Cricket: Sangakkara, Dilshan defy Pakistan in third Test

Kumar Sangakkara notched his 27th Test hundred to propel Sri Lanka to an imperious 245-2.

SHARJAH: Kumar Sangakkara notched his 27th Test hundred to propel Sri Lanka to an imperious 245 for two on the opening day of the third and final Test against Pakistan.

The 34-year-old stylish left-hander ended the day on 112, his second hundred of the series after his 211 in the first Test, guiding his team during a 173-run second wicket stand with Tillakaratne Dilshan who made 92.

That repair-damaging stand followed the early loss of opener Tharanga Paranavitana (four) who fell off fast-bowler Umar Gul’s fifth ball of the match after Sri Lanka decided to bat on a batting-friendly Sharjah stadium pitch.

Sangakkara, who top scored with 78 during Sri Lanka’s nine wicket defeat in the second Test in Dubai, also completed 9,000 Test runs when he reached 28. The former captain is the 11th batsman in the world and only the second Sri Lankan behind Mahela Jayawardene (9,895 runs) to cross 9,000 in Test cricket.

He jumped out of his crease to lift left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman for his second six to reach the three-figure mark – his seventh against Pakistan – to show why he is currently regarded as the top batsmen in the world.

Meanwhile, Dilshan, who had 38 runs in the last four innings, realised he belonged to the top of the order as he shrugged away the poor form, hitting 12 boundaries and a six during his 168-ball knock.

Pakistan lead the series 1-0 after winning the second Test in Dubai by nine wickets. The first Test in Abu Dhabi ended in a draw.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th,  2011.