Ajmal takes five wickets, restricts Sri Lanka

Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal completed a five wicket haul as the visitors restricted Sri Lanka to 366-5 at lunch on Saturday’s second day of the first test at Galle International Stadium. With Sri Lanka resuming day two in command at 300-2, Ajmal ran through the middle order with sharp turn and bounce to bring the visitors back into the contest. Pakistan’s stand-in captain Mohammad Hafeez turned to Ajmal after just five overs of seam on day two, and in his second over of the day he dismissed Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene for 62, ending a 128 run stand with Kumar Sangakkara. Jayawardene had reverse swept Ajmal for four earlier in the same over and he was bowled attempting a conventional sweep two balls later. In the first over after morning drinks break, Ajmal struck in successive deliveries first when he lured Thilan Samaraweera forward, but the batsman failed to detect the doosra and was stumped by wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal. Next ball, Angelo Mathews offered a return catch to be dismissed for a duck as Ajmal notched his sixth five-wicket haul in test cricket. Former captain Sangakkara, who resumed on his overnight score of 111, was unbeaten on 139 at lunch. He had struck 16 boundaries during his knock. Wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene was unbeaten on seven.