GALLE, Sri Lanka, June 24: Sri Lanka took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series against Pakistan on Monday after winning the first test by 209 runs.
With Pakistan eight wickets down on day four at the Galle International Stadium, Sri Lanka opted for the extra half hour´s play. Off-spinner Suraj Randiv picked up the last two wickets of Umar Gul and Junaid Khan to dismiss Pakistan for 300, just eight minutes from stumps.
Kumar Sangakkara was named man of the match for his unbeaten 199 in Sri Lanka´s first innings of 472.
Earlier, former captain Younis Khan (87) and middle order batsman Asad Shafiq (80) added 151 for Pakistan´s fifth wicket after nightwatchman Saeed Ajmal was run out in the second over of the morning. The tourists had started the day on 36-3, chasing an improbable target of 510.
The fifth-wicket stand was finally broken after 3 1/2 hours when left-arm spinner Rangana Herath changed ends to entice an outside edge from Shafiq that was snapped up by Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene at first slip.
Pakistan´s batsman Younis Khan, right, bats as Sri Lanka´s wicket keeper Prasanna Jayawardene, left, and Tillakaratne Dilshan, center, watch the play during their first test cricket match in Galle, Sri Lanka, Monday. (AP)
Sri Lanka had managed only a wicket in each of the first two sessions, but once Younis was dismissed in the second over after tea there was little resistance from the Pakistan lower order.
Younis fell to the new ball which Sri Lanka used as soon as it was available. Younis edged Nuwan Kulasekara´s fifth delivery to wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene. He made 87 runs and hit seven fours.
On Sunday, Sri Lanka surprised many by declining to enforce the follow-on after bowling Pakistan out for 100 in its first innings, only 10 more than its lowest-ever total against Sri Lanka.
Jayawardene said he took the decision as his bowlers needed a break after their impressive performance.
"Whether I would get the same effort (in the 2nd innings) was questionable," Jayawardene said.
Sri Lanka, aware of bad weather forecasts for the final two days of the test, declared at 137-5 in its second innings after Dilshan smashed 56 off 58 balls.
Pakistan was at the receiving end of some poor decisions and stand-in captain Mohammad Hafeez said he wanted the umpiring Decision Review System (DRS) at every test series.
"It should be compulsory for every game," Hafeez said. "I feel as a player not having the DRS puts a lot of pressure on you and that pressure goes to the umpires as well."
PLEASE DESIST FROM ATTACKING THE WRITER PERSONALLY AND BE RESPECTFUL TO OTHER READERS.
Please give your full name while posting your comments. This is not to stifle the free flow of comments but your full name will enable us to print the comments in our newspaper.
![[del.icio.us]](http://images.del.icio.us/static/img/delicious.small.gif){kind=small}
Copyright © Nepal Republic Media Pvt. Ltd. 2008-10.