short of his half-century – early in the day.
Pakistan started the final day’s play with an overnight score of 89/1 and added only eight runs before Imam’s departure.
Wicket-keeper Batter Mohammad Rizwan then combined excellently with the skipper for a third-wicket partnership of 79 runs and taking the scoreboard from 97 to 176.
However, Jayasuriya dismantled the strong-looking partnership when he bowled out Rizwan after he played 37 run-knock off 69 balls, laced with six boundaries.
Following Rizwan’s dismissal, Pakistan lost two more wickets in quick succession as left-handed batter Fawad Alam fell cheaply on one after a disappointing run-out. Whereas, Agha Salman offered his wicket to Jayasuriya just before Lunch on a mere 4 runs.
However, Pakistan’s tailenders seemed completely helpless in front of Sri Lanka’s fierce spin attack as the team lost the last five wickets for a meagre addition of 41 runs.
Following Babar’s dismissal on a 205-run total after Lunch, Mohammad Nawaz fell in the next over for 12 by Mendis. Yasir Shah was on 27 off 24 before handing his wicket to Jayasuriya to complete his five-wicket haul.
Hasan Ali was bowled out on 11 off 10 while he attempted to sweep Mendis, whereas, Naseem Shah offered his wicket to the same bowler to wrap up Pakistan’s innings.
For Sri Lanka, besides Jayasuriya’s sublime run with the bowl, Mendis took four wickets to lead his team to a clinical win in the second Test
