Sangakkara helps Sri Lanka to a draw; Sri Lanka wins the series 2-0.

By pratik
for Cricketain.com

Published: July 27, 2009

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Rahul Bajaj

Colombo: Sri Lanka resumed the final day of the 3rd and final test of the series at 183 for 3 still needing more than 300 runs to win the game. Pakistan would have fancied their chances to get a consolation victory but in the end it was the placid pitch that played spoilsport as Sangakkara in the company of first Samaraweera and then Matthews made sure that Sri Lanka went through the day losing just one wicket and secured the series 2-0.

In the end, it could be said, that neither team wanted the win bad enough. Sri Lanka couldn’t summon enough courage to go after the target and Pakistan didn’t do anything to try and pick up some wickets. They were just going through the motions waiting for the batsmen to make mistakes. When play was called off with both the captain’s consent, there were still 15 overs to be bowled and Sri Lanka needed 101 runs to win, a target which could have been possible, if Sri Lanka had been a bit adventurous and gone for it. But Sangakkara who made his 19th test century settled for a 2-0 series win.

Sangakkara resumed the day with 50 runs to his name and continued comfortable playing a masterful knock to take Sri Lanka to an easy draw and a series win. He ended with 130 not out off 303 balls. He was supported ably by Thilan Samarweera, who made a classy 73 off 143 balls, and then Angelo Matthews who finished with 64 not out of 148 balls. Samarweera was the only wicket to fall on a dull day of test cricket when he misjudged a doosra by Saeed Ajmal and edged it to the wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal.

But the day belonged to the Sri Lankan skipper, Kumar Sangakkara. He has shown in the past that he is very much capable of playing fluently and counter-attacking the opponents but on this occasion he decided to occupy the crease and survive through the day. He made his 19th test century and in the process also brought up his first series win as captain of Sri Lanka.

Pakistan was badly let down by their bowlers with none of them looking like picking up a wicket at any time of the day. Umar Gul, who Pakistan had high hopes from, disappointed badly bowling a lot of no-balls and then wasting the second new ball with some wayward bowling.

Kumar Sangakkara was named the Man of the Match while the fast bowler Nuwan Kulasekara was named the Man of the Series.

Brief Scores:

Pakistan 299 and 425 for 9 dec drew with

Sri Lanka 233 and 391 for 4 (Sangakkara 130*, Mathews 64*)

Man of the Match: Kumar Sangakkara

Man of the Series: Nuwan Kulasekara

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