Sri Lanka Seal Big Win against Pakistan

Prabath Jayasuriya starred with a five-wicket haul as Sri Lanka won the match by 246 runs.

The two-Test series ended 1-1. Jayasuriya got Agha Salman out for four at the stroke of lunch in Galle to leave Pakistan needing an inconceivable 320 to win, or to ride out the last two sessions for a draw and a 1-0 series victory.

Sri Lanka struck in the third over of the morning when Ramesh Mendis removed Imam-ul-Haq off his first delivery of the day.

Imam, on 49, attempted a cut shot but ended up getting a faint edge and was caught by Niroshan Dickwella to end a 55-run partnership with Babar.

A 79-run stand followed for the third wicket before Jayasuriya struck to dismiss Mohammad Rizwan (37), who didn't play a shot to a straight delivery and was bowled.

Three overs later, Fawad Alam (1) was run out after a mix-up with his captain.

Salman fell in the last over before lunch when Kusal Mendis took a well anticipated catch at short leg to give Jayasuriya (3-86) his third wicket in the innings. It was the third wicket in the half-hour before the lunch interval.

There were some other nervous moments for Babar. He was given out LBW on 34 but he had the decision overturned on review. A couple of edges fell short of close-in fielders.

The series is being played against the backdrop of Sri Lanka’s worst economic crisis since independence. There is a severe shortage of fuel, medicine and cooking gas and economic experts have warned of a pending food crisis.