Pakistan lost to Sri Lanka by 68 runs in the second Test on the fifth and final day in Dubai on Tuesday. Sri Lanka won the two match series 2-0 and Pakistan suffered its first series loss since the team started playing its home matches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Pakistan faltered chasing 317 and was bowled out for 248 in their second innings with Dilruwan Perera finishing with 5-98.
Here are a few stats from this match
Fewest Tests to 400 wickets: 72 M Muralitharan; 80 R Hadlee/ Steyn; 84 Rangana Herath; 85 Kumble; 87 McGrath
Lowest 4th innings targets successfully defended by SL: 136 v PAK, Abu Dhabi, 2017; 168 v Pak, Galle, 2009; 176 v Ind, Galle, 2015
Smallest margin of win for SL in a Test (by runs): 21 v Pak, Abu Dhabi, 2017; 42 v Pak, Faisalabad, 1995; 50 v Pak, Galle, 2009; 57 v Pak, Peshawar, 2000; 63 v Ind, Galle, 2015
Most wickets against Pakistan in Tests: Rangana Herath(100)*; Kapil Dev (99); Shane Warne (90); Anil Kumble (81); M Muralitharan (80); G McGrath (80)
136 is also the lowest target Pakistan failed to chase down in 4th innings.
Most ten-fers in Test cricket: Muralitharan – 22; Warne – 10; Hadlee/ Herath – 9; Kumble – 8
Most wickets in fourth innings: Warne – 138; Muralitharan – 106; McGrath – 103; Herath – 100
Dinesh Chandimal – We are over the moon, we have waited for this win. Credit goes to all the guys, lots of hard work before this Test. Credit should also go to the management and the selectors. It’s difficult in the middle, Dickwella and Karunaratne were very good in the first innings, Dickwella was unbelievable in the second innings to get us to the 140-run mark. As soon as we got there, we knew Rangana would lead us in the defense of the target. On a personal front, I am very happy with the way I batted in the first innings.
Sarfraz Ahmed – Win and loss – it’s always a part of the game, but we should have won this match. There are some batting issues in our team and we were put under pressure. Needed one partnership and the game was ours. There was a bit of bite and turn with the new ball, that was one of the reasons for us losing so many wickets. Haris had a wonderful debut, hopefully, he will continue to perform well for us. Need to come back well in the second Test, the batsmen must pull-up their socks and deliver.
