Bowlers give Sri Lanka edge over Pakistan in second Test

Sri Lanka owed it to their bowlers for taking the opening day honours against Pakistan in the second Test in Dubai today.
A three-pronged pace and one-man spin attack helped Sri Lanka bowl out Pakistan for just 165 after Angelo Mathews won the toss and opted to bowl on a seaming Dubai stadium pitch.
Paceman Nuwan Pradeep finished with a career-best 3-62 while spinner Rangan Herath took 3-26. Fast bowlers Shaminda Eranga (2-25) and Suranga Lakmal (2-45) were also useful in the second session.
By the close Sri Lanka had knocked off 57 runs for the loss of opener Dimuth Karunaratne, out leg-before to Junaid Khan for 32.

Kaushal Silva and Kumar Sangakkara were each on 12 as Sri Lanka now trail Pakistan by 108 runs with nine wickets intact on a day dominated by the bowlers.
But initially it looked as if Sri Lanka had miscalculated in bowling first as Ahmed Shehzad, trapped leg-before by Pradeep in the tenth over for three, was the only man out by lunch, but five wickets fell for 71 runs as Pakistan slumped from 57-1 to 128-6 at tea.

Pradeep said his hard work paid off.
"I came into the team after a long time," said Pradeep who played his last Test in January last year. "During that period I worked hard in the club as well as with the A team and from that experience I bowled well today."

Opener Khurram Manzoor top-scored with 73 in an otherwise insipid batting display.
Manzoor termed the seam movement as difficult to handle.
"It wasn't easy out there, toss was vital because pitch is helping seam bowlers," said Manzoor. "Whoever plays positive will score runs. Sri Lankans really bowled very well and the first hour on Thursday will be important for us."
Sri Lankan pacemen had little success in the first session and their hard work was also spoiled by sloppy fielding.