Sri Lanka have never won a home series against Pakistan, but this time they look to rectify the stats with a dominant performance with ball and bat on the first day at the P Sara Oval. Pakistan had a horrible batting display in Galle, but they sunk even lower here, being bundled out for an embarrassing 90 after winning the toss. Sri Lanka’s batsmen, led by Captain Kumar Sangakkara, then gave them a batting lesson, easing to 164 for 3, already 74 in front.
The pitch was favourable for the bowlers, but by no means was batting as difficult as the Pakistan batsmen made it out to be. Sri Lanka’s bowlers Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilan Thushara and Angelo Mathews pitched it in the corridor, got movement in the air and off the pitch, and that combination was far too dangerous for Pakistan’s diffident top order. Kulasekara was the pick of the lot, wrecking the top order and finishing with well-deserved figures of 4 for 21, while the rest offered excellent support.
To their credit, Pakistan didn’t lose the plot in the field, taking three wickets and creating more opportunities. Malinda Warnapura fell to a rough lbw decision, Tharanga Paranavitana got an under edge after looking solid for his 26, while an out-of-sorts Mahela Jayawardene was trapped by a superb delivery which spun and bounced.
Pakistan’s fast bowlers ran in tirelessly, but the one who looked most likely to take wickets was Ajmal, the offspinner. On a dry pitch where the odd ball was already showing signs of misbehaving, Ajmal had most of the Sri Lankan batsmen in a spot of bother. Unfortunately for Pakistan, they gave away so much ground in the first three hours of play that it’ll require a exceptional effort for them to stay in this match, and the series.
Stats:
Pakistan’s first innings total 90 is their lowest against Sri Lanka and their seventh-lowest in all. Their previous lowest against Sri Lanka had been 117 only a week back in Galle.
Pakistan team lasted only 36 overs which being their third-lowest in the first innings of a match.
Abdur Rauf faced 34 balls for his duck. It’s the second-longest for Pakistan, in terms of balls faced, and the 12th-longest in all.
The number of ducks in the Pakistan innings was 4, which is the highest for them against Sri Lanka. Their highest against any team is six, versus West Indies in Karachi in 1980-81.
Sri Lanka have never won a home series against Pakistan, but this time they look to rectify the stats with a dominant performance with ball and bat on the first day at the P Sara Oval. Pakistan had a horrible batting display in Galle, but they sunk even lower here, being bundled out for an embarrassing 90 after winning the toss. Sri Lanka’s batsmen, led by Captain Kumar Sangakkara, then gave them a batting lesson, easing to 164 for 3, already 74 in front.
The pitch was favourable for the bowlers, but by no means was batting as difficult as the Pakistan batsmen made it out to be. Sri Lanka’s bowlers Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilan Thushara and Angelo Mathews pitched it in the corridor, got movement in the air and off the pitch, and that combination was far too dangerous for Pakistan’s diffident top order. Kulasekara was the pick of the lot, wrecking the top order and finishing with well-deserved figures of 4 for 21, while the rest offered excellent support.
To their credit, Pakistan didn’t lose the plot in the field, taking three wickets and creating more opportunities. Malinda Warnapura fell to a rough lbw decision, Tharanga Paranavitana got an under edge after looking solid for his 26, while an out-of-sorts Mahela Jayawardene was trapped by a superb delivery which spun and bounced.
Pakistan’s fast bowlers ran in tirelessly, but the one who looked most likely to take wickets was Ajmal, the offspinner. On a dry pitch where the odd ball was already showing signs of misbehaving, Ajmal had most of the Sri Lankan batsmen in a spot of bother. Unfortunately for Pakistan, they gave away so much ground in the first three hours of play that it’ll require a exceptional effort for them to stay in this match, and the series.
Stats:
- Pakistan’s first innings total 90 is their lowest against Sri Lanka and their seventh-lowest in all. Their previous lowest against Sri Lanka had been 117 only a week back in Galle.
- Pakistan team lasted only 36 overs which being their third-lowest in the first innings of a match.
- Abdur Rauf faced 34 balls for his duck. It’s the second-longest for Pakistan, in terms of balls faced, and the 12th-longest in all.
- The number of ducks in the Pakistan innings was 4, which is the highest for them against Sri Lanka. Their highest against any team is six, versus West Indies in Karachi in 1980-81.
Tags:
Ajmal,
Angelo Mathews,
Galle International Stadium,
Kumar Sangakkara,
Nuwan Kulasekara,
Pakistan Vs Sri Lanka,
Pakistan-Sri Lanka Series,
Sara oval,
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan,
Thilan Thushara
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