Yasir leaves Sri Lanka in trouble

Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah grabbed the key wicket of Dinesh Chandimal to leave Sri Lanka fighting to avoid defeat after the fourth day of the first Test in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. The prolific wicket-taker took 2-25 as Sri Lanka struggled to 69-4, needing a rearguard action to save the Test. Pakistan will be expecting to push for victory in the opening match of a two-Test series on the fifth and final day.

Yasir Shah is the quickest spinner to 150 Test wickets in terms of matches, but who took the fewest balls? https://t.co/Qku6kZRwKB #PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/IeojLmRxmL

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) September 28, 2017

It was tough to negotiate spin on a fourth-day Sheikh Zayed Stadium pitch, but despite a 32nd Test five-wicket haul for veteran Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Herath, Pakistan posted 422 to take a slender three-run lead. Sri Lanka had made 419 in their first innings. At the close, Kusal Mendis was batting on 16, with nightwatchman Suranga Lakmal on two, after a day of fluctuating fortunes.

With wickets of Karunaratne and Chandimal, Yasir Shah has spun Pakistan ahead Sri Lanka effectively 66-4https://t.co/f5olJGWOx7 #PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/FHTs9y6Vdf

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 1, 2017

Herath's 5-93 in 40 overs was well foiled by a brilliant 76 by Test debutant Haris Sohail, as initially it looked as though Sri Lanka would take a first-innings lead. Pakistan then hit back in the second innings through Shah, who first had opener Dimuth Karunaratne caught for 10 and then dismissed first-innings centurion Chandimal, caught at slip, for seven. Sohail followed his responsible knock by claiming Kaushal Silva's wicket, whom he trapped leg before for 25, while part-timer Asad Shafiq had Lahiru Thirimanne for seven.

Tied with Waqar! Congratulations to Yasir Shah on becoming the joint second fastest to 150 Test wickets!https://t.co/JLEm2ZA5QG #PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/lzdqhbFpbq

— ICC (@ICC) September 28, 2017

The 28-year-old Sohail's impressive Test bow has come despite a career-threatening knee injury which required surgery in 2015. Earlier in the day, Pakistan too were struggling at 316-6 and were in danger of conceding a healthy lead with Herath using all his experience and guile. The 39-year-old left-arm spinner, who now has 394 wickets in 84 Tests, gave his team the much-needed wicket of a resolute Azhar Ali, luring him into an uppish drive which was brilliantly caught at short mid-wicket by a diving Mendis.

How far up this list can Rangana Herath reach? #howzstat pic.twitter.com/sVnutZvy3H

— ICC (@ICC) October 1, 2017

Azhar's defiant knock of 85 lasted more than five hours and included four boundaries, but with his dismissal Pakistan's hopes of building a lead looked slim. But Sohail had other ideas as he added an invaluable 50 for the ninth wicket with tail-ender Hasan Ali to lift Pakistan from 340-8. Sohail hit seven fours and two sixes before holing out to paceman Nuwan Pradeep, who finished with 2-77.

Rangana Herath (391*) went past Makhaya Ntini to become 14th highest alltime Test wicket taker. #PAKvSL #SriLanka #LKA @KumarSanga2 pic.twitter.com/wrkIdzelrM

— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) September 30, 2017

Hasan's whirlwind 25-ball 29 featured three sixes and two fours. The second and final Test - a day-night affair - will be played in Dubai from October 6. BRIEF SCORE Sri Lanka 419 & 69/4 in 40 overs (K Silva 25, Yasir 2/25) lead Pakistan 422 in 162.3 overs (Azhar 85, Herath 5/93) by 66 runs