Rawalpindi, March 1: Sri Lanka carved out a remarkable two-wicket
victory over Pakistan on an enthralling final day of the first Test to
take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series at Pindi Cricket Stadium
here on Wednesday.
Romesh Kaluwitharana scored the winning runs in a stubborn ninth
wicket partnership of 43 with an injured Arjuna Ranatunga when he
edged Waqar Younis to the third man boundary to cap Sri Lanka's fourth
win against Pakistan in 22 Tests.
Kaluwitharana finished on an unbeaten 36 off 74 balls while the
courageous Ranatunga defied 94 balls to score 29 not out.
The absorbing Test went down to the wire after a Sri Lankan victory
looked a mere formality with visiting side reaching tea at 143 for
four - 77 away from their target of 220 in the remaining 38 overs.
But the first hour after the interval proved quite sensational.
In the first over, Mahela Jayawardena without adding to his score of
35 in a dramatic fashion. Yousuf Youhana, fielding at short-leg, held
a neat catch off Saqlain Mushtaq but umpire Athar Zaidi did not give
the batsman out until he consulted his colleague Dave Orchard and TV
umpire Siddique Khan. In the next over, Ranatunga, then batting on
eight, was struck on the left thumb by a rising delivery from
Waqar. Writhing in agony, the former Sri Lankan skipper was forced to
retire hurt at 146 for five.
Chaminda Vaas, who batted with disdain while scoring 53 not out in
first knock, was needlessly run out in a terrible mix-up with
Kaluwitharana.
Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Saeed Anwar's ability to lead a
handicapped side - in the absence of strike bowler Wasim Akram and a
half-fit Saqlain Mushtaq - was put through a severe examination on
Wednesday with only three bowlers at his command.
However, Saeed manoeuvred the limited resources at his disposal quite
intelligently and the team backed him up with resilient spirit that
was missing on the first three days of this Test.
Pakistan continued to make inroads in the Sri Lankan ranks.
Young all-rounder Abdur Razzaq, for the second time in the match, came
perilously close to achieve a hat trick when he claimed two wickets
off successive deliveries. Wahajatullah Wasti brought off a
spectacular catch in the slips to remove the left-handed Nuwan Zoysa
and then a perfect yorker rattled the off stump of Pramodya
Wickremasinghe to reduce the tourists to 177 for eight.
Wickremasinghe, who bagged a pair in the match, was replaced by
Ranatunga at the crease.
Pakistan could have grabbed an unlikely victory had they held their
catches. Waqar failed to grab a Kaluwitharana mistimed shot off Abdur
Razzaq at mid-on when Sri Lanka were 172 for six. Saeed failed to run
out the same batsman with Sri Lanka still 11 runs away from victory.
Earlier, SriLanka resumed their run chase at 11 for no loss were
jolted by the fifth ball departure of Marvan Atapattu.
A rampant Waqar disposed of Atapattu for the second time in the match,
in an almost action replay of his first innings dismissal. Atapattu
edged an outswinger to the right of first slip where Saqlain Mushtaq
hung onto a brilliant two-handed catch.
Next man Russel Arnold survived a very close leg before appeal first
ball but umpire Athar Zaidi remained unconvinced. Arnold could have
perished had Shahid Afridi been able to pick the ball and throw with
the batsman stranded in the middle of the pitch.
However, Arnold (6) survived only 31 minutes before a liftingWaqar
delivery took the outer edge of his bat and Saqlain took another sharp
catch at first slip.Jayasuriya and the first innings' century-maker
Aravindade Silva added 39 runs to carry the total to 73. But just
before lunch, Abdur Razzaq had danger man Aravinda (21) flashing at a
wide ball and Moin Khan did the rest behind the stumps.
Jayasuriya, who was well-set, and newbatsman Jayawardena survived to
take Sri Lanka to 77 for three at lunch.
The Sri Lankan captain and his deputy shared a fourth wicket stand
worth 43 runs during which Jayasuriya completed his first half century
in seven Tests since taking over the national captaincy off 92 balls
in 165 minutes with six fours.
However, shortly afterwards, Jayasuriya (56 off 105 balls in 191
minutes) edged a late outswinger from Abdur Razzaq tofirst slip where
Aamir Sohail took a splendid, two-handed catch, low to his right.
Jayasuriya was the only wicket to fall in the second session.
Overall, Sri Lanka's victory their third against Pakistan in
Pakistan. On the last tour here in 1995-96, Sri Lanka came from behind
to triumph 2-1 success.
This was Pakistan's second consecutive loss atthis ground, having lost
by innings to and 99 runs to MarkTaylor's Australians in October 1998.