HERATH’S HEROICS
‘Magician’ Rangana Herath spun a web around the batsmen to inflict Pakistan’s first loss at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in the UAE Capital.
A collective effort from Herath (6 for 43 runs) and Dilruwan Perera (3 for 46 runs) meant Sri Lanka were able to clinch a dramatic 21run victory over Pakistan in the two-match Test series on Monday.
The 39 year-old with his match total of 11 for 136 runs became the first left-arm spinner to take 400 wickets. Taking his 101st wicket against Pakistan ensured the home side were unable to chase a 136-run target. The outcome, which saw a proud home record tarnished, is not what Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed would have expected before the start of final day’s play.
However, after four days of slumber, the Test match roared to life as the day five pitch assisted spinners and pacers in equal measure. There was uneven bounce, sharp turn and movement, and wickets fell like house of cards. The demons of Abu Dhabi pitch had woken up on the judgement day to force a result in otherwise drab sessions so far.
Batsmen needed to spend time in the middle to score but almost all of them lacked intent and hunger to do so. Bowlers, on the other hand, got enough help from cracks on the pitch to scalp some 16 wickets.
Starting the final day at 69 for four, Sri Lanka stuttered with runscoring. The collapse started with early wicket of Kusal Mendis, who was trapped leg-before wicket by Mohammad Abbas in the third over of the day. Night watchman Suranga Lakmal hung on for a while and kept scoring rate ticking with two boundaries, one of them scored off Abbas. The pacer, however, had the last laugh as Lakmal’s hook, ended up as a catch for Babar Azam.
And bowling unchanged from the start, Yasir dealt a double blow in his eighth over of the day. First he trapped Dilruwan Perera leg-before and in the very next ball got Rangana Herath out caught by Shan Masood.
Sri Lanka had slipped to 101 for eight by now. There was, how- ever, a mini revival, the only bright spot at that for Lanka bat- ting as Niroshan Dickwella and Lakshan Sandakan stitched a cru- cial 34-run partnership.
Dickwella hammered crucial boundaries and the duo pushed the score to 135. It was Yasir, once again, who got the breakthrough to send Sandakan back and bring up his fivefor in style. It was a quick end to the innings as Hasan Ali bowled Nuwan Pradeep to set a 136-run target.
And when Pakistan chase started, Herath was again the nemesis.
The damage started in the fourth over itself. The veteran took an outside edge of Sami Aslam’s bat, which was caught by Dimuth Karunaratne in first slip. And in the next over, Lakmal got Azhar Ali
Well done boys credit to everyone for a fantastic team effort. @HerathRSL vintage performance buddy! Mahela Jayawardena @MahelaJay
Well done to the genius @HerathRSL on his fantastic achievement. At least 5 more years left in him Kumar Sangakkara @KumarSanga2
with a ripper. The batsman tried to defend but the ball took edge for keeper Dickwella to complete a sharp catch. Pakistan had lost two wickets for just seven runs and Sri Lankans were beaming. And just nine runs added to the score, opener Shan Masood too departed being caught off Perera.
Just when Asad Shafiq and Babar Azam were in a process of reconstruction, Perera struck again. He send Azam back with a straighter one. Next up, Herath got Shafiq caught at slip by Karunaratne. By end of the 18th over Pakistan had lost half their side for 35 runs. The onus was on Sarfraz Ahmed and Haris Sohail to stand up. The duo took Pakistan to 67 at Tea. However, just after break the skipper was out stumped off Herath. Perera then trapped Sohail for a leg-before to push Pakistan to 97 for seven. Herath returned to get rid of dangerous Hasan Ali and then cleaned up Mohammed Amir. It was just a matter of time as to when the last wicket would fall. And Mohammad Abbas walked into the middle like a lamb into a slaughterhouse.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com