3 fifers in first 3 outings: Prabath Jayasuriya’s record equalling feat in Test cricket leaves PAK reeling

SL vs PAK, 1st Test: Pakistan were left reeling at Lunch on Day 2 of Sri Lanka Test match after Prabath Jayasuriya ran through the visitor’s batting line-up, registering yet another fifer to his name.

Sri Lanka left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya ran through the Pakistan batting line-up to register his third fifer in three innings since he debuted against Australia earlier in the month of July.

Jayasuriya, who was called into action due to a Covid-19 outbreak in the Lanka camp in the second Test match of the Australia series, took 12 wickets in his first Test match. Six wickets in each outing of the game helped Sri Lanka draw level in the series after getting drubbed at the hands of Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Swepson and Traivs Head.

It was a no-brainer that Jayasuriya was going to play the next game, and Sri Lanka opted for the left-armer by dropping Lasith Embuldeniya, who had been suffering a poor patch of form.

Handed a first innings total of 222, Jayasuriya took five wickets from the first seven batters dismissed by Pakistan to become only the third player in the history of Test cricket to take three fifers in his first three innings. He equalled the records of Tom Richardson and Clarrie Grimmett.

Prabath Jayasuriya currently has the fifth-lowest bowling average in Test history (minimum 15 wickets).#SLvPAK