Nuwan toys with Pakistan!!!

Seamer Nuwan Kulasekera took a career-best 4-21 as Sri Lanka took early charge of the second cricket Test after bowling Pakistan out for a paltry 90 on Sunday.

The tourists, electing to bat on a wicket that provided early assistance to the seamers, slumped to their lowest total against Sri Lanka after being reduced to 19-4 by the seventh over of the match.

Sri Lanka ended the opening day at 164-3 in reply, leaving them well-placed to build on the 50-run win in the first Test at Galle last week that gave them the lead in the three-match series.

Skipper Kumar Sangakkara led the way with an unbeaten 81 after adding 54 for the second wicket with Tharanga Paranavitana and 51 for the third with Mahela Jayawardene.

Sri Lanka's left-arm fast bowler Thilan Thushara chipped in with two wickets and spinner Ajantha Mendis dismissed the last three batsmen as Pakistan were shot out in 36 overs 45 minutes after lunch.

Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik was the lone batsman to defy the Sri Lankan bowlers at the P. Sara Oval, returning unbeaten on 39.

Pakistan caved in just as they had done in the second innings of the Galle Test where, needing 97 more to win on the fourth morning, they lost their last eight wickets for 46 runs.

Pakistan's 117 at Galle was their lowest against Sri Lanka, but it took just one more innings to fall below that mark in a reckless display with the bat.

Eight batsmen failed to reach double figures, while debutant Fawad Alam was the second highest scorer after Malik with 16 in 81 minutes.

Pakistan batsman Misbahul Haq later denied the batsmen lacked temperament at the crease, but admitted such collapses "happen with Pakistan".

"I don't want to take the credit away from their bowlers, we all got out to good deliveries," Misbah told reporters.

"Kulasekera bowled really well. It was very difficult to play him with the ball seaming about.

"These things happen with Pakistan. But we look forward to getting Sri Lanka out early tomorrow and [coming] back into the match."

Kulasekera, 26, who leads the International Cricket Council's rankings for one-day bowlers, showed he was equally adept at taking wickets in the traditional five-day format with a remarkable opening burst.

The right-arm seamer, who grabbed 4-71 at Galle, tore through the Pakistani top order in only his eighth Test with three wickets in 15 deliveries at the cost of just three runs.

Kulasekera said he was rewarded for sticking to the basics in helpful conditions.

When Sri Lanka batted, Malinda Warnapura was leg-before to Umar Gul for 11, before off-spinner Ajmal had both Paranavitana (26) and Jayawardene (19) caught close to the wicket.

News By:Afp, Colombo

The Championship Wimbledon 'Roger is the best'

Pete Sampras hailed Roger Federer as the greatest player of all time on Sunday after the Swiss superstar surpassed his Grand Slam record with a sixth Wimbledon title.

Federer claimed a 15th major with an epic 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 16-14 win over America's Andy Roddick in a 4hr 16min final which featured the longest concluding set in a men's final here.

"In my book, he's the greatest of all time. He has his critics and people point to Rafael Nadal beating him, but for me he's the greatest. He is a legend and an icon," said Sampras, who won seven Wimbledon titles in his career.

"He is a great champion and a good guy. He's very humble, which I like."

Sampras predicted that Federer, who is still only 27, can go on and set more Grand Slam records.

"He can win 17, 18 majors at least. He's only 27 and he can do it if he stays healthy."

The American, who played his last Wimbledon in 2002, flew in overnight to see Federer launch an assault on his record of 14 which Federer equalled when he won a first French Open in June.

"He is effortless when he plays. He serves big, has a great forehand and his backhand. I'm a fan of how he plays, what he's about... he's a class guy on and off the court.

"He's fun to watch. Just his athletic ability, what he's able to do on the run. I think he can and will break every tennis record out there."

Australian legend Rod Laver, the only man to win two calendar Grand Slams, praised the Swiss star's ability on the court.

"Roger is one of those players who keeps the ball in play, has miraculous forehands and backhands," said the 71-year-old.

"It was a great final. Andy is a threat with that serve of his but I think he was very tired by the end."

Bjorn Borg, a five-time Wimbledon winner, predicted many more titles for Federer.

"He can play for three more years at least. If he stays away from injury and is eager to win there will be many more finals," said the Swede.

Borg added: "He simply does not have any more weaknesses left in him. It is such a pleasure to see him play. To me, Roger Federer is the right model for anyone aspiring to be a tennis player.

"It is such a pleasure to just watch him play. His shot-making has got better and I doubt there is any shot he cannot make in any part of the court."

News By: Afp, London

Roger Federer the best ever