adminDUBAI. — Sri Lanka owed it to their bowlers for taking the opening day honours against Pakistan in the second Test cricket in Dubai yesterday. A three-pronged pace and one-man spin attack helped Sri Lanka bowl out Pakistan for just 165 after Angelo Mathews won the toss and opted to bowl on a seaming Dubai stadium pitch.
Paceman Nuwan Pradeep finished with a career-best 3-62 while spinner Rangan Herath took 3-26. Fast bowlers Shaminda Eranga (2-25) and Suranga Lakmal (2-45) were also useful in the second session.
By the close Sri Lanka had knocked off 57 runs for the loss of opener Dimuth Karunaratne, out leg-before to Junaid Khan for 32.
Kaushal Silva and Kumar Sangakkara were each on 12 as Sri Lanka now trail Pakistan by 108 wuns with nine wickets intact on a day dominated by the bowlers.
But initially it looked as if Sri Lanka had miscalculated in bowling first as Ahmed Shehzad, trapped leg-before by Pradeep in the tenth over for three, was the only man out by lunch, but five wickets fell for 71 runs as Pakistan slumped from 57-1 to 128-6 at tea. Pradeep said his hard work paid off. “I came into the team after a long time,” said Pradeep who played his last Test in January last year. “During that period I worked hard in the club as well as with the A team and from that experience I bowled well today.”— AFP.
Online Reporter