Sri Lanka vs. Pakistan, 2nd Test, Day 5: Highlights, Scorecard, Report

Sri Lanka levelled their Test series against Pakistan as they recorded a seven-wicket win in the second Test in Colombo.

The hosts, who required 153 runs to win on the final day, reached their target in just 26.3 overs at the P Sara Oval.

Rain washed out the final session on Sunday, and an overnight downpour saw the start delayed by 30 minutes on Day 5.

Sri Lanka clearly did not want the weather to play a factor in their chase, and openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Kithuruwan Vithanage amassed a 49-run partnership in just seven overs.

Vithanage played in one-day mode, reaching 34 from 23 balls with two sixes before slog-sweeping spinner Zulfiqar Babar and being caught at deep mid-wicket by Mohammad Hafeez.

There were some nervous looks in the crowd when stalwart Kumar Sangakkara departed first ball. The 37-year-old was caught at short leg after tentatively coming forward to Yasir Shah.

However Karunaratne and captain Angelo Mathews shared a 50-run partnership for the third wicket off only 62 balls.

Karunaratne reached his sixth Test half-century from 55 balls but departed with the home side 32 runs short of their target.

He became Yasir’s second victim as a delivery kept low and the left-hander, who was shaping for the pull, was adjudged lbw.

It was left for Lahiru Thirimanne to hit the winning runs, guiding Yasir through backward point for a boundary. He finished 20 not out with Mathews unbeaten on 43.

The third and final Test starts in Kandy on Friday, and the winner will climb to third in the ICC Test rankings. Pakistan are currently sixth with Sri Lanka seventh, and they will remain in those places if the match is drawn.