Colombo: Seamer Nuwan Kulasekera took a career-best 4-21 as Sri Lanka took early charge of the second cricket Test after bowling Pakistan out for a paltry 90 yesterday.
The tourists, electing to bat on a wicket that provided early assistance to the seamers, slumped to their lowest total against Sri Lanka after being reduced to 19-4 by the seventh over of the match.
Sri Lanka ended the opening day at 164-3 in reply, leaving them well-placed to build on the 50-run win in the first Test at Galle last week that gave them the lead in the three-match series. Skipper Kumar Sangakkara led the way with an unbeaten 81 after adding 54 for the second wicket with Tharanga Paranavitana and 51 for the third with Mahela Jayawardene.
Sri Lanka’s left-arm fast bowler Thilan Thushara chipped in with two wickets and spinner Ajantha Mendis dismissed the last three batsmen as Pakistan were shot out in 36 overs 45 minutes after lunch.
Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik was the lone batsman to defy the Sri Lankan bowlers at the P. Sara Oval, returning unbeaten on 39.
Pakistan caved in just as they had done in the second innings of the Galle Test where, needing 97 more to win on the fourth morning, they lost their last eight wickets for 46 runs.
Pakistan’s 117 at Galle was their lowest against Sri Lanka, but it took just one more innings to fall below that mark in a reckless display with the bat.
Eight batsmen failed to reach double figures, while debutant Fawad Alam was the second highest scorer after Malik with 16 in 81 minutes.
Pakistan batsman Misbah-ul Haq later denied the batsmen lacked temperament at the crease, but admitted such collapses “happen with Pakistan”.
“I don’t want to take the credit away from their bowlers, we all got out to good deliveries,” Misbah told reporters. “Kulasekera bowled really well. It was very difficult to play him with the ball seaming about. “These things happen with Pakistan. But we look forward to getting Sri Lanka out early tomorrow and (coming) back into the match.”
Kulasekera, 26, who leads the International Cricket Council’s rankings for one-day bowlers, showed he was equally adept at taking wickets in the traditional five-day format with a remarkable opening burst.
The right-arm seamer, who grabbed 4-71 at Galle, tore through the Pakistani top order in only his eighth Test with three wickets in 15 deliveries at the cost of just three runs.
Kulasekera said he was rewarded for sticking to the basics in helpful conditions. - AFP
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