Sri Lanka level series….

Sri Lanka levelled the three Test match series 1-1 when they beat Pakistan by seven wickets on the final day before lunch at the P.Sara Oval yesterday.

The hosts had to get 153 to win on the fourth day, but could not bat due a heavy downpour which washed out the post tea session Skipper Mathews (43 not out) and his deputy Thirimanne (20 not out) gave the finishing touches on the final day with a brief 32 run stand facing 37 deliveries after Dimuth Karunaratne and Kithuruwan Vithanage laid the platform.

Monday, the final day dawned grey and and slightly wet, intermittent showers threathening to wash out play. With Sri Lanka needing 153 runs to win the Test and square the series. However, the rain ceased with the sun trying to peep out, the covers were removed and play started around 10.15 am.

Sri Lanka anticipating rain got the two hard hitting left handers Dimuth Karunaratne and Kithruwan Vithanage to open the innings.

The conditions suited more for fast bowling, but Pakistan did not have the right fast bowling combination with Wahab Riyaz injured and only Junaid Khan available. Junaid Khan started from the pavilion end and Dimuth Karunaratne drove the first ball uppishly past mid on for 4.

Kithruwan Vithanage who needed a good innings to justify his place after the failures in the first test and the first innings found the situation ideally suited for him and batted in his inimitable fashion.

Both Karunaratne and Vithanage batted with a positive frame of mind. Kithruwan Vithanage after carting Zulfiquar Babar for two consecutive sixes going for a repetition was caught at deep mid wicket by Mohammed Hafeez, Vithanage’s short cameo of 32 runs had two sixes and four fours facing 23 deliveries. Both Vithanage and Karunaratne were in full command.

For the visitors Yasir Shah who got 7 wickets in the first Test and six in the first innings of the second Test seemed to be the only threat.

Vithanage and Karunaratne put on 49 runs for the first wicket and with the departure of Vithanage, Sri Lanka was in for a shocker when Kumar Sangakkara was out first ball. Yasir Shah who was easily the pick of the Pakistan bowlers got one to spin, Sangakkara pushed forward and was caught at short leg bat-pad.

It was the Sri Lankan star batsman’s 6th first ball duck. Sri Lanka had lost two wickets for 49 in their run chase.

With the prevailing unpredictable weather pattern Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews made their intentions clear and went after the Pakistan bowling in search of quick runs. Karunaratne reached his 50 facing 57 deliveries with four hits to the ropes while skipper Mathews too cut loose.

Dimuth Karunaratne after reaching his 50 was trapped leg before wicket by Yasir Shah but not before adding 72 runs with Mathews for the second wicket. Skipper Mathews joined by his deputy Lahiru Thirimanne made certain they reached the victory targets without further mishaps.

When Sri Lanka finally achieved victory Mathews was unbeaten on 43 facing 57 deliveries with four hits to the boundary and Thirimanne facing 21 deliveries was 20 not out with two fours.Man Of The Match. Dhammika Prasad.

Mathews wanted to come back strongly to win

Skipper Angelo Mathews at a post Test match briefing said that after losing the Galle Test his team was determined to come back and win the second Test in Colombo.

He said that his bowlers did a great job in restricting Pakistan for 138 runs in their first innings and especially mentioned paceman Dhammika Prasad’s efforts.

When asked as to why Kithruwan opened the second innings with Dimuth Karunaratne, Mathews said that as rain was looming and getting the required runs quickly was important. ‘We gave Kithruwan the licence to go ahead and play his natural game’ said Mathews.

Pakistan skipper Mishbah-Ul- Haq said that the first innings score of 138 runs was totally not enough.

He admitted that from that point onwards Pakistan was under pressure. We were aiming at a lead of about 230 or 250, but defending a total of 153 put you under lot of pressure.