Sri Lanka seal historic series win

Rangana Herath has Fawad Alam caught at short leg for 168 as Pakistan lost their last nine wickets for just 35 runs today

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A stunning batting collapse allowed Sri Lanka to secure their first Test series triumph at home Pakistan with a convincing seven-wicket victory in just three days at Colombo.

The visitors slumped from 285 for two to 320 all out in the space of just under 19 overs - leaving a target of 171 for the home side.

Pakistan had begun the day in the ascendancy with captain Younus Khan cracking 82 and debutant opener Fawad Alam breaching the 150-run mark.

However, left-arm spinner Rangana Herath and fast bowler Nuwan Kulasekara engineered Pakistan’s downfall with 5-99 and 4-37 respectively.

Left-handed opener Malinda Warnapura then hammered a brisk 54 as the hosts overhauled a target of 171 to prevail in a topsy-turvy match and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Warnapura gave the chase impetus and Kumar Sangakkara solidity with a knock of 46 as Sri Lanka coasted to victory.

Resuming this morning on 178 for one, a lead of 28, overnight batsmen Younus and Alam continued to build Pakistan’s lead.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers looked ordinary for the most part in overcast conditions.

Captain Sangakkara opted to start proceedings with Tharanga Paranavitana, but the part-time spinner leaked runs and was quickly removed from the attack.

Sangakkara then turned to his specialist bowlers, but had little success there either as Pakistan began to turn up the heat.

Younus reached his half-century in quick time, while Alam went past the 150-mark as the pair frustrated the home side with a 200-run stand for the second wicket.

But a poor shot from Younus eventually gave the home side their first breakthrough just before the lunch interval, leading to Pakistan’s abject capitulation.

Opener Malinda Warnapura's brisk fifty ensures Sri Lanka suffered no major hiccups in pursuit of 171

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The Pakistan skipper attempted a reverse-sweep off Paranavitana on 54 but only managed a top-edge which lobbed off his shoulder to wicketkeeper Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Sangakkara raised eyebrows when he threw the new ball to spinner Herath first up after the break, but reaped instant rewards when the bowler sent back Mohammad Yousuf.

Yousuf has a poor history against left-arm spinners and here too he was baffled with one that straightened and trapped him in front on six.

Kulasekara then took charge with three successful leg-before appeals, the ball spinning in sharply from outside off stump to Misbah-ul-Haq, Kamran Akmal (both three) and Abdur Rauf (nought).

Between those dismissals, Herath brought an end to debutant opener Alam’s innings for 168 and bowled Shoaib Malik for six. Alam attempted a push through midwicket, but only managed to squeeze it off his pad and straight to Warnapura at forward short leg.

Kulasekara then brought the innings to an end by trapping Saeed Ajmal in front for nought.

Sri Lanka’s openers then pressed home the advantage with a solid opening stand.

Warnapura, who has struggled previously in the series, hit his way back into form with a belligerent innings.

The left-hander achieved his half-century off just 44 deliveries, but was eventually dismissed caught behind by Akmal off Rauf.

His opening partner Paranavitana earlier departed for 17, bowled by Ajmal, but Sangakkara took up the chase until he fell with his team just 11 short of victory.

Mahela Jayawardene (37) and Thilan Samaraweera (six) ensured no further blemish as Sri Lanka cantered home.