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SL vs PAK | Noman Ali Skittles SL In Colombo As PAK Claim Inns Win To Seal Series 2-0

image-lkl2h5nePakistan captain Babar Azam celebrates a wicket on Day 4 (Twitter)

Sri Lanka slumped to a huge innings defeat in Colombo to concede their two-match home series to Pakistan. Up against a 410-run deficit after the first innings, the hosts stumbled against Noman Ali’s left-arm spin throughout Day 4 of the series decider, after Pakistan had added another 13 runs to their total in the morning session.

Noman Ali scythes through Sri Lankan batting on Day 4

Pakistan, resuming Day 4 at 563-5, faced just two overs in the morning session to add another 13 runs to their total.

Sri Lanka, chasing 410 runs just to wipe out their first innings deficit, launched their second innings confidently with a 69-run opening partnership between Nishan Madushka and captain Dimuth Karunaratne.

Unfortunately for the hosts, Madushka’s dismissal triggered a colossal batting collapse as they slumped to 177-7 a session-and-a-half later. Remarkably, Pakistan spinner Noman Ali, who was their only wicketless bowler from the first innings, snared each of Sri Lanka’s first seven batters on Day 4 to register his best Test figures.

Angelo Mathews defied visitors with a fighting fifty from one end of the crease, however, he received little-to-no support as Sri Lanka were dusted out for just 188. Pakistan’s new-ball speedster Naseem Shah accounted for the final three wickets to finish with a six-wicket match-haul to his name.

Babar Azam and co. eventually won the contest by an innings and 222 runs and claimed the series by a 2-0 margin. The victory also further strengthened Pakistan’s claim at the top of the WTC 2023-25 points table.

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka: 166 all out (48.4)
Dhananjaya de Silva 57 (68), Dinesh Chandimal 34 (60)
Abrar Ahmed 4-69 (20.4), Naseem Shah 3-41 (14)

Pakistan: 576-5d (134)
Abdullah Shafique 201 (326), Agha Salman 132* (154)
Asitha Fernando 3-133 (25), Prabath Jayasuriya 2-194 (52)

Sri Lanka: 188 (67.4)
Angelo Mathews 63* (127), Dimuth Karunaratne 41 (61)
Noman Ali 7-70 (23), Naseem Shah 3-44 (17.4)

Pakistan won by an innings and 222 runs