Leg-spinner’s career-best figures condemn hosts to ignominious defeat at Galle. PHOTO: AFP
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah claimed a career-best seven for 76 as Pakistan stunned Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the first Test on Sunday to take the lead in the three-match series.
Yasir spun a web around the Sri Lankan batsmen to skittle them for a paltry 206 in their second innings just before tea on the fifth and final day.
Pakistan, set a victory target of 90, raced home in 11.2 overs with Mohammad Hafeez unbeaten on 46 and Ahmed Shehzad on 43 at the Galle International Stadium.
It was Pakistan’s first Test win in Sri Lanka since the eight-wicket triumph in Kandy in 2006. The second Test starts at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo on Thursday.
Pakistan’s remarkable recovery from 96-5 in the first innings came after the entire first day’s play had been washed out and just 64 overs were bowled on the second day.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif congratulated the team on the convincing victory against Sri Lanka in the first Test match of the series.
He particularly appreciated Shah’s performance and hoped the team would continue its good form in the remaining fixtures of the series, according to a statement issued from the PM House.
The next match in the series is scheduled to take place on June 25 at the P.Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo at 9:00am Pakistan time
Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2015.
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