Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st Test: Shah spins Pakistan to thumping win

Yasir Shah claimed seven second innings wickets in a spectacular display of leg-spin bowling to destroy Sri Lanka as Pakistan crushed the hosts by 10 wickets in the first Test to go 1-0 up in the three-match series at Galle on Sunday.

The 29-year-old spinner, who had claimed two wickets in the first innings, took a career-best 7-76 in the second before Pakistan chased down the 90-run victory target in a little over 11 overs to register their first test win in Sri Lanka since 2006.

Openers Mohammad Hafeez (46) and Ahmed Shehzad (43) scored briskly to seal the victory even after rain had washed out four sessions of the contest on the first two days at the Galle International Stadium.

While Shah was the wrecker-in-chief, paceman Wahab Riaz claimed 2-46. Dimuth Karunaratne (79) was the highest scorer for the hosts who folded for 206, leaving Pakistan to score only 90 in the final session to win the match.

After Sri Lanka resumed the final day on 63-2, Shah struck with the first ball of the day with nightwatchman Dilruwan Perera offering no shot to a ball that went to hit his off-stump.

Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne (44) then added 69 runs for the fourth wicket to steady the ship before wheels came off Sri Lanka's innings.

Thirimanne, who hit Riaz for two boundaries in the same over, edged the bowler to slip where Younus Khan took the catch.

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews looked in discomfort against Riaz but was unlucky to be adjudged caught out at short leg.

Mathews immediately sought a review, convinced he did not nick it and replay did not suggest any edge either but the original decision stayed, prompting the batsman to leave the field shaking his head.

Karunaratne then succumbed to a rush of blood, charging out to Shah only to miss the ball and get stumped, a poor way to end an otherwise patient innings.

Shah dismissed Kithuruwan Vithanage to complete his only second test five-for and Sri Lanka soon came apart.

The teams move to Colombo for the second Test starting on Thursday.

Boundary

Shehzad whips Herath through the onside for the winning boundary as Pakistan romped to a 10-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first Test.

Hafeez (46) and Shehzad (43) knocked off the meagre target of 90 in 11.2 overs to record their first win in Sri Lanka since 2006 and their 123rd which is the most by an Asian country.

It's raining boundaries from the blade of Hafeez as Pakistan are galloping towards the meagre target of 90. Pak 46-0, 8 overs.

Hafeez cracks a couple of boundaries off Prasad as Pakistan are on their way. Pak 17-0, 4 overs.

Left arm spinner Herath has been handed the new ball as Pakistan begin chasing a target of 90 in 41 overs.

Sri Lanka second innings

Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah claimed seven second innings wickets in a spectacular display of leg-spin bowling to destroy Sri Lanka for 206 and set Pakistan a 90-run victory target on the final day of the opening Test at Galle on Sunday.

The 29-year-old spinner, who had claimed two wickets in the first innings, ran through the hosts' batting line-up as Sri Lanka lost six wickets for 62 runs in the second session before folding up.

Shah took a career-best 7-76 and paceman Wahab Riaz claimed 2-46, while Dimuth Karunaratne (79) was Sri Lanka's highest scorer in the second innings.

Shah struck with the first ball of the day with scoreless nightwatchman Dilruwan Perera offering no shot to a ball that went to hit his off-stump.

Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne (44) then added 69 runs for the fourth wicket to steady the ship before wheels came off Sri Lanka's innings.

Thirimanne, who hit Riaz for two boundaries in the same over, edged the bowler to slip where Younus Khan took the catch.

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews looked in discomfort against Riaz but was unlucky to be adjudged caught out at short leg.

Mathews immediately sought a review, convinced he did not nick it and replay did not suggest edge either but the original decision stayed, prompting the batsman to leave the field shaking his head in dismay.

Karunaratne then succumbed to a rush of blood, charging out to Shah only to miss the ball and get stumped, a poor way to end an otherwise patient innings.

Shah dismissed Kithuruwan Vithanage to complete his only second test five-for and Sri Lanka soon came apart.

Yasir Shah claims a career-best 7-76 bowling Chandimal before tea to bowl out Sri Lanka for 206 in 77.1 overs.

Dinesh Chandimal st Sarfraz Ahmed b Yasir Shah 38 (73b 4x4 0x6)

Sri Lanka are crumbling in a heap with Shah claiming a career-best six wickets. SL 203-9, 74 overs.

Rangana Herath c Mohammad Hafeez b Yasir Shah 1 (4b 0x4 0x6)

Dammika Prasad st Sarfraz Ahmed b Zulfiqar Babar 2 (19b 0x4 0x6)

Chandimal cracks a couple of boundaries off Babar on either side of the wicket. SL 184-7, 67 overs.

Yasir Shah is turning the match on its head claiming his fifth wicket to have Sri Lanka on the ropes. SL 175-7, 65.3 overs.

Kithruwan Vithanage c Zulfiqar Babar b Yasir Shah 1 (12b 0x4 0x6)

Shah has done the trick again ending Karunaratne's patient vigil with the batsman getting a rush of blood and being stumped. SL 167-6, 61.3 overs.

Dimuth Karunaratne st Sarfraz Ahmed b Yasir Shah 79 (173b 10x4 0x6)

Karunaratne hits the first boundary after lunch clipping Wahab to long leg. SL 148-5, 55 overs.

Yasir has struck a crucial blow in the first over after lunch as Mathews pops a catch to short leg and failing to overturn the verdict with replays being inconclusive. SL 144-5, 53.2 overs.

Angelo Mathews c Azhar Ali b Yasir Shah 5 (16b 1x4 0x6)

Lunch

Dimuth Karunaratne remained unbeaten after his fifth Test fifty but Sri Lanka lost two more wickets to reach 144 for four at lunch on the final day of the first Test at Galle on Sunday.

Karunaratne was batting on 63 at the break with his captain Angelo Mathews on five after the hosts resumed on 63 for two at the Galle International Stadium.

The hosts took a slender lead of 27 runs at the break with two more sessions left in the day's play.

Leg-spinner Yasir Shah struck with the first ball of the day with scoreless nightwatchman Dilruwan Perera offering no shot to the ball expecting it to turn. But the ball went straight instead to hit his off-stump.

Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne (44) then added 69 runs for the fourth wicket to steady the innings before being separated.

Thirimanne, who hit Wahab Riaz for two boundaries in the same over, edged the bowler to slip where Younus Khan took the catch.

Mathews looked in occasional discomfort against Riaz but survived 14 balls to reach lunch without further damage to his side.

Wahab strikes with the first ball of a new spell inducing a thick edge from Thirimanne which flies to slip. SL 132-4, 48.1 overs.

Lahiru Thirimanne c Younis Khan b Wahab Riaz 44 (95b 4x4 0x6)

Karunaratne punches Yasir through the covers for a boundary. SL 130-3, 47 overs.

Karunaratne completes his fifth Test half century.  SL 113-3, 37 overs.

Thirimanne gets cracking by slamming a couple of boundaries off Wahab. SL 69-3, 26 overs.

Yasir strikes in the first ball of the final day castling nightwatchman Dilruwan who shoulders arms only to see his stumps disturbed as the ball goes straight. SL 63-3, 21.1 overs.

Dilruwan Perera b Yasir Shah 0 (6b 0x4 0x6)

Asad Shafiq's seventh hundred and a belligerent 96 from Sarfraz Ahmed helped give Pakistan a sizeable lead against Sri Lanka on the fourth day of the opening Test at Galle on Saturday.

Sri Lanka had hoped for quick wickets in the morning when Pakistan resumed on 118 for five but a sixth-wicket stand of 139 between Sarfraz and Asad Shafiq (131) put paid to their chances.

Another 101-run stand for the ninth wicket between Shafiq and Zulfiqar Babar (56) gave the visitors the upper hand in the match.

Pakistan were finally all out for 417 with a first-innings lead of 117.

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