Top 5 Tests of 2017

#1 Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, Abu Dhabi

In a run chase of only 136, Pakistan fell 21 short with Rangana Herath bagging 11 wickets in the match

Sri Lanka 419 (Chandimal 155*, Karunaratne 93; Abbas 3/75) and 138 (Dickwella 40*; Yasir Shah 5/51) beat Pakistan 422 (Azhar Ali 85, Masood 59; Herath 5/93) and 114 (Sohail 34; Herath 6/43) by 21 runs

Sri Lanka arrived in Pakistan's bastion sans Angelo Mathews and soon realised his importance when they slumped to 161/4. Dimuth Karunaratne contributed 93 but it was captain Dinesh Chandimal who stood firm alongside Niroshan Dickwella in a stand of 134 for the fifth wicket. Hasan Ali and Yasir Shah lost all the momentum as the left-right combination dug deep, with Dickwella getting 83. But his captain seemed immovable as he patiently ground out essential runs to remain unbeaten on 155 in a total of 419.

For Pakistan, the top three got fifties, but like the middle-order, threw away good starts to squander a slowly building advantage. Experienced warhorse Rangana Herath and pacer Nuwan Pradeep ran through the middle-order with the highest score being Azhar Ali's 85 while Haris Sohail contributed 76. Herath took 5/93 before Sri Lanka collapsed in the second innings.

It was the turn of Herath's counterpart Yasir to deceive the opposition on a dry track aiding substantial spin. With help from fast bowlers Mohammad Abbas and Hasan Ali, and part-timers Asad Shafiq and Sohail, Yasir helped bundle Sri Lanka out for 138. Figures of 5/51 meant Pakistan had to chase as little as 136.

Drama soon arrived when Herath, Perera and Suranga Lakmal sent back all the batsmen who came in their way. No partnership of note meant Pakistan lost continuous wickets to eventually fold up for 114. Herath finished as the Man of the Match for his 6/43 in the second innings.