Pakistan strikes back at centenary game to avenge Test defeat
AFP - 18 June 2000
COLOMBO, June 18 (AFP) - Sri Lanka's much anticipated 100th cricket Test was turned into disaster by just one man - Wasim Akram of Pakistan.
Expectations were high for Sri Lanka to repeat their success over Pakistan three months ago when they won a Test series 2-1.
But the brilliant all-rounder, putting the allegations of match-fixing behind him, came up with a splendid performance that brought a premature end to the Test, which finished inside four days on Saturday.
Akram's extraordinary contributions of 79 and 20 not out and five wickets in the second innings, the first of which gave him his 400th Test wicket, spoilt whatever hopes Sri Lanka had of making the centenary Test a memorable one.
They lost by five wickets at the Sinhalese Sports Club grounds to trail 1-0 in the three-test series.
Pakistan captain Moin Khan said before the series that he would like to return the compliment of what Sri Lanka did to them in Pakistan in March, and Sunday's result was one step towards achieving that goal.
As Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya admitted after the Test, it was the record last wicket stand of 90 between Akram and Arshad Khan that turned the match Pakistan's way.
The 34-year-old Akram, a protege of Imran Khan, didn't mind being mistakenly referred to as the former all-rounder by adjudicator Bandula Warnapura, Sri Lanka's first Test captain.
Warnapura said he selected "Imran Khan" as the man of the match and for one full minute all the players and possibly millions of television viewers were stunned.
"I don't mind being called Imran," said a blushing Akram. "I learnt a lot from Imran and he is a person I respect a lot."
The second test starts at the Galle International Stadium on Wednesday. |
