KARACHI: Pakistan need a drastic change of luck to improve their record at the Galle International Stadium, considered a fortress for Sri Lanka, after losing three successive Tests at the picturesque coastal venue.

Sri Lanka looked invincible in the days when the redoubtable Muttiah Muralitharan tormented the opposing batsmen. The craftiest of off-spinners, who quit international cricket after Sri Lanka lost the 2011 World Cup final in Mumbai, was almost unplayable in Galle where he bagged no less than 111 wickets in just 15 Tests between 1998 and 2010.

The next best haul belonged to Rangana Herath, the pint-sized slow left-armer who has taken 60 wickets in 11 Tests prior to the start of the opening Test of the latest series against Pakistan on Wednesday.

The retired Mahela Jayawardene has the honour of scoring most runs at this venue. The elegant right-hander accumulated a staggering 2382 at 70.05 with seven centuries. His close friend Kumar Sangakkara is 192 away from 2000-run mark in Galle, after having made 1808 in 21 Tests with the aid of seven hundreds.

Overall, Sri Lanka have been victorious in 13 of the 24 Tests played in Galle, while losing just five and drawing the remaining six matches.

Pakistan’s only success in Galle was achieved in the inaugural Test against the hosts in June 2000 when Moin Khan’s side sealed an emphatic innings and 163-run win over Sanath Jayasuriya’s men.

After dismissing Sri Lanka for 181 with all-rounder Abdul Razzaq taking a hat-trick, Pakistan amassed 600-8 declared a total that was based around centuries from Saeed Anwar (123), Inzamam-ul-Haq (112), Younis Khan (116) and Wasim Akram (100).

Sri Lanka, facing a huge deficit of 419 runs, were then dismissed for 256 on day four to suffer their only loss against Pakistan.

In the subsequent three Tests against Pakistan, Sri Lanka ran out winners. In July 2009, they clinched a remarkable come-from-behind victory when the Younis Khan-led tourists lost eight wickets for 46 runs on the fourth afternoon after being comfortably placed at 71-2 in pursuit of a gettable target of 168.

Herath, who needs a dozen wickets to become the first man to bag 100 wickets against Pakistan, returned figures of 4-15 in 11.3 overs in the second innings of a match that saw Sri Lankan opener Tharanga Paranavitana (72), Mohammad Yousuf (112) and Misbah-ul-Haq (56) being the only batsmen to make 50 or more.

When the teams confronted each other in June 2012, Sri Lanka outclassed Pakistan by 209 runs. Tillakaratne Dilshan (101) and Kumar Sangakkara (199 not out) guided the home side to 472 before Pakistan collapsed for exactly 100 in their reply with off-spinner Suraj Randiv claiming 4-13 and Herath 3-30.

Sri Lanka then closed their second innings at 137-5 to leave Pakistan chasing a mammoth 510 but the visitors, who were led by Mohammad Hafeez in the absence of the suspended Misbah-ul-Haq, were bowled out for 300 despite fighting knocks from Younis (87) and Asad Shafiq (80).

The last fixture between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in August 2014 produced another disappointing outcome for Misbah’s side. Pakistan rode an excellent 177 from experienced Younis to pile up an impressive first-innings tally of 451.

But Sri Lanka secured a handy lead of 82 by amassing 533 thanks to Sangakkara’s brilliance who hammered a scintillating 221.

Herath yet again proved Pakistan’s bogeyman, snaring six wickets for 48 runs as Pakistan folded up for 180 in the their second innings, leaving Sri Lanka with a meagre chase of 99, which they accomplished while losing three wickets.

Summary of previous Sri Lanka-Pakistan Tests at Galle:

Played on June 21, 22, 23, 24, 2000; toss won by: Sri Lanka; result: Pakistan won by an innings and 163 runs.

SRI LANKA 181 (D.P.M.D. Jayawardene 72, A. Ranatunga 51; Abdul Razzaq 3-35, Waqar Younis 3-39) and 256 (A. Ranatunga 65, M.S. Atapattu 59; Waqar Younis 4-40); Pakistan 600-8 declared (Saeed Anwar 123, Younis Khan 116, Inzamam-ul-Haq 112, Wasim Akram 100).

Played on July 4, 5, 6, 7, 2009; toss won by Pakistan; result: Sri Lanka won by 50 runs.

SRI LANKA 292 (N.T. Paranavitana 72; Mohammad Amir 3-74) and 217 (N.T. Paranavitana 49; Saeed Ajmal 3-34, Mohammad Amir 3-38); PAKISTAN 342 (Mohammad Yousuf 112, Misbah-u-l-Haq 56; K.M.D.N. Kulasekara 4-71) and 117 (Salman Butt 28; H.M.R.K.B. Herath 4-15).

Played on June 22, 23, 24, 25, 2012; toss won by: Sri Lanka; result: Sri Lanka won by 209 runs.

SRI LANKA 472 (K.C. Sangakkara 199 not out, T.M. Dilshan 101, D.P.M.D. Jayawardene 62; Saeed Ajmal 5-146, Mohammad Hafeez 3-55) and 137-5 declared (T.M. Dilshan 56; Junaid Khan 3-44); PAKISTAN 100 (Younis Khan 29; S. Randiv 4-13, H.M.R.K.B. Herath 3-30) and 300 (Younis Khan 87, Asad Shafiq 80; K.M.D.N. Kulasekara 3-48, S. Randiv 3-86).

Played on Aug 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 2014; toss won by Pakistan; result: Sri Lanka won by seven wickets.

PAKISTAN 451 (Younis Khan 177, Asad Shafiq 75, Sarfraz Ahmed 55, Abdur Rehman 50; M.D.K. Perera 5-137, H.M.R.K.B. Herath 3-116) and 180 (Sarfraz Ahmed 52 not out; H.M.R.K.B. Herath 6-48); SRI LANKA 533-9 declared (K.C. Sangakkara 221, A.D. Mathews 91, J.K. Silva 64, D.P.M.D. Jayawardene 59; Saeed Ajmal 5-166) and 99-3 (D.P.M.D. Jayawardene 26).

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2015

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