PAKISTAN TAKES SERIES 2-NIL

By Srian Obeyesekere

Sri Lanka once again crumbled for a paltry 188 in conceding Pakistan a crushing innings and 222-run defeat in the second test to complete a 2-nil series triumph in the new ICC Test Championship, at the SSC Grounds on Wednesday.

The host team, like in the first innings came a cropper for 188 in 67.4 overs due to untidy batting after Pakistan declared on 576 for 5 wickets having added 13 to the overnight 563. The series debacle once again exposed Indiscriminate batting by poor shot making by the recognised batsmen bar Angelo Mathews who remained unbeaten on 63, and Nishan Madushka (33) and Dimuth Karunaratne (41), both of whom were beaten and bowled by good deliveries. The rest came apart by rush of blood attempting to clear the ropes in the frantic totally in contravention of the demands of 5-day test match cricket of putting one’s head down to calm and collective batting. 

Veteran batsman, Angelo Mathews,  who had been dogged by the form bug, did battle his way to the reckoning coming to his own by a 127-ball 63 innings consuming 197 minutes hitting 7 boundaries and 2 sixes in that lost cause.

Pakistan’s massive total comparatively demonstrated the vast difference between the two sides batting highlighted to valuing their wickets.  

The 37-year old slow left arm orthodox bowler Noman Ali claimed career best figures of 7 for 70 while young pacer Naseem Shah claimed the last three Lankan wickets with on the spot deliveries hitting timber for zero scores.   

Abdullah Shafique earned the Player of the Match award for his superb double century while Agha Salman took the Player of the Series award for his 83 in the first test and unbeaten 132 in the second test.

CHIEF SCORES:

   Pakistan 576/5 decl. (134 Overs) 

Abdullah Shafique 201, Saud Shakeel 57, Shan Masood 51, Babar Azam 39, Agha Salman n.o. 132, Mohammad Rizwan n.o. 50,  Asitha Fernando 3/133, Prabath Jayasuriya 2/194)

   Sri Lanka 166 & 188 (67.4 Overs)

  (Angelo Mathews n.o.  63, Nishan Madushka 33, Dimuth Karunaratne 41, Kusal Mendis 14,                         Dananjaya de Silva 10, Noman Ali 7/70, Naseem Shah 3/44)