FAISALABAD, Pakistan, 25 October 2004 — Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by 201 runs on the final day of the first Test yesterday to complete a second successive victory without their key bowler Muttiah Muralitharan.
After setting Pakistan 418 runs to win in the first match of a two-Test series, Sri Lanka dismissed the home side for 216 runs from 79.2 overs 40 minutes after lunch.
Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, playing in his sixth Test, returned career best figures of four for 64 to finish with match figures of seven for 132.
Pakistan lost their last three wickets after lunch for 46 runs after resuming on 170 for seven. Shoaib Malik was the top scorer with 59 from 177 balls.
Pakistan resumed on 114 for four with the difficult task of having to play out 83 overs to save the game.
Herath triggered a batting collapse with two wickets in two balls after the overnight pair of Yousuf Youhana (44) and Malik had added 40 runs to the total in 17 overs and 75 minutes.
They put on 63 runs for the fifth wicket from 205 balls before Herath caught Youhana in front with a fine arm ball.Malik negotiated the next over from Chaminda Vaas safely but with the first ball of his next over Herath trapped Abdul Razzaq leg before for a first ball duck.
New man Moin Khan, whose place in the team has been under threat due to his poor batting form, averted the hat trick but in the next over he edged Vaas to keeper Kaluwitharana to fall for one run having faced just four balls.
In the fourth over after lunch Mohammad Sami was run out by a direct throw from Marvan Atapattu for six trying to steal a single in the covers. Malik struck a few lusty blows, including three fours off Dilhara Fernando in one over to reach his maiden half-century, before he was also dismissed.
Tendulkar Not Fully Fit but Set for Test Return
In Nagpur, India’s leading batsman Sachin Tendulkar conceded yesterday he was not fully physically fit for tomorrow’s third Test against Australia but added he was mentally ready for the battle.
Tendulkar, 31, will make his comeback after missing the first two Tests with an elbow injury. Australia lead the four-Test series 1-0.
“The elbow is not going to be normal in the near future,” he told reporters yesterday. “There is some stiffness. The injury can’t get better overnight. Once I spend time in the middle the muscle will relax.
“After 115 Tests, you’ve to be prepared to overcome all obstacles. I’m mentally prepared. I’ve played enough against Australia, I know what to expect.”
