Sri Lanka have levelled the 3-test series by defeating Pakistan in the second test. Needing 153 to win on the final day, the Sri Lankan batsmen reached the victory target in 26.3 overs before lunch at the P Sara Oval. Opener Dimuth Karunaratne smashed a half-century to help Sri Lanka complete a seven-wicket win over Pakistan to level the three-match series 1-1.Karunaratne was out for 50, trapped lbw by leg spinner Yasir Shah after adding 72 runs for the third wicket with captain Angelo Mathews, who remained unbeaten on 43. Kithruwan Vithanage was promoted up the batting order to hasten the chase and made a brisk 34 off 23 before being caught in the deep by Mohammad Hafeez off left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar. Kumar Sangakkara, playing his final innings against Pakistan, was out for a first-ball duck, caught at forward short-leg off Shah.Shah returned figures of 2-55 and claimed eight wickets in the match. Seam bowler Dhammika Prasad on Sunday took four wickets for Sri Lanka to help dismiss Pakistan for 329 in its second innings, despite a fighting 117 from Azhar Ali. Prasad was named player of the match for his eight wickets in the match.Ali and opener Ahmed Shehzad brought Pakistan back into the match in the second innings after conceding a 177-run first-innings lead. Pakistan was dismissed for a paltry 138 in the first innings and Sri Lanka replied with 315. Ali and Shehzad (69) added 120 for the second wicket, but the rest of the batting faltered against the Sri Lankan seamers. Pakistan had won the first test in Galle by 10 wickets. The third and series-deciding match of the series will start on Friday in Pallekele near the hill city of Kandy.
