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Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, 1st Test at Galle, , Jun 17 2015 - Ball by Ball Commentary

RESULT
1st Test, Galle, June 17 - 21, 2015, Pakistan tour of Sri Lanka
300 & 206
(T:90) 417 & 92/0

Pakistan won by 10 wickets

Player Of The Match
96
sarfaraz-ahmed
New
PAK 2nd Innings
Full commentary

Misbah-ul-Haq: "It was very clear in our minds that the only one way of wining this Test is if we can get them early in the first innings. We just took that chance, there was a little bit of moisture, that helped our spinners, the ball was turning and bouncing even in the first innings, thereafter hats off to everyone. Fight back from Shafiq and Sarfraz. Wahab in the first innings, supported well by the three spinners. Really a big win for us, especially in Galle, We have been losing the last three series here, we were hoping we can get on top in this series, it is a confidence boost for us to go up 1-0. We were really practising last couple of series (for Herath), even in Bangladesh we played lot of left-armers. Tried to be positive against Herath, when you are playing him from the crease and letting him bowl, he could trouble you. Everybody applied themselves and we got good results. On these pitches when you have footmarks, legspinner plays a big role, that is what he (Yasir) has been doing in the UAE, he has really improved and is bowling really well, his performance was key for us winning this Test. We were positive right from the toss. We thought of winning even though it was three-and-a-half days."

Sarfraz Ahmed is the Man of the Match. Sarfraz: "I do lots of practice, lots of sweep shots with batting coach Grant Flower. I am disappointed (playing on off a paddle on 96), next time I will be careful when I am in the 90s."

Angelo Mathews: "Pretty bad loss. Pakistanis deserved to win. We have two more games to bounce back. We decided to bat through. First session was crucial. Unfortunately we kept losing wickets. We bowled well in patches but they bowled better than us. Our spinners were not that effective on this track. We don't need to panic. Just a one-off game. Got to keep trust in the players. Pretty disappointed (with the umpiring decision) but that is how it goes, people do make mistakes, got to live with it."

Hafeez and Shehzad have a stump each in hand as they walk back. Pakistan have won this in basically three-and-a-half days, their first win in Sri Lanka since 2006. They also go past India for the most number of wins by an Asian nation - 123 in 390 Tests to their neighbours' 122 in 488.

Pakistan were 96 for 5 in the first innings after Sri Lanka made 300. But Sarfraz Ahmed turned it around on the fourth morning with a characteristically creative 96 off 86. Asad Shafiq was the rock at the other end with his seventh Test hundred, and Zulfiqar Babar rubbed it in with a swift fifty. It was all Yasir Shah (30.1-6-76-7) after Pakistan took a lead of 117, while there were crucial strikes in both innings by the pace and bounce sheer will of the tireless Wahab Riaz

11.2
4
Herath to Shehzad, FOUR runs

that will be it, Shehzad skips out and whips it powerfully against the turn between mid on and midwicket

11.1
3
Herath to Hafeez, 3 runs

flat outside off, punched through extra cover, and pulled back just inside the rope

end of over 1115 runs
PAK: 85/0CRR: 7.72 
Mohammad Hafeez43 (32b 6x4 1x6)
Ahmed Shehzad39 (34b 5x4)
Dilruwan Perera 3-0-31-0
Rangana Herath 4-0-23-0
10.6
3b
Perera to Hafeez, 3 byes

spins in and bounces down the leg side

10.5
1
Perera to Shehzad, 1 run

down to deep mid on for a single

10.4
1
Perera to Hafeez, 1 run
10.3
4
Perera to Hafeez, FOUR runs

shortish, and he pulled it hard over midwicket, this is ending quickly

10.2
6
Perera to Hafeez, SIX runs

super timing from Hafeez, this is a chip over mid on and has gone all the way over the rope, took a couple of steps out, did not have the room for a full swing, so just scooped it with an extended followthrough

10.1
Perera to Hafeez, no run

pitched up around off, he is forward to push it away

end of over 1012 runs
PAK: 70/0CRR: 7.00 
Ahmed Shehzad38 (33b 5x4)
Mohammad Hafeez32 (27b 5x4)
Rangana Herath 4-0-23-0
Dilruwan Perera 2-0-19-0
9.6
4
Herath to Shehzad, FOUR runs

he gets away this time, and adds four more to the tally, it was the straighter one, and he was done in, but an inside edge saves him, and escapes fine down the leg side

9.5
4
Herath to Shehzad, FOUR runs

and again, just past mid off's dive this time, stepping out, moving inside the line and carting it with the spin

9.4
4
Herath to Shehzad, FOUR runs

he has been trying to do this through this over, and finally succeeds, down the pitch to a flighted ball, and forces it straight over the bowler

9.3
Herath to Shehzad, no run

comes out again, opens the face to push it towards cover, wants the single, is sent back

9.2
Herath to Shehzad, no run

moves forward to defend

9.1
Herath to Shehzad, no run

down the track to a tossed up ball, cannot get under it, plays it with the turn to mid off

Clear, sunny skies. Herath is back

end of over 912 runs
PAK: 58/0CRR: 6.44 
Ahmed Shehzad26 (27b 2x4)
Mohammad Hafeez32 (27b 5x4)
Dilruwan Perera 2-0-19-0
Nuwan Pradeep 2-0-18-0
8.6
1
Perera to Shehzad, 1 run

shortish ball on the stumps, he makes room and pushes it down to deep mid off

Round the stumps

8.5
3
Perera to Hafeez, 3 runs

more runs, past slip, who gives chase and stops it as it slows down near the third man rope, Hafeez allowing it to come on and dabbing it late

8.4
1
Perera to Shehzad, 1 run

walks down the track and pushes it to deep mid on

8.3
4
Perera to Shehzad, FOUR runs

deep midwicket was in with a chance as Shehzad burst out and lifted it with the turn, he was some way in, started running to his left a bit late, and it went swirling over him

8.2
2
Perera to Shehzad, 2 runs

shortish ball, he goes back and punches it through extra cover, hasn;t quite timed it

8.1
1
Perera to Hafeez, 1 run

comes outside the crease, lets it spin in and works it past short leg