Pakistan return a Test triumph
PAKISTAN celebrated the return of Test cricket for the first time in more than 10 years with a convincing 263-run win over Sri Lanka in the second Test in Karachi yesterday, taking the series 1-0.
It took just 14 minutes and 16 balls for Pakistan to wrap up the win on the fifth morning as it took Sri Lanka’s last three wickets without any addition to its overnight 212.
Pakistan had set a daunting 476-run target and reduced the tourists to 7-212 at the close.
Teenage quick bowler Naseem Shah at 16 years and 307 days became the second youngest bowler to take five wickets in a Test innings as he bowled an express spell to finish with 5-31.
Fellow Pakistani and leftarm spinner Nasim-ul-Ghani holds the record and was just four days younger when he completed the feat against the West Indies at Georgetown in a 1957-58 series.
Naseem was aged six when international cricket was suspended in Pakistan following an attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009.
Pakistan was forced to play all its home matches at the neutral venues of United Arab Emirates, before improved security allowed it to begin hosting limited-over series during the past four years.
The first Test of the series in Rawalpindi marked the return of Test cricket in Pakistan, but it ended in a draw after being spoiled by bad weather.
Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali thanked Sri Lanka for its part in allowing Test cricket to return. “Special thanks to Sri Lanka from the bottom of our hearts,” said Azhar. “They have given us immense happiness by playing in Pakistan, it was pretty emotional.
“Naseem is a special talent and we can build on our bowling attack in the years to come.”
Sri Lankan skipper Dimuth Karunaratne praised Pakistan.
“We dominated the first two days and then they batted very well and put pressure back on us and outplayed us. We couldn’t build pressure with the ball despite taking a lead of 80,” Karunaratne said.
Pakistan turned the match on its head with a huge second innings 3-555 declared on Sunday, with 174 from man-of-the match and man-of-the series Abid Ali, 135 from Shan Masood, 118 from Azhar and 100 not out from Babar Azam as the top four all reached three figures.
Abid had also scored hundred in the first Test.
The final day began in a dramatic manner when Naseem dismissed Lasit Embuldeniya off the first ball, catching his gloves on the way to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.
Naseem wrapped up the match by trapping Vishwa Fernando with the fifth ball of the next over, triggering jubilation among the Pakistan players who were all playing in their first Test series at home.