Rangana Herath six-wicket haul in the second innings steered Sri Lanka to a thrilling 21-run win over Pakistan in the first Test in Abu Dhabi on Monday. The veteran left-arm spinner took 11/136 in the match and dismantle Pakistan on a weary fifth day Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch.
Herath, a long-time nemesis of Pakistan, also completed 100 wickets in 20 Tests against them, during an innings in which only debutant Haris Sohail fought with some resolve for his 34 runs.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 138 in the second innings at the stroke of Lunch on day five which left Pakistan with 136 runs to get in the final two sessions of the day on a crumbling pitch in Abu Dhabi. Yasir had claimed six wickets for 69 runs and Pakistan were just 136 runs to win the first Test. After some boring and placid sessions of cricket where no team was looking to secure a win, this Test was all to get for Pakistan.
But pitch sudden became their problem. They needed to get those runs on a pitch that was crumbling once Herath began to bowl, it sang his song. More problems arose for Pakistan when they lost five wickets for just 36 runs before Tea. Herath got things going in the fourth over itself. Sami Aslam played for the spin but Herath had bowled a beautiful delivery which went straight with the line. It got the outside edge of Aslam’s bat and he was caught at the slips.
