RAWALPINDI:Pakistan’s all-pace attack snared four key Sri Lankan wickets on Wednesday to buoy the crowd after skipper Dimuth Karunaratne won the toss in the first Test of the two-match series and decided to bat first on a greenish pitch.
According to a report, Shaheen Shah Afridi trapped Sri Lankan skipper Dimuth Karunaratne leg-before for 59 soon after lunch to trigger a collapse which saw the visitors lose four wickets within just 31 runs at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
That saw Sri Lanka slump to 137-4 at tea after being well set at 89 without loss at lunch. Angelo Mathews was unbeaten on 14 and with him Dhananjaya de Silva not out on three.
Karunaratne hit nine boundaries in his 110-ball knock and set the platform. Once the opening stand of 96 was broken, 16-year-old pacer Naseem Shah had Oshada Fernando caught in the slip for 40, laced with six boundaries and a six.
Usman Shinwari also claimed his first wicket when Kusal Mendis edged him to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan for 10, while Mohammad Abbas bowled Dinesh Chandimal for two with a beautiful delivery.
The match is a momentous occasion for Pakistan. There was applause when Pakistan captain Azhar Ali tossed the coin in the air to open proceedings as cricket returned to Pakistan after a decade.