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Rawalpindi
26 - 29 February 2000
Sri Lanka won the toss and put Pakistan in to bat - a decision that paid off by lunch when Pakistan had slumped to 3 for 65 by the end of the first session. By mid way through the evening session, Pakistan was dismissed for 182, losing their last 7 wickets for only 57 runs. Top scorer was Inzamam-ul-Haq (44) while Wickramasinghe (4 for 37) and Muralitharan (4 for 45) shared the honours for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka ended the day 2 for 58 and in the dominant position after Wasim Akram had left the field with an injury that prevented further bowling in the test.
Sri Lanka batted through the second day with veterans Ranatunga (49) and de Silva (112) forming the partnership that firmly took control of the test. In the final hour of the day, Sri Lanka lost 4 for 34 as Pakistan struggled to fight back. They ended the day at 8 for 290 and a lead of 108.
Sri Lanka was eventually dismissed for 353 in the morning session on the third day with a first innings lead of 171. Waqar Younis had the best bowling return with 4 for 103. Pakistan ended the third day at 4 for 154 but by the time they erasing the deficit on the fourth day they had lost the bulk of their batting talent. At 6 for 189 it seemed only a matter of time for the Sri Lankans.
However, a fighting innings by debutant Younis Khan (107) aided by Wasim Akram (79) pushed the second innings total to 390 shortly before stumps on day 4 with a lead of 219. While Muralitharan (4 for 127) was the best of the bowlers, Pakistan had swung the game around and now became an outside chance of winning the test. The only problem was Akram could not bowl and Mustaq was also ill. Sri Lanka ended the fourth day at 11 without loss.
The final day saw Sri Lanka slump to 3 for 73 and then collapse to 8 for 177. During this collapse, however, the veteran former captain Ranatunga (29*) - despite injuring a finger and retiring hurt only to return later - with Kaluwitharana (36*) steered the tourists to a two wicket victory in the final session. Razzaq had the best return for Pakistan with 4 for 56.
Second Test
Peshwar
5 - 9 March 2000
Pakistan won the toss and sent Sri Lanka in to bat after most of the day's play had been lost due to heavy rain. Sri Lanka ended the day at 2 for 88 with the game evenly poised. Upon resumption on day two, Sri Lanka batted slowly and steadily brought up 179 for the loss of three wickets in an extended morning session. They were eventually dismissed after tea on the second day for 268, having lost their final six wickets for 61 runs. Akhtar was the most successful bowler with 5 for 75 while Atapattu top scored for Sri Lanka with 75. Pakistan commenced their innings and ended the day at 1 for 67, still 201 runs in arrears.
On the third morning, Sri Lanka claimed the ascendancy taking the last 8 Pakistani wickets for 69 runs and dismissing them for a total of 199. Top scorer for Pakistan was Inzamam-ul-Haq (58*) who ran out of partners. For Sri Lanka, Muralitharan claimed 4 for 77. Sri Lanka then set about adding to their 69 run lead and setting Pakistan a second innings target. However, by the end of play on the third day, Pakistan had fought back and the game was evenly poised. Sri Lanka had amassed only 129 runs for the loss of 5 wickets and the game was still in contention.
On the fourth morning Sri Lanka reached 188 before losing their last 4 wickets for 36 runs and a total of 224. Arnold top scored with 99 while Waqar Younis and Arshad Khan each took 3 wickets. This left Pakistan a target of 294 to win the test in 5 sessions.
It was not to be Pakistan?s test. By stumps they had slumped to 8 for 222 and they were finally dismissed on the fifth morning for 236, 56 runs short and having lost their last 5 wickets for 28 runs. For Pakistan, Yousuf Youhana top scored with 88 while Muralitharan was the match winning man of the match with 6 for 71.
Third Test
Karachi
12 - 15 March 2000
Taking it turn about, it was Sri Lanka's turn to win the toss and following the series trend put Pakistan in to bat. Pakistan was dismissed for 256 just before stumps with Inzamam-ul-Haq top scoring with 86 and Muralitharan taking 4 for 89. The total might have been higher but for a middle order collapse losing 4 for 53. Sri Lanka ended the day at 10 runs for no loss.
The second day ended with Pakistan back at the wicket having dismissed the Sri Lankans for a total of 227 and a first innings lead for the first time in the series of 29 runs. Sri Lanka lost their first three batsmen for only 46 runs before Arnold (48) and Kaluwitharana (42) managed to hold the innings together. However, once these two were dismissed the wickets fell quickly, losing the last 5 for 63 runs. Akhtar was the best of the Pakistani bowlers taking 3 for 52. Pakistan ended the day at 3 for 88 and a lead of 117.
With control of the game leaning toward them, Pakistan took their opportunity and batted around the pillar of Inzamam-ul-Haq (138). They compiled a total of 7 for 375 at stumps on the third day with the knowledge that they had batted Sri Lanka out of the game. They continued on the fourth morning to amass 421 before being dismissed prior to lunch. Pushpakumara and Muralitharan each took 4 wickets for Sri Lanka.
With an unlikely victory target of 451 runs in the final innings, Sri Lanka knew they had more than 5 sessions to reach the target. However, by tea, Sri Lanka was 6 for 127 and Pakistan was cruising to their eventual victory by 222 runs before stumps. Top score was 44 by Pushpakumara while Afridi was the best of the bowlers with 3 for 50.
