Sri Lanka completed a dominant victory inside four days at Galle, despite stern resistance from Younis Khan and Asad Shafiq.

 June 25th 2012

Pakistan started the day on 36/3 with Younis Khan (0*) and Saeed Ajmal (11*) overnight, chasing an unlikely target of 510.

The day got off to an untidy start, as the partnership with night-watchman Ajmal lasted just 8 deliveries before he was run out. Ajmal won't have batted with Younis Khan very often and as a result was completely unaccustomed to his tenancy to step down the wicket after playing a shot - Ajmal was sold the dummy and run out by a distance as he was sent back by his colleague.

Asad Shafiq came out to the middle under what must have been considerable, with more experienced heads like Faisal Iqbal in the squad looking to get their chance.

He very nearly lost senior Younis Khan a few overs later as he holed out to mid-off to the electric Dilshan, who took the catch. However, the umpires were unsure and referred the catch to the third umpire and replays, as they quite often do, proved inconclusive.

Pakistan survived the first session and made it to lunch relatively unscathed, with the loss of just Saeed Ajmal. The two batsmen had used their feet well to counter the spinners and Younis Khan supporting his young colleague Asad, much like we have often seen with his tutoring of Azhar Ali.

Lunch: Pakistan 108/4, Younis Khan 34*, Asad Shafiq 36*

The afternoon session started sedately, as Pakistan sought to occupy the crease but the pair continued to collect boundaries off any loose deliveries. Three fours were struck, one by Younis and two Shafiq, in the 67th over, as Fernando erred.

Herath got a delivery to turn and bounce and removed Shafiq in the 73rd over for a well-constructed 80. He will be bitterly disappointed after missing out on century yet again after being well set, but he has shown the ability to bat under pressure in his short career to date and has done enough in this and previous innings to be persisted with. Pakistan were 189/5 when he was out and he had contributed to a fifth partnership of 151 runs. Pakistan had been 38/4 when he arrived at the crease and had batted nearly two sessions with Younis Khan.

Only Don Bradman has a better fourth innings average than Younis Khan, and his mastery of the pressure situation was evident for all today as he played cautiously, but refused to become bogged down by the spinners. His trademark sweep shot was executed well and must have been a valuable learning experience for youngster Asad Shafiq.

Mohammad Ayub Dogar negotiated the final six overs before tea without any alarms, as Pakistan reached 205/5 at the interval, still 305 runs behind.

Tea: Pakistan 205/5, Younis Khan 81*, Mohammad Ayub 5*

After tea, the experienced Younis Khan and the debutant Mohammed Ayub faced a huge task of trying to survive till the end of the day. They were doing a decent job, until Sri Lanka took the second new ball and it didn’t take them long to get Younis Khan to edge one to the keeper, leaving the batsman 13 short off the century, as Kulasekara claimed his third victim.

The Sri Lankan bowlers continued to trouble the batsmen, but Ayub and Akmal battled hard and resisted for 13.5 overs for a partnership of 31 runs, until Fernando picked up his first wicket ever in test cricket, as he got Ayub LBW with an in-ducker for 22. Akmal and Rehman put up some resistance, but then Rehman skied one with Sangakkara taking a good catch. That wicket left Sri Lanka with only two more wickets to get for the victory.

Umar Gul and Adnan Akmal continued the resistance and the play was extended for an extra half an hour. However, Randiv then removed Gul, as he was caught at silly mid-off and left Sri Lanka only one wicket away from that sweet taste of victory. Junaid Khan didn’t last long and was caught at silly mid-on, as Randiv claimed his third wicket and Sri Lanka won the match with a day to spare and 209 runs.

Pakistan showed some resistance on day 4, but by then it was a little too late in the test match. Sri Lanka dominated throughout the test and completed a very solid and deserved victory. Pakistan will go back to the drawing board and will look to come back strongly in the second test and level the series, with captain Misbah back in control of the troops.

End of match: Pakistan 300 all out (Younis Khan 87, Asad Shafiq 80), Sri Lanka won by 209 runs.