Ajmal five-for restricts Sri Lanka to 366-5 at lunch

GALLE: Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal struck three blows in the morning session to complete his sixth five-wicket haul and restrict Sri Lanka to366 for five at lunch on day two of the first cricket test on Saturday.

The 34-year-old spinner captured three wickets – including two off successive deliveries - for 10 runs off 22 balls to peg back the hosts who had resumed on a commanding 300 for two wickets.

Overnight batsman Kumar Sangakkara was unbeaten on 139 with16 fours at the break with Prasanna Jayawardene on 15.

Pakistan's new ball bowlers Umar Gul and Junaid Khan once again toiled without luck, prompting stand-in captain Mohammad Hafeez to introduce Ajmal (5-114) after seven overs of seam bowling and the spinner did not let down his skipper.

The top-ranked test spinner bowled out Mahela Jayawardene (62) after the Sri Lanka captain had fluffed his slog-sweep. The spinner then lured Thilan Samaraweera (six) out of his crease with a 'doosra' to get him stumped and caught the scoreless Angelo Mathews off his own bowling in the next delivery.

Sri Lanka lost three middle order batsmen for 20 runs within a matter of 36 minutes and the flurry of wickets slowed down. Sangakkara who managed to add only 28 runs to his overnight score. Prasanna Jayawardene started off confidently clipping Ajmal to the mid-wicket boundary and had hit three fours at the break.