Rangana Herath is mobbed by his team-mates after leading Sri Lanka to victory
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Rangana Herath proved to be Sri Lanka’s saviour yet again as his six-wicket haul on the final day of the first Test in Abu Dhabi saw his side defeat Pakistan by 21 runs.
Herath also etched his name in the record books as he became the first left-arm spinner and second Sri Lankan spinner after Muttiah Muralitharan to take 400 Test wickets.
Starting off the day on 69/4, Sri Lanka lost batsman Kusal Mendis early on in the day as he was given out lbw off the bowling of Mohammad Abbas for 18.
Abbas then went on to remove Suranga Lakmal for 13 before Yasir Shah joined the party and ripped through Sri Lanka’s lower order.
With wickets falling at regular intervals, Sri Lanka’s hopes of posting a competitive score were fading fast. However, wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella scored an unbeaten 40, which came off 76 balls and included four boundaries, to help Sri Lanka reach 138 before they were bowled out.
With Sri Lanka scoring 138 in their second innings, it set Pakistan a target of 136 to win.
Yasir was the pick of the bowlers with five wickets, while Abbas snapped up two and Hasan Ali, Asad Shafiq and debutant Haris Sohail chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Chasing 136 to win, Herath, Dilruwan Perera and Lakmal worked in tandem to blow away Pakistan’s top order and leave them in dire straits at 36/5.
Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed and Sohail temporarily stemmed the bleeding through a much-needed 42-run partnership before Sarfraz was stumped by Dickwella off the bowling of Herath for 19.
Sohail went on to make 34 before he was given out lbw off the bowling of Dilruwan.
Haris Sohail was Pakistan’s top-scorer with 34 runs
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Despite opting for a review, Sohail had to trudge back to the pavilion as replays showed that the ball was pitching in line and going on to hit the stumps.
Herath left Sri Lanka just one wicket away from victory when he clean bowled Hasan Ali and Mohammad Amir for eight and nine runs respectively.
However, when Pakistan were 25 runs away from victory, Sri Lanka got the final wicket they needed. But, upon closer inspection, it was revealed that Dilruwan had overstepped and Yasir was given another opportunity to lead Pakistan to victory.
It was not to be though as in the very next over, Herath trapped Abbas lbw for a duck to hand Pakistan their first loss in Abu Dhabi.
Abbas reviewed the decision immediately, but it was no use replays showed that the ball was pitching in line and going on to smash into off-stump.
Herath was the hero with the ball as he took six wickets, while Dilruwan got three and Lakmal claimed one.
Sarfraz was gutted to have lost the match, and said: “This is part of the game but I’m very disappointed because we had recovered really well in this game. We should have won this. We have a few issues, especially in the fifth day when we come under pressure. Some things have to change, we needed a partnership and didn’t get one.
“Haris Sohail played really well. It’s not easy to come back like he did. We’ll try and bounce back in the next game. Our batsmen played well but they didn’t play any long innings. If we do that, we’ll do well.”
Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal was relieved to have won, and said: “We are over the moon. We have waited for this win and it has finally come. Credit to the guys, they’ve worked really hard before the match. The management and selectors gave us a lot of confidence too. It’s difficult, especially in this heat. Credit goes to people like Dickwella and Karunaratne. Dickwella was unbelievable in the second innings, he got us to the 140 mark.
“We knew once we got that much, we have our legend (Herath) here. We knew if there were a couple of early wickets, we would do well. Credit to the bowlers who put their heart and soul. It took me a long time (to make runs), but that is how you play on this pitch and I’m happy.”
Herath was named Man of the Match, and said: “I have no idea (why he takes wickets against Pakistan). I’ve played nearly 20 Tests, maybe that’s why. Actually I am ageing and when you get old, you feel soreness. I was so happy with the remarkable achievement (400 wickets). All credit should go to the people behind me, from my parents to the team and the supporting staff. There was some assistance from the surface. There was something for the spinners.”