ABU DHABI: After almost three and a half days of snail-paced proceedings, the first match of the two-Test series sprung to life on Monday to culminate in a nail-biting finish and a 21-run victory for the Sri Lankans here. It was a remarkable comeback by the Lankans who were faced with a certain defeat after being bowled out cheaply in the second innings, leaving only 136 runs for Pakistan to win the Test.

The target looked like a piece of cake for any team with more than 50 overs left in the day. However, the prospect of facing the Sri Lankan spinners on a wearing wicket did loom heavily with the experienced Rangana Herath, with his bag of tricks, very much in the reckoning to spoil the party for Pakistan. And he did spoil it by picking up yet another bagful of wickets to add to his five in the first innings to finish with 11 in the match and help Sri Lanka draw the first blood.

In the process he also he also had the distinction of not only taking 100 Test wickets against Pakistan but also was able to get to the 400 wickets landmark to join the other elites who have done so before him.

This rare win by the visitors and a well deserved one too in recent times in a Test not only comes as a timely reward for the gifted and consistent spinner of the Emerald Island, but is also as a reminder that even a dull match could be turned on its head at any juncture despite its dreary pace.

The Pakistani batsmen buckled under pressure as Herath and Dilruwan Perera weaved a web around them. A number of them, though, perished while playing injudicious shots against the foxy spinner took full advantage of the pitch condition.

The axiom that the game is not over till the last ball is bowled, certainly fitted the situation as the gripping Test changed many shades on the final day to eventually bring a victory for the visitors.

For being a match-winning outfit at the highest level, a team needs to be competitive and consistent at the highest level of sports. And that is where I noticed that Pakistan lacked. Improving on it is not beyond them but for this they have to come even harder to level the series at Dubai.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2017