Seven-star Yasir leads Pakistan to Test win
AFP
AFP, GALLE: Leg-spinner Yasir Shah claimed a career-best seven for 76 as Pakistan stunned Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the first Test on Sunday to take the lead in the three-match series.
Yasir spun a web around the Sri Lankan batsmen to skittle them for a paltry 206 in their second innings just before tea on the fifth and final day.
Pakistan, set a victory target of 90, raced home in 11.2 overs with Mohammad Hafeez unbeaten on 46 and Ahmed Shehzad on 43 at the Galle International Stadium.
It was Pakistans first Test win in Sri Lanka since the eight-wicket triumph in Kandy in 2006. The second Test starts at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo on Thursday.
Pakistans remarkable recovery from 96-5 in the first innings came after the entire first days play had been washed out and just 64 overs were bowled on the second day.
Opener Dimuth Karunaratne top-scored with 79, Lahiru Thirimanne made 44 and Dinesh Chandimal was last man out for 38, but the rest of the batsmen folded against Pakistans incisive bowling.
The 29-year-old Yasir, later named man of the match, ripped through the batting as Sri Lanka lost their last five wickets for 39 runs after being 167 for five at one stage.
Sri Lanka took their overnight score of 63-2 to 144-4 by lunch, before a further six wickets fell on a dramatic afternoon in front of some 1,000 home fans.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq, who had gambled by electing to field first after winning the toss, was jubilant by what he described as a big win.
A disappointed Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews hoped his team will recover from the defeat.
The hosts lost nightwatchman Dilruwan Perera off the first ball of the day, clean-bowled by Yasir, but the left-handed pair of Karunaratne and Thirimanne put on 69 runs for the fourth wicket.
