Pak clinch series in style

Pak clinch series in style
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

GALLE, JUNE 24: Pakistan came up with superb all-round effort to beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 163 runs and take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series here on Saturday.

Sri Lanka, requiring a mammoth 419 runs to avoid an innings defeat, were dismissed for 256 in the final session of the fourth day, with more than a day's play left.

Sri Lanka made 181 in their first innings and Pakistan 600 for eight declared in reply.

It was another poor batting performance by the Lankans on an excellent batting pitch that saw them crumble to a crushing defeat. Only Marvan Atapattu, who scored 59 with nine fours, and former captain Arjuna Ranatunga who slammed a quick 65 off 80 balls with 13 fours, helped the Lankan cause.

Sri Lanka resumed at 45 for one and moved promisingly to 123 for two at lunch before things started to fall apart for them. Off-spinner Arshad Khan snapped up the wickets of Atapattu and Aravinda de Silva (11) within 13 balls in the afternoon session as Lanka slid to 189 for 6 at tea.

Ranatunga, with the support of Chaminda Vaas (20), put together 43 runs for the seventh wicket before Akram had the former captain leg before wicket with a swinging yorker.

Azhar Mahmood then accounted for Vaas and Rangana Herath in one over to speed up the victory.

Muttiah Muralitharan hit out boldly for 22 off 10 balls which included five fours before Waqar ended the innings and the match by shattering his stumps.

Akram, who scored 100 runs and picked up three wickets was adjudged the man-of-the-match.

Scoreboard

Sri Lanka (1st innings): 181

Pakistan (1st innings): 600-8 decl.

Sri Lanka (2nd innings; overnight 45-1): M Atapattu c Moin b Arshad 59, S Jayasuriya c Haq b Waqar 21, R Arnold lbw b Waqar 26, A de Silva c Md Wasim b Arshad 11, M Jayewardene lbw b Akram 9, A Ranatunga lbw b Akram 65, R Kaluwitharana lbw b Waqar 9, C Vaas c sub (I Nazir) b Mahmood 20, R Herath lbw b Mahmood 0, R Pushpakumara not out 0, M Muralitharan b Waqar 22; Extras: (lb12, w1, nb1) 14. Total: (all out in 90.1 overs) 256

Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-91, 3-123, 4-130, 5-156, 6-187, 7-230, 8-234, 9-234

Bowling: Waqar 19.1-7-40-4, Akram 22-7-53-2, Razzaq 15-2-44-0, Arshad 24-9-59-2, Mahmood 10-2-48-2