Cricket: Pakistan let Sri Lanka live another day

Catches spilled as Sangakkara’s century helps his team fight back in first Test.

ABU DHABI: Kumar Sangakkara put his wealth of experience on show with a pugnacious unbeaten hundred to keep Pakistan at bay in the first Test.

The 33-year-old left-hander notched 161 for his 26th Test century to help Sri Lanka, trailing by 314 runs in the first-innings, reach 298 for five at close on the fourth day.

They need only 16 runs to make Pakistan bat again, and will look to bat out at least two of the three sessions on the final day to salvage a draw.Their progress was helped by Pakistan spilling as many as six catches in the day’s play.

Sangakkara found an able ally in Prasanna Jayawardene (25 not out) to fight off the second new ball, with which fast-bowler Umar Gul struck to remove Angelo Mathews (22).The Sangakkara-Jayawardene stand for the sixth wicket has so far yielded 65 runs.

Playing his 101st Test, Sangakkara took the fight to the Pakistan bowlers, adding 153 for the second wicket with opener Lahiru Thirimanne who made a career-best 68.

Sangakkara batted with resolve as Sri Lanka, resuming at 47 for one, reached 125 without further loss by lunch. Pakistan then hit back by dismissing Thirimanne, run out to a throw by Azhar Ali.

Mahela Jayawardene (four) then played on to off-spinner Saeed Ajmal before paceman Junaid Khan bowled captain Tillakaratne Dilshan, leaving Sri Lanka at 191 for four.

Sangakkara, however, kept his cool, hitting Junaid for his 11th boundary to reach his sixth century against Pakistan.

‘One of my better hundreds’

Sangakkara was pleased with his innings. “It would have been nice had I got it in the first innings but it was a tough fight and one of my better hundreds,” said Sangakkara.

“But there is still work left and if we don’t lose a wicket, perhaps we can put some pressure on Pakistan. Anything between 100 or 150 would be a fantastic lead. We want to come out fighting again.”

A case of butterfingers

Pakistan spilled six catches, three off Thirimanne, which helped Sri Lanka fight back.

Junaid was the unlucky bowler on three occasions as Mohammad Hafeez grassed two regulation catches in the slip off Thirimanne when he was on 40. Much to Junaid’s dismay Younus Khan held a sharp edge off Sangakkara but the catch was disallowed by the umpires as the ball had bounced before reaching the slip fielder.

Pakistan again let off Sangakkara when Younus failed to hold onto a sharp edge off Saeed Ajmal’s bowling, with the batsman then on 56.

Pakistan also let off Prasanna when substitute fielder Wahab Riaz failed to catch a miscued hook off Gul when the batsman was on 12.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2011.