Chases and turns
\n GALLE
\nSri Lanka bounced back from an opening defeat to thrash Pakistan in the second Test by 246 runs and end the series level at 1-1 on Thursday.
\nAzam stands tall
\nSkipper Babar Azam extended his prolific run of form to almost single-handedly drive the tourists in the two-match series.
\nAzam\u2019s knocks of 119 and 55 powered the team to an opening win after they chased down a Galle record of 342.
\nHe hit 81 in Pakistan\u2019s mammoth chase of 508 in the second Test but it was a lone fight against an inspired Sri Lankan spin attack.
\nThe 27-year-old star batsman has averaged over 63 in the last 12 months and is third in the Test batting rankings, behind Joe Root and Marnus Labuschagne.
\nHe is number one in ODI and T20 rankings.
\nRising Pakistan talent
\nAzam was far from the only star among the tourists, with opener Abdullah Shafique making it a series to remember after his match-winning 160 not out in the first Test.
\nShafique, 22, batted with patience and commitment as the tourists chased down the Galle record target and Azam said the batsman is headed for the top.
\nBowler Naseem Shah, 19, meanwhile rattled the Sri Lankan batsmen with his express to claim a match haul of five wickets in the second Test and add to Pakistan\u2019s steady stream of fast-bowling talent, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi.
\nPitch and turn
\nGalle hosted Australia and then Pakistan in four back-to-back Tests but the venue gave radically different pitches in each contest \u2014 much to the surprise of the teams.
\nSri Lanka lost their Australia opener on a vicious turner but then bounced back to beat the tourists on a pitch that turned on day four.
\nAfter Pakistan chased down the Galle record in the first match, Sri Lanka\u2019s spin coach Piyal Wijetunge said the \u201cwicket went flat\u201d on days four and five.
\nIn the second match, Pakistan seemed confident of chasing down 508 before their batting collapsed, but Azam said there were \u201cno demons\u201d on the pitch.
\nSpin king Jayasuriya
\nSri Lanka has a new spin king in Prabath Jayasuriya, who took his fourth five-wicket haul in just his third Test.
\nThe 30-year-old bamboozled the Pakistan batsmen with his left-arm spin to claim 17 wickets in the series, also getting out Azam three times.
\nJayasuriya has 29 wickets in three Tests since making his debut against Australia this month but credited bowling partnerships for the haul, after able assistance from Ramesh Mendis.
\nSpinner Ramesh claimed nine wickets for the match.
\n\u2018Mentally strong\u2019 Chandimal
\nDinesh Chandimal extended his roaring form with commanding knocks that left Pakistan\u2019s bowlers searching for answers.
\nThe former captain struck 76 and an unbeaten 94 in the lost-cause first Test, but his 80 in Sri Lanka\u2019s first innings set up their dominance and Thursday\u2019s win.
\nChandimal, 32, has remained cool and calm despite being in and out of the Sri Lanka team after being ousted as captain in 2017.
\nHe hit his maiden double century \u2014 206 not out \u2014 in the recent series against Australia and said support from friends and family had made him \u201cmentally strong\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Chases and turns GALLE Sri Lanka bounced back from an opening defeat to thrash Pakistan in the second Test by 246 runs and end the series level at 1-1 on Thursday. Azam stands tall Skipper Babar Azam extended his prolific run of form to almost single-handedly drive the tourists in the two-match series. Azam\u2019s knocks […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":274522,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-274504","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n