Herath ensures a 1-0 series lead

The veteran left-arm spinner took 6-43 on a weary fifth day Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch. The victory was achieved when Rangana Herath trapped last man Mohammad Abbas leg before for nought to give Sri Lanka a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. 

Rangana Herath, a long-time nemesis of Pakistan, also completed 100 wickets in 20 Tests against them, during an innings in which only debutant Haris Sohail fought with some resolve for his 34 runs. Herath became the 14th bowler in all Test cricket and fifth spinner behind his countryman Muttiah Muralitharan, Australia’s Shane Warne and Indian duo of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh to reach the 400-wicket milestone. 

The score of 136 set to Pakistan was Sri Lanka’s lowest defended target, improving on the 168 they set the Pakistanis in the Galle Test in 2009. It was also the first defeat for Pakistan at this venue in 10 Tests.

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka (1st innings) 419 & 138 in 66.5 overs (N Dickwella 40*, Yasir Shah 5-51) vs Pakistan (1st innings) 422 & 114 in 47.4 overs (H Sohail 34, R Herath 6-43, D Perera 3-46).