Sri Lanka crumbles yet again

GALLE, JUNE 24. Pakistan came up with superb all-round effort to beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 163 runs and take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series here on Saturday.

Sri Lanka, requiring a mammoth 419 runs to avoid an innings defeat, was dismissed for 256 in the final session of the fourth day, with more than a day's play left.

Sri Lanka made 181 in its first innings and Pakistan 600 for eight declared in reply.

It was another poor batting performance by the Lankans on an excellent batting pitch that saw it crumble to a crushing defeat. Only Marvan Atapattu, who scored 59 with nine fours, and former captain Arjuna Ranatunga, who slammed a quick 65 off 80 balls with 13 fours, helped the Lankan cause.

Sri Lanka resumed at 45 for one and moved promisingly to 123 for two at lunch before things started to fall apart. Off- spinner Arshad Khan snapped up the wickets of Atapattu and Aravinda de Silva (11) within 13 balls in the afternoon session as Lanka slid to 189 for six at tea.

Ranatunga, with the support of Chaminda Vaas (20), put together 43 runs for the seventh wicket before Akram had the former captain leg before wicket with a swinging yorker.

Azhar Mahmood then accounted for Vaas and Rangana Herath in one over to speed up the victory.

Muttiah Muralitharan hit out boldly for 22 off 10 balls which included five fours before Waqar ended the innings and the match by shattering his stumps.

Akram, who scored 100 runs and picked up three wickets was adjudged the man-of-the-match.

- AFP

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