Sri Lanka vs. Pakistan: Winners and Losers from 1st Test
Pakistan produced a stunning fightback to claim a convincing 10-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle on Sunday.
The Pakistan lower order turned a perilous 96 for five into a first innings total of 417 and a very handy lead. Yasir Shah then took centre stage. The leg-spinner finished with figures of seven for 76 leaving the visitors a target of just 90 which they reached with ease.
Pakistan conjured up a win off the back of fine performances from Yasir, Wahab Riaz, Asad Shafiq and man of the match Sarfraz Ahmed.
It was a hugely disappointing effort from the Sri Lankans, though, with Angelo Mathews and Rangana Herath among the biggest underperformers.
Read on for the winners and losers from the first Test.
Winner: The Pakistan Lower Order
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As seems to be the case so often in modern five-day cricket, the outcome of the first Test was decided in large part by the batting of the lower order.
Sri Lanka were progressing serenely in their first innings at 226 for four. After Dinesh Chandimal was dismissed they subsided to 300 all out.
Contrast that with Pakistan's first innings effort. They lost their sixth wicket with the score on 236 but the tail wagged. Bowlers Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar Babar helped get the total to 417 and put Pakistan well ahead of the game.
Bowlers these days have to be able to bat.
Loser: Angelo Mathews
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It was a hugely disappointing game for Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews. The skipper managed just 24 runs from his two visits to the middle and was wicketless with the ball.
After making a solid start once put into bat, and with so much time lost because of bad weather, a draw seemed to be the worst the home side could hope for.
Sri Lanka lost control, though, when Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed were counterpunching on Day 4 and couldn't wrestle it back. The captain must take his share of the blame.
Winner: Asad Shafiq
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Asad Shafiq is fast-becoming “Mr Reliable” in Pakistan's middle order. He can rarely have produced a better knock than his first innings effort in Galle.
With the scoreboard reading a treacherous 96 for five, Shafiq put on 139 for the sixth wicket with Sarfraz Ahmed. Once Pakistan's wicketkeeper was dismissed, Shafiq shepherded the tail to a match-winning total of 417.
It was fine Test batting and bodes well for Pakistan's future.
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Loser: Rangana Herath
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Did Rangana Herath really take nine wickets in a Test innings against Pakistan last August? The Sri Lankan spinner looked a shadow of the bowler who terrorised Pakistan's batsmen those few short months ago.
The 37-year-old currently sits at No. 5 in the ICC Test Bowling Rankings but struggled against a combative Pakistan side.
Herath had match figures of one for 129 from 34.2 overs and contributed just sevens runs with the bat. Sri Lanka will be hoping for a big improvement in Colombo and Pallekele.
Winner: Yasir Shah
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If Herath's performance was a huge disappointment, Yasir Shah's was a coming of age. The 29-year-old combined turn with control to finish with career-best figures of seven for 76.
That impressive haul was the best by a Pakistani leg-spinner since Mushtaq Ahmed's seven for 56 against New Zealand in 1995.
Much of the talk before the game was how Pakistan would cope without Saeed Ajmal. The answer seems to be pretty well.
Loser: Sri Lanka's Bowling at the Pakistan Tail
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Bowling attacks around the world seem to be having a collective brain freeze when confronted by flighty tail-end dashers.
England, the West Indies and New Zealand have all been guilty of losing the plot against the lower order and Sri Lanka can be added to that list.
Their short-pitched barrage in the first innings failed to have the wicket-taking impact desired and massively boosted the Pakistan run rate.
Winner: Sarfraz Ahmed
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Sarfraz Ahmed staked a claim to being the best wicketkeeper-batsman in the game at the moment with his man-of-the-match effort against Sri Lanka.
The 28-year-old's 96 from just 86 balls in the first innings completely changed the momentum of the contest.
In 16 Test appearances Sarfraz has scored three centuries, six fifties and has an average of 49.95.
Loser: Technology
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The ICC really has to do something to make sure that the umpires have all the possible review tools at their disposal in all Test matches. It can't be down to the host broadcaster to pay for Hot Spot and Snicko technology.
Angelo Mathews instantly reviewed his bat-pad dismissal in the second innings. It was a tough call but with only visuals on offer for the third umpire, there was no way he could reverse the decision of the on-field umpire.
There must surely be enough money sloshing around the ICC's coffers to make sure every country has all the toys the TV umpires need.
Winner: Test Cricket
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The five-day format once again showed why it's the best that cricket has to offer. Despite losing four sessions to bad weather, there was still ample time for the game to ebb and flow.
Spectators were treated to obdurate batting in testing conditions from Kaushal Silva. Sarfraz Ahmed delivered a counter-attacking masterclass. Wahab Riaz bowled with genuine pace and Yasir Shah provided devilry with his leggies. Both sides had periods in the ascendancy and the result was still in doubt until the final session of the fifth day. Long live Test cricket.
Loser: Saeed Ajmal
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Pakistan's spinners put on an excellent show in the first Test. While it may not quite yet be a case of Saeed Ajmal being forgotten, there seems no prospect of an imminent return for their former bowling superstar.
Saeed struggled in his maiden First-Class appearance for Worcestershire this season, going for 82 runs from 17 wicketless overs.
It's too early to write off the 37-year-old's international career but with the remodeled action he looks half the bowler of a few years ago.
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