Wily Herath spins SL to fighting victory
Abu Dhabi, Oct. 2: Rangana Herath became the second Sri Lankan to bag 400 wickets as his six-wicket haul steered Sri Lanka to a thrilling 21-run win over Pakistan in the first Test in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
The veteran left-arm spinner took 6/43 — 11/136 in the match — to scupper Pakistan, set a modest 136run target, for just 114 on a weary fifth day Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch. The victory was achieved when Herath trapped last man Mohammad Abbas leg before for nought to give Sri Lanka a 1-0 lead in the twomatch series.
Herath, a long-time nemesis of Pakistan, also completed 100 wickets in 20 Tests against them, during an innings in which only debutant Haris Sohail fought with some resolve for his 34 runs. Herath became the 14th bowler in all Test cricket and fifth spinner behind his countryman Muttiah Muralitharan, Australia’s Shane Warne and Indian duo of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh to reach the 400-wicket milestone.
The 136 set Pakistan was Sri Lanka’s lowest defended target, improving on the 168 they set the Pakistanis in the Galle Test in 2009. It was also a first defeat for Pakistan at this venue in 10 Tests. Earlier, leg-spinner Yasir Shah took 5-51 — his 32nd five wicket haul in Tests — to dismiss Sri Lanka for 138 in their second innings.
Niroshan Dickwella ensured Sri Lanka had something to defend with a pugnacious 40. Pakistan started the chase on a shaky note when Herath dismissed opener Sami Aslam for two before accounting for Asad Shafiq, who made 20. Herath had taken 5/93 in Pakistan’s first innings of 422 and this time he shared the new ball with Suranga Lakmal to put Pakistan in trouble with regular wickets.
Perera then had Shan Masood (seven) and a shaky Babar Azam for three to leave Pakistan struggling at 32-4. Scores: Sri Lanka 419 & 138 in 66.5 overs (N. Dickwella 40*, Shah 5/51) bt Pakistan 422 & 114 in 47.4 overs (Haris Sohail 34, herath 6/43, Perera 3/46).