Sri Lanka on the brink of series whitewash

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Cricket365
August 17, 2014

Sri Lanka needed just three more wickets to win the second Test, and thus the series, against Pakistan in Colombo, reaching stumps having reduced the visitors to 127 for seven, still 144 runs behind the target.

Pakistan need a gettable 271 runs to win, after the hosts were all out for 282 at tea, with Wahab Riaz and Saeed Ajmal doing the damage. They could not respond well though, as Rangana Herath claimed four more wickets.

While Sri Lanka's top order did well on day three, the fourth day saw a collapse as Mahela Jayawardene's international career ended with a half century. He'd put on a century stand with Kumar Sangakkara but both were out soon after the start.

They began the day on 177 for two, with Sangakkara on 54 and Mahela on 49. The latter soon recorded his 50th Test half century, to rapturous applause, and the pair put on their 19th century stand.

Sangakkara was the first to fall, having reached 59, caught by Azhar Ali off Ajmal. His partner in crime departed soon afterwards, for 54, to prolonged ovations. He too fell to Ajmal.

The spinner then took a third wicket before lunch, bowling Lahiru Thirimanne for 10. The afternoon saw the rest of the order tumble, with Wahab removing Niroshan Dickwella and Dilruwan Perera in the same over.

Only Dhammika Prasad got off the mark of the bottom four batsmen, making 19 before being run out by Ajmal, and then Chanaka Welegedera's run out ended the innings and brought about tea.

Pakistan then found Herath impossible to play again, having seen nine of their batsmen out to him in the first innings. But it was Prasad who got the early wickets, removing both openers cheaply.

Azhar followed for 10, and then Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq failed to save the day, also out to Herath, both for single figures. This left Pakistan on 50 for five.

Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed then tried to steady the ship, putting on a half century stand, but they were unable to carry it on as Shafiq was out for 32. He was caught by Dickwella off Herath.

Abdur Rehman was the final wicket to fall on the day, this time to Dilruwan, while Sarfraz went back inside on 38, while Wahab was on two.