Shah claims career-best 7-76

Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah claimed seven second innings wickets to destroy Sri Lanka for 206 on the final day of the opening Test at Galle on Sunday.

Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah claimed seven second innings wickets to destroy Sri Lanka for 206 on the final day of the opening Test at Galle on Sunday.

Published Jun 21, 2015

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Lahore – Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah claimed seven second innings wickets in a spectacular display of leg-spin bowling to destroy Sri Lanka for 206 and set Pakistan a 90-run victory target on the final day of the opening Test at Galle on Sunday.

The 29-year-old spinner, who had claimed two wickets in the first innings, ran through the hosts’ batting line-up as Sri Lanka lost six wickets for 62 runs in the second session before folding up.

Shah took a career-best 7-76 and paceman Wahab Riaz claimed 2-46, while Dimuth Karunaratne (79) was Sri Lanka’s highest scorer in the second innings.

Shah struck with the first ball of the day with scoreless nightwatchman Dilruwan Perera offering no shot to a ball that went to hit his off-stump.

Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne (44) then added 69 runs for the fourth wicket to steady the ship before wheels came off Sri Lanka’s innings.

Thirimanne, who hit Riaz for two boundaries in the same over, edged the bowler to slip where Younus Khan took the catch.

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews looked in discomfort against Riaz but was unlucky to be adjudged caught out at short leg.

Mathews immediately sought a review, convinced he did not nick it and replay did not suggest edge either but the original decision stayed, prompting the batsman to leave the field shaking his head in dismay.

Karunaratne then succumbed to a rush of blood, charging out to Shah only to miss the ball and get stumped, a poor way to end an otherwise patient innings.

Shah dismissed Kithuruwan Vithanage to complete his only second test five-for and Sri Lanka soon came apart. – Reuters

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