Pakistan wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed (L) and Azhar Ali (R) celebrate the dismissal of Sri Lankan cricketer Dimuth Karunaratne during the final day of the opening Test match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at the Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle on June 21, 2015. PHOTO: AFP
It was vintage Pakistan on the last two days of the Galle Test against Sri Lanka, the first of the three-match series. Out of nowhere the visitors first clawed back into reckoning, seized the initiative, before suffocating the life out of the hosts as the fortress of Sri Lankan cricket was well and truly conquered on an enthralling final day. When day three of the rain-marred Test ended, Pakistan were precariously placed at 118 for five in their first innings, the cream of the batting line-up had been wiped out and only Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed stood between Sri Lanka and a decisive first-innings lead. From there on, Sarfraz took the bull by the horns and unleashed an audacious attack on the Sri Lankan bowlers. In no time, he had raced to 96 before falling prey to his own adventurism. At the other end, Asad stood strong and with Sarfraz gone, found support from the tail-enders, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar Babar, with Pakistan eventually ending their innings with a 117-run lead.
Then, it was the turn of leg-spinner Yasir Shah to enhance his already growing reputation by snaring seven wickets in a match-winning second-innings performance. He gave a complete display of his repertoire and hinted at the great things he can be capable of in the future. Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad were hardly troubled as they cantered past the 90-run target in the final session of the match to bury the demons at one of the most scenic cricket venues in the world. Pakistan last won a Test at Galle some 15 years ago, which was followed by three consecutive defeats at the venue between 2009 and 2014. The Sri Lankan sojourn was expected to be a baptism of fire for Misbahul Haq and his charges, but the surprisingly dominant show has put the hosts on the back foot. With two more Tests to be played, Pakistan are in the driving seat. The golden chance of a series win on Sri Lankan shores for the first time in nine years, beckons.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 23rd, 2015.
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