Published: Jun 25, 2015, 08:55 PM (IST)
Edited: Jun 25, 2015, 08:55 PM (IST)
Sri Lanka’s 22-year-old off-spinner Tharindu Kaushal’s amazing spell on Day One of the second Test at P Sara Oval, Colombo, stole the show. Sudatta Mukherjee brings the highlights of the first day. CRICKET SCORECARD: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, 2nd Test, Colombo, Day 1
Dhammika Prasad strikes early: There was a chance that Sri Lanka could have dropped Dhammika Prasad, as he hurt his finger while fielding at nets on Wednesday. However, that did not stop the seamer from striking early as he removed Ahmed Shehzad with the first ball of his second over. Minutes before lunch, Azhar Ali edged one as Dinesh Chandimal caught the ball behind the stumps. The on-field umpire signalled not out, but Angelo Mathews instantly went upstairs. TV umpire Paul Reiffel adjudicated it as out. Pakistan were 70 for 2 at lunch. Updates: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, 2nd Test, Colombo, Day 1
Misbah-ul-Haq’s run out: Younis Khan, playing his 100th Test, was dismissed immediately after play resumed post lunch. Mohammad Hafeez did not last long and Asad Shafiq also fell early. Pakistan needed Misbah-ul-Haq and Sarfraz Ahmed to form a big partnership as Pakistan were toiling at 95 for 5. At this point, Misbah was run out as he tried to take a single and Sarfraz at the other end was in no condition to run. Mathews picked up the ball and quickly threw it to Dinesh Chandimal, who smoothly completed the run out. Sri Lanka dominate Pakistan on Day 1 of 2nd Test at Colombo
Rain halts play once again: A rain break has been quite a familiar fate across all Asian Test matches over the last couple of weeks. Rain once again halted play for almost an hour before Tea. However, before the rain started Sri Lanka removed Shafiq and seconds after the play resumed, Misbah fell. Sri Lanka-Pakistan play 50th Test
Tharindu Kaushal’s mystery spin: He is supposedly Sri Lanka’s latest mystery spinner. Before today, Kaushal played only one Test against New Zealand in 2014. Playing his second Test, Kaushal routed Pakistan; they went from 89 for 4 to 138 all out courtesy of Kaushal’s off-spin. He also registered his maiden Test five-wicket haul. He bowled so effectively that Mathews did not give the ball to Rangana Herath, his premier spinner.
(Sudatta Mukherjee is a reporter with CricketCountry. Other than writing on cricket, she spends penning random thoughts on her blog. When she is not writing, you will catch her at a movie theatre or watching some English television show on her laptop. Her Twitter handle is @blackrosegal)
