Sports Desk
Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 68 runs in the second and final day-night Test in Dubai on Tuesday, clinching the series.
Sri Lanka’s win ends Pakistan’s unbeaten track record on neutral venues in the United Arab Emirates, where the latter had not lost a Test series in nine attempts since the 2009 terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team, drawing four series and winning five, according to media reports.
With this loss, Pakistan have fallen to the seventh spot in the ICC Test rankings ─ a stark difference from their position on top of the rankings last year, when Misbah-ul-Haq was captain of the team.
It was game over for Pakistan after the final batsman, Wahab Riaz, was caught out by Dinesh Chandimal off a delivery from Test hero Rangana Herath, who became the second Sri Lankan to bag 400 wickets in the first Test against Pakistan.
Riaz, who made a single run. was caught in the deep trying hit one out of the ground. Yasir Shah was also stumped off Herath today.
Captain Sarfraz was the first man out as play resumed today, when he was caught sweeping against Paradeep just when it appeared as though he and Asad Shafiq may be able to steer Pakistan to victory and a series draw after Sri Lanka’s dramatic 21-run win in the first Test in Abu Dhabi last week.
Play today resumed with Pakistan at 198-5. Riaz yesterday grabbed four for 41 and left-arm spinner Haris Sohail took three wickets, dismissing Sri Lanka for 96 in their second innings.
Sri Lanka had been whitewashed by India at home before this series.
The ODIs between the two teams begin on Friday, October 13.
