
DUBAI: Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal took five wickets to steer Pakistan to a nine-wicket win in the second Test against Sri Lanka at Dubai Stadium, going 1-0 up in the three-match series.
The 34-year-old finished with five for 68 to help restrict Sri Lanka to 257 in their second-innings before Pakistan went about reaching their modest 94-run target to seal victory with a day to spare. Ajmal was ably supported by left-arm spin partner Abdur Rehman (two for 65) and paceman Junaid Khan (two for 38) as they exploited the spin and low bounce on a weary pitch to the best effect.
Pakistan lost Taufeeq Umar but Mohammad Hafeez (59) and Azhar Ali (29) scored the required runs inside 24.1 overs soon after the lights went on in the stadium. Ali took the winning single much to the delight of a 2,000 holiday crowd but it was Hafeez who hit five boundaries and two towering sixes to secure Pakistan’s win on the fourth day.
Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq praised the team effort.
“It was a thorough professional performance,” said Misbah, who has now won four of his nine Tests as captain, losing one and drawing the other four. “Our pacemen gave us the edge on the first day and we kept that pressure well.”
Misbah’s counterpart Tillakaratne Dilshan said his team needs to bat well.
“We batted poorly after winning the toss,” said Dilshan, yet to win a Test as captain in eight attempts. “Sangakkara’s wicket was the key and then Pakistan bowled well.”
Sri Lanka, who resumed at 88 for one, had been hoping for Sangakkara to stay longer and keep Pakistan at bay as he did in the second innings of the first Test when he scored an epic 211. But the batsman was reduced to adding just a single to his overnight score when he did not offer a stroke to Rehman’s incoming delivery and was adjudged leg-before. Mahela Jayawardene missed a sweep off Ajmal and was bowled and Dilshan’s horrible form in the series continued when he was trapped leg-before by Junaid three runs later.
Man of the Match Ajmal applauded a helping pitch.
“We thought of stopping the flow of runs, and then getting the wickets,” he said. “The captain told me to stay at the pitch when I was batting. The pitch was very good. For the first three days it was good for batting and after that we got bounce from it.”
The third and final Test starts in Sharjah from November 3.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 30th, 2011.
You can watch a slideshow of pictures from day four here.
COMMENTS (24)
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@antanu and bowling is the department that ultimately wins matches, remember? otherwise even targets of 330+ plus are undefendable, and bangladesh can make over 283 runs right? ;) and strong bowling helps you skittle teams like england and australia for 88 and 176 and help you defend 184 :) and besides im sure pakistan can allow india to win a couple matches when we defeated india in almost 70 of them, which is i think what 20? more than what india beat us in? thats only fair :) after all india still has almost 20 matches left to get to 400 too....hmmm
Do not forget this match was played before empty stadium.
Finally:) wondering if Amir and Afridi wud be there in the team :( ...
Congrats! Lots of love to Saeed Ajmal and Junaid Khan :)
yeah !!! I think pak test team is too much strong :)
Match Fixing?????
Excellent victory! But remember Sri Lanka is suffering from 'cricket fatigue.' Too much cricket in two years is the real reason for their defeat. They should call on a three month period of rest and recreation. Salams
Geet k Geo. Love for all Pakistani.
@Plal: discussion topic is test cricket ant ODIs.Stick to the topic man..
Congrats. Well done boys. Keep it up.
Way to Go... Bask in Glory and let go of Disputes... AT LEAST FOR THE MOMENT.
@my: what is rationale of comparing Indian cricket team with Pakistan ,when the match is going on between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.For the record India is present World Champion and in the last encounter with Pakistan-India defeated Pakistan in Mohali.
@my: You are wrong friend...Pak scores in one department and that is BOWLING.Be realistic and it will be good for your team.There will be no undue pressure on them and as such may make them able to play freely and reach the top. GOOD LUCK
It was a treat to watch the match in the stadium :)
Too bad, my FB wall isnt filled up as it does after a Man-Utd win :s Shameless followers of football clubs cant celebrate their countries success!
Where does India come in the picture, "my".Concentrate on the series aginst Sri Lanka.we Indians will concentrate on the series against West Indies.Ok?
Thank God, We win, We hold our catches, That's all
Good to see Pakistan improving their test stats. Work more hard Boys and thanks for giving this good news.
Finally something to cheer for Pakistan.
well played pakistan
Great victory for PAK & I am really happy as I am a big PAK fan. They played brilliantly and could have won the first test had sanga wasn't in the way. SL really looks a ordinary test team without murali , hope the lankans get some good players soon.
We should had won the first test as well anyways well played Pakistan. SL looked so thin and ordinary test team without Murli now.
Overall, Pakistan has a better team than Sri Lanka right now and Pakistan should have a better ICC ranking than Sri Lanka.
Congratulations Team Pakistan!
This is something to cheer about Pakistan Test Cricket. Well done Hafeez & Saeed :)