Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath took four wickets to spark a Pakistan batting collapse as Sri Lanka scrambled for an unlikely 50-run win on Tuesday in the first of the three-Test series. Chasing 168 to win, Pakistan resumed the fourth day in a seemingly comfortable position needing another 97 runs with eight wickets in hand and two days remaining.

But Herath (four for 15) and seamer Thilan Thushara ( two for 21) upended the Pakistan innings, striking at regular intervals to hasten a batting collapse as the visitors were bundled out for 117.

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said despite being behind Pakistan for the entire match his lineup had started the day confident of a result, provided it took two wickets in the first five overs. “We never expected it to happen so quickly,” Sangakkara said. “I think the way Rangana and Thilan bowled was just spot-on.”

Herath, a late replacement for Muttiah Muralitharan, struck in the second over, trapping first innings centurion Mohammad Yousuf (12) lbw for his overnight score. He soon dismissed Salman Butt (28) caught by Tharanga Paranavitana. Thushara then had Shoaib Malik (0) caught behind by Tillakaratne Dilshan and trapped Kamran Akmal (6) lbw.

Misbah-ul-Haq’s run out for seven left Pakistan reeling at 85 for 7, with all their recognised batsmen back in the pavilion. Herath wrapped up the innings when he had Abdur Rauf caught by Mahela Jayawardene at slip to hand his side a famous win in the series.

Herath was voted player of the match for his career-best bowling. Sangakkara said that his team had not batted to the potential and needed to rely on the bowlers to save the match. “I think until today Pakistan outplayed us and today in the morning we showed a lot of heart and character,” he said.

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