Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 2012

Fifteen months earlier, Sri Lanka had beaten New Zealand on this ground to reach the World Cup final. But they had not won a one-day series since (excluding a triangular with Scotland and Ireland). They owed the end of the drought to the inspirational Mathews. Set 248, they looked doomed at 138 for six when Perera was run out for a duck. But Mathews added 37 with both Thirimanne and Mendis, then found another ally in Kulasekara. Even so, his task looked too steep when Sohail Tanvir conceded only six in the penultimate over, leaving 15 required from the last. Pakistan, as so often, chose the key moment to disintegrate: Mohammad Sami began with a wide, Umar Akmal blew a run-out chance with both batsmen stranded, and Mathews bunted the next ball for six over long-on. That reduced it to six off four, which he achieved with ease. Misbah-ul-Haq blamed defeat on fielding lapses and the decision to leave out Saeed Ajmal in conditions expected to aid swing. The recall of Imran Farhat was more successful but, after passing 50, he set the tone for a string of lax dismissals. Worse still, Pakistan's regular conferences as the run-chase climaxed put them three overs behind the required rate: the players were fined 40% of their match fees, and Misbah was suspended from the First Test.