Sri Lanka off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal scythed through Pakistan’s batting order to pick up his first five-wicket haul as the visitors were bundled out for 138 on the opening day of the second Test in Colombo yesterday.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq was left to rue his decision to bat after winning the toss as Sri Lanka’s bowlers extracted enough movement from the pitch to dismiss their opponents in two sessions.
In reply, the hosts made a watchful start and reached stumps on 70-1 after losing opener Dimuth Karunaratne (28). Kaushal Silva (21) and Kumar Sangakkara (18) were at the crease.
Photo: AP
Pakistan’s pace spearhead Wahab Riaz suffered a blow on his bowling hand while batting which weakened the attack as the left-arm paceman was experiencing pain trying to hold the ball.
Kaushal, playing only his second Test, came in as a replacement for the injured Dilruwan Perera and took all his wickets in the second session after fast bowler Dhammika Prasad picked up the first three.
Opener Mohammad Hafeez (42), who was hit on the back of his helmet by debutant fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera, was the highest scorer for the visitors.
An unchanged Pakistan lost Ahmed Shehzad (1) in the third over of the morning when the right-hander edged Prasad to first slip, where Kumar Sangakkara completed a sharp catch.
Hafeez and Azhar Ali (26) shared the only meaningful partnership of 46 for the second wicket.
Younus Khan, playing his 100th Test, was lucky to survive a review by Mathews off his own bowling, but fell immediately after lunch to give Prasad his third scalp.
Pakistan’s hopes then rested on Misbah (7), but the 41-year-old was run out after a misunderstanding with Sarfraz Ahmed (14).
Such was Kaushal’s impact on the innings that the hosts did not need main spinner Rangana Herath to bowl as the 22-year-old rose to the occasion to take five for 42.
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