The match that Asif sent Lanka reeling

Asgiriya's ‘notoriously’ much talked about weather was impeccable in its behaviour. But what happened from April 3rd to 5 in 2006 was an abject surrender that was so sudden and standing. For Sri Lanka to enjoy a cushion of a hundred and nine run lead and then to crumble so swiftly in their second knock defied belief.

Admittedly the injured Jayasuriya was unable to bat in his last innings in Test Cricket – a retirement decision that was subsequently overturned: Yet he hadn’t made from money in the first innings. Tall and lanky Mohamed Asif is not really in the Akthar or Malinga class for raw pace, yet he bowled at a fair clip, kept it in the corridor and moved it around much to the discomfiture and bewilderment of the local batsmen. Figures of 11-71 in this test and a series tally of 17 wickets in two matches made it a one horse race for the Man of the Series:

Contrasting half centuries from Sangakkara and Samaraweera took Sri Lanka towards a passage total. But what they ended up with finally was due to the late-order boost supplied by the lesser-known Malinga- Asif and Kaneria shared the wickets. The Pakistanis were off to a goodish start, with Farhat, Akmal and Younis entering the twenties and thirties. Muralitharan sliced through the rest of the batting for another five wicket haul - his 51st - and eye-catching figures of 16.4-4-39-5.

The Sri Lankan second innings was a bit of a disaster, with four batsmen moving into double figures and Sangakkara’s sixteen being the highest. Asif emulated Murali's five wicket bag, even bettering the latter’s figures (12-6-27-5). Razzaq who hasn’t really delivered in Test Cricket enjoyed one of his better days with the ball (6.5-1-20-4). It is inconceivable that a formidable batting side (even minus Jayasuriya) could come in, such a spine-less fashion in a mere 24.5 overs.

Chasing 183 for a win, Imran Farhat set the pace with some crisp drives and cuts as he effectively stalled the Sri Lankan attack from getting on top. With his departure, the experienced Younis Khan took over and eased the ball into the gaps. The runs came at a very decent clip against an attack that had seen the writing on the wall and was in consequence dispirited and despondent. It was all over before tea on day three.

Sri Lanka 279 in 91.2 avers (K. Sangakkara 79, T. Samaraweera 65, T. Dilsan 22, M. Bandara 43, M. Asif 6-44, D. Kaneria 4-53) and 73-9 in 24.5 overs (K.Sangakkara 16, M. Jayawardena 15. M. Asif 5-27, A. Razzaq 4-20). Pakistan 170 in 52.4 overs (I. Farhat 23, K.Akmal 33, Younis 35, N. Kulasekera 2-45, Muralitharan 5-39) Pakistan 183-2 in 43-2 overs (Farhat 65. Almal 24, Younis Khan 73 n.o.)