Dubai: Pakistani bowlers displayed an excellent show to bowl Sri Lanka out for another low score of 239 in the first innings to finish the opening day of the second Test on top here on Wednesday.
Paceman Umar Gul (3-78) did the early damage in company with Junaid Khan (2-57) before spinners Saeed Ajmal (3-45) and Abdul Rehman (2-40) completed the job at a bouncy Dubai Stadium pitch.
Pakistan, who spurned a good chance to go 1-0 up in the three-match series with sloppy fielding in the first Test at Abu Dhabi last week, moved to 42-0 at close.
Openers Mohammad Hafeez (18) and Taufiq Umar (20) were at the crease on a day when Pakistani bowlers dominated yet again.
Sri Lanka, who chose to bat after winning the toss, slumped to 30-3 and then 154-8 despite a valiant 78 from Kumar Sangakkara before a ninth wicket stand of 75 between Chanaka Welegedara (48) and Rangana Herath (29) lifted them past the 200-mark.
Sangakkara, who celebrates his 34th birthday tomorrow, hit eleven boundaries and added an invaluable 54 runs for the sixth wicket with debutant Kaushal Silva (20).
Welegedara, whose previous best score of 11 came at Abu Dhabi, hit two sixes and four boundaries during his 127-ball surpirsing knock.
But Sri Lanka’s batting failed yet again against a hostile pace-cum spin attack by Pakistan.
Sangakkara, who also added 27 for the seventh wicket with Dhammika Prasad (seven), had defied the Pakistani bowlers during the first session in which Sri Lanka lost five wickets, three in Gul’s incisive first spell. (AFP)