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Summary Sri Lanka called off the chase nine overs short of the scheduled close.
Sri Lanka had an ideal chance of pushing for victory by chasing down 270 after the dismissal of Dinesh Chandimal the innings slowed down considerably. Kumar Sangakkara was also playing well one but Sri Lanka turned opted for securing their 1-0 lead in series.It was Sri Lankas first Test series win in nine attempts since August 2009, and the first after the retirement of Muttiah Muralitharan.Misbah-ul-Haq declared immediately after Asad Shafiq reached his second Test century prior to the lunch break. Shafiq added an unbeaten 81 with Adnan Akmal, who batted bravely with a broken finger to keep Sri Lanka at bay for more than 28 overs. In their defence of a target of 270, an all-out attack led by Junaid Khan was Pakistans big hope of levelling the series, but with the pitch a contrast to days one and three, it was the batsmen who dictated the flow of the game.Sri Lanka had the option of batting out time instead of pushing for a win, given their series lead, but Chandimals naturally positive approach delivered a promising start. Junaid and Umar Gul got a hint of movement with the new ball, and there were plays and misses. Tharanga Paranavitana reached out to a couple of wide deliveries, while Chandimal, against a round-the-wicket line from Junaid, was squared up by the away-going ball. His tendency to initially shuffle across and fall over gave Junaid a healthy chance of an lbw dismissal, but Chandimal middled the ball well. He slashed Gul through point, drove him down the ground and pulled him through square leg, all in the over before lunch.Paranavitana played some fluent drives through his preferred extra-cover region, but fell chasing deliveries outside off once too often, edging Junaid to second slip after being dropped the previous delivery. Sangakkara, on a pair, got going quickly, cracking an incoming delivery from Junaid through extra cover and cutting him past point. Fumbles, byes, overthrows, and singles were in supply, and Sri Lanka were going along smoothly, but Chandimal was keen to press on. After hed launched Ajmal over mid-off for four, he tried repeated that feat in the over before tea, but failed to clear Shafiq, who held on to a sharp catch.The first nine overs after tea yielded just 12 runs, that sense of urgency on show before lunch having disappeared. Sangakkara whipped Junaid for a couple of boundaries through midwicket, but any signs of the chase being revived proved deceptive.The arrival of Thilan Samaraweera with 123 needed in 23.2 overs, ahead of power-hitters in Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera, was the first reality check. The chase was called off nine overs short of the scheduled close.Shafiqs assured century before lunch had given Pakistan a fighting chance. Sri Lanka failed to pick up a wicket with the opposition eight down, and an injured player batting at one end. Had they looked to close the innings early, targeting both batsmen instead of just Akmal, they would have had a better chance of forcing a result in their favour. But they employed spread fields to Shafiq, who batted calmly in the company of Akmal, who proved more than capable of surviving.
