Pakistan celebrated the return of Test cricket for the first time in over 10 years with a convincing 263-run win over Sri Lanka in the second Test in Karachi on Monday, taking the series 1-0, reports AFP.
It took just 14 minutes and 16 ball for Pakistan to wrap up the win on the fifth morning as they took Sri Lanka's last three wickets without any addition to their overnight 212.
Pakistan had set a daunting 476-run target on Sunday and reduced the tourists to 212-7 at the close.
Teenage quick bowler Naseem Shah at 16 years and 307 days became the second youngest bowler to take five wickets in a Test innings as he bowled an express spell to finish with 5-31.
Fellow Pakistani and left-arm spinner Nasim-ul-Ghani holds the record and was just four days younger when he completed the feat against the West Indies at Georgetown in a 1957-58 series.
Naseem was aged six when international cricket was suspended in Pakistan following an attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009. Pakistan were forced to play all their home matches at the neutral venues of United Arab Emirates, before improved security allowed them to begin hosting limited-over series over the past four years.
The first Test of the series in Rawalpindi marked the return of Test cricket in Pakistan, but it ended in a draw after being spoiled by bad weather. Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali thanked Sri Lanka for their part in allowing Test cricket to return. "Special thanks to Sri Lanka from the bott
om of our hearts," said Azhar. "They have given us immense happiness by playing in Pakistan, it was pretty emotional.
"Naseem is a special talent and we can build on our bowling attack in the years to come." Sri Lankan skipper Dimuth Karunaratne praised Pakistan. "We dominated the first two days and then they batted very well and put pressure back on us and outplayed us. We couldn't build pressure with the ball despite taking a lead of 80," said Karunaratne.
