Ajmal takes five as Pakistan crush Sri Lanka
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 here on
Saturday, going 1-0 up in the three-match series.
The 34-year-old finished with 5-68 -- his fourth five wicket haul in
a Test -- 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.
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Sri Lanka's batsman Angelo Mathews raises his bat after
scoring a half-century (50 runs) on the fourth day of the
second cricket Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at
Dubai's international cricket stadium on October 29, 2011. (AFP
Photo) |
Ajmal was ably supported by left-arm spin partner Abdul Rehman (2-65)
and paceman Junaid Khan (2-38) as they exploited the spin and low bounce
on a weary pitch to the best effect.
Pakistan lost opener Taufiq Umar, bowled for one by spinner Rangana
Herath, 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.
In Sri Lankan's second innings opener Tharanga Paranavitana (72) and
vice-captain Angelo Mathews (52 not out) put up notable resistance
against some penetrative pace-cum spin attack from Pakistan.
Pakistan had dismissed Sangakkara (30) in the fourth over of the
fourth day before dismissing Mahela Jayawardene (five) and skipper
Tillakaratne Dilshan (three) -- three wickets within 18 runs -- to put
them on the victory path.
The first Test ended in a draw at Abu Dhabi last week.
Sri Lanka, who resumed at 88-1, had been hoping for Sangakkara to
stay longer and thus keep Pakistan at bay as he did in the second
innings of the first Test when he scored an epic 211.
But the experienced batsman was reduced to adding just a single to
his overnight score of 29 when he didn't offer a stroke to left-arm
spinner Abdul Rehman's incoming delivery and although he pushed too far
New Zealand umpire Tony Hill adjudged him leg-before.
Sangakkara, who didn't hit a single boundary, walked back in disgust.
He added 73 for the second wicket with Tharanga.
Mahela Jayawardene then missed a sweep off spinner Saeed Ajmal and
was bowled and Dilshan's horrible form in the series continued when was
trapped leg-before by paceman Junaid Khan three runs later.
Paranavitana, though, remained composed and reached his ninth
half-century with a square driven boundary off Umar Gul. He fell soon
after lunch, caught off a sharp turning delivery from Ajmal in the slip.
He hit four boundaries during his fighting knock.
Pakistan took the second new ball after 85 overs and were immediatley
rewarded with the wicket of Kaushal Silva, caught off a miscued pull off
Khan at mid-on by Ajmla for eight.
Dhammika Prasad (33) helped Mathews add an invaluable 56 for the
eighth wicket to delay Pakistan's victory before Rehman bowled him with
a faster delivery. Ajmal then wrapped up the tail, removing Herath (15)
and Chanaka Welegedara (four) in one over and then three overs later
ended the Sri Lankan innings by bowling Suranga Lakmal (eight),
finishing with eight wickets in the match.
Mathews hit five boundaries and a six during his 143-ball
resistance-filled knock -- the fifth half-century in his last eight
innings.
The third and final Test starts in Sharjah from November 3.
Sri Lanka - 1st innings 239
Pakistan - 1st innings 403
SRI LANKA - 2nd INNINGS (OVERNIGHT 88-1)
T. Paranavitana c Y. Khan b Ajmal 72
L. Thirimanne b Hafeez 08
K. Sangakkara lbw b Rehman 30
M. Jayawardene b Ajmal 05
T. Dilshan lbw b J. Khan 03
A. Mathews not out 52
K. Silva c Ajmal b J. Khan 08
D. Prasad b A. Rehman 33
R. Herath c Misbah b Ajmal 15
C. Welegedara lbw b Ajmal 04
S. Lakmal b Ajmal 08
Extras (b-14, lb-3, nb-2) 19
Total (all out, 109.5 overs) 257
Fall of wickets: 1-22 2-95 3-113 4-116 5-141 6-166 7-222
8-243 9-247.
Bowling: U. Gul 15-3-39-0 (1nb)
Junaid Khan 17-4-38-2(1nb)
M. Hafeez 14-2-30-1
S.A. Rehman 33-7-65-2
Ajmal 30.5-9-68-5
PAKISTAN - 2nd INNINGS
M. Hafeez not out 59
T. Umar b Herath 01
A. Ali not out 29
Extras (b-4, lb-1) 05
Total (one wicket; ) 94
Fall of wicket: 1-17.
Bowling: D. Prasad 3-0-23-0
C. Welegedara 2-1-1-0
R.Herath 10.1-2-29-1
T. Dilshan 9-0-36-0
AFP
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