Sri Lanka Register Big Win In First Test Against Pakistan

Sri Lanka beat a hapless Pakistan side by 209 runs at the Galle cricket stadium on Monday. Having been behind the eight ball since day one, Pakistan could never recover from their poor show in their first innings.

Starting day four at 36 for 3, Pakistan soon lost their night watchman Saeed Ajmal through a needless runout. Younis Khan who is a pastmaster in fourth innings chases and the young Asad Shafiq joined hands and set about repairing the innings. The two of them shared a 150 run partership as things started looking up for the visitors. Both of them combined well to keep the attacking Lankan spinners at bay. A smart catch by Jayawardena however got Shafiq for 80. Mohd Ayub and Adnan Akmal did provide stubborn resistance but the task was too huge for Pakistan to pull off. Younis Khan departed for 87 after putting to rest any doubts about his form.

Pakistan well bowled out for 300, and while the second innings too would have been a disappointment, it was a major improvement on their 100 all out in the first innings. Nuwan Kulasekara and Suraj Randiv were wreckers in chief with three wickets each. For his innings of 199no Sangakkara was adjudged the man of the match.