The left-hander’s monumental nine-hour effort saw the hosts recover from 335 from five in the morning session to post 472 in their first-innings on the second day. Pakistan were tottering at 48 for five in reply at stumps with seamer Nuwan Kulasekara and off-spinner Suraj Randiv both taking two wickets each off successive deliveries.
Kulasekara removed opener Taufeeq Umar and Azhar Ali, while Randiv dismissed skipper Mohammad Hafeez (20) and nightwatchman Saeed Ajmal in gloomy conditions. Asad Shafiq fell to Rangana Herath, leaving veteran Younus Khan unbeaten on 15 with Pakistan still 225 runs away from saving the follow-on.
Celebrating’ the double
Sangakkara missed out on his ninth double-century in Test cricket partly due to an error in the scoreboard on the ground which showed him on 194 when his score was actually on 193.
With last man Nuwan Pradeep at the other end, Sangakkara smashed Ajmal for a six and raised his arms in celebrations believing he had reached the coveted double-century.
Teammates, who saw the correct score on television, immediately signalled to Sankgakkara that he still needed one more run. Unable to get a run off the last ball of the over, Sangakkara could only watch from the non-striker’s end as Pradeep was bowled by Hafeez for no score in the next over.
Missing 200 ‘part of game’, says Sangakkara
Sangakkara, who was on 182 when the ninth wicket fell, scored all the 17 runs in the last-wicket stand, but found himself agonisingly short of the coveted mark.
“I don’t think I can repeat here what I was thinking then,” he said. “The ideal thing is to shut your eyes, take a deep breath and try and move on.
“There is nothing really one can do in the circumstances. It’s all part of the game. But I would still like to remember this day in a positive way. Today is my father’s birthday and making something close to 200 means I won’t have to buy him a gift.”
Sangakkara already has eight double hundreds in his 29 three-figure knocks in Test cricket.
“The way our bowlers bowled made up for the disappointment of not getting a double. This is not an easy pitch to bat on and I am just happy in the position we are in.”
K Sangakkara
“There is nothing really one can do in the circumstances. It’s all part of the game. But I would still like to remember this day in a positive way. Today is my father’s birthday and making something close to 200 means I won’t have to buy him a gift.”
Published In The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2012.
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@THE: Look at runs Sri Lanka has piled up (510). Those wickets mean squat in the context of the game. He is no Akram or Aamir, neither has the quality to become a world class bowler, but another Purchee who is being pushed and preferred over other deserving players.
@GreenOval: Junaid is the future of Pakistan cricket, look at the way he is taking wickets int he 2nd innings. He is the kind of all rounder that Pakistan need after Abdul Razzaq. I am sick of the negativity people show towards new talent in Pakistan.
^ typical pakistan fans, the moment things go wrong the unruly criticism starts. A true fan will stick with his team at all times + lets not forget that these 'rubbish' players haven't lost a series since 2009
This is what you get when personal interests override the national interest. Sami had one bad game (in ODI) and is left out. Junaid Khan is preferred who has not played any cricket in months and has always looked ordinary, Rahat only bowled 4 overs in the ODI but looks more promising is warming the bench. Faisal Iqbal who has the Test experience, has been left out and Ayub Dogsr has been preferred as a debutant. Faisal should have been included especially when Misbah was not available. One wonders who is calling these shots, definitely not friend of Pakistan Cricket.
The PCB and Pakistan team is heading to join their cousins PIA, Pakistan Railway, Pakistan Steel and others soon, and we all know the reason for there demise, NEPOTISM.
Dear Lord ! I am from Pakistan but I wish rain in Sri Lanka :)
A word about Pakistan's below par performance. I am surprised as I haven't seen any comments demanding change of Captain or insulting Misbah ul Haq by calling him TUK TUK or giving brilliant advises as appointing Shahid Afridi as captain of Team Pakistan. Over batting is very fragile and Misbah used to build up the innings by his tuk tuk. His absence from 1st test has costed us this much. A silent worker who never got any appreciation from emotional public of Pakistan.
Rubbish performance from rubbish players