Sri Lanka grasp team Pakistan to tie test series as Prabath Jayasuriya sparks his talent again

Tourists Pakistan have been bowled out for 261 in the second session of day five while chasing a massive 508 run target, despite captain Babar Azam scoring a heroic 81 in Galle.

On Thursday, Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by 246 runs in the second Test to tie the series at one game each. Spinner Prabath Jayasuriya claimed five wickets in the victory. Tourists Pakistan have been bowled out for 261 in the second session of day five while chasing a massive 508 run target, despite captain Babar Azam scoring a heroic 81 in Galle.

Left-arm spinner Jayasuriya, 30, made his Test debut vs Australia earlier in the month and had has four five-wicket hauls to his name.

With a galle record chase of 342, the tourists won the first game and battled valiantly to surpass their own performance. The in-form Azam scored his 23rd Test fifty and made valiant stands with his overnight partners Imam-ul-Haq (49) and Mohammad Rizwan (37). However, Jayasuriya persisted in responding with consistent blows, forcing Agha Salman to go out for four just before noon, and then trapping talisman Azam lbw to put an end to Pakistan’s struggle.

Imam was caught behind on Ramesh’s first pitch of the day, adding just three runs to his overnight score of 46. Imam is a left-handed batter.

With his left-arm spin, Jayasuriya, who only claimed one wicket on day four, ended Rizwan’s stay at 35.

One was ran out for Fawad Alam. First before bowler claims him for the third time this series, Azam escaped Jayasuriya’s lbw call, which was declared out by the umpire but was successfully contested by the batsman.

Azam has been in excellent form with the bat and hit 119 and 55 in Pakistan’s opening victory. Azam started the day on 26 and required some physiotherapy for lower back pain. With his 109 in Sri Lanka’s 360-8 declared, Dhananjaya de Silva, who filled in for Dimuth Karunaratne as captain while he was sidelined by back problems, helped his team win.