Sangakkara keeps Sri Lanka in the hunt

By pratik
for Cricketain.com

Published: July 24, 2009

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Rahul Bajaj

Colombo: Set a huge target of 492 for victory or more realistically 150 overs to bat out, Sri Lanka made an impressive start and was 183 for 3 at the end of Day 4. Kumar Sangakkara was at the crease on 50* and giving him company was the experienced Thilan Samaraweera. But Sri Lanka still has a huge task ahead on the final day especially with Mahela Jayawardena facing a rare failure at the SSC and Tillakaratne Dilshan unlikely to bat.

Malinda Warnapura and Tharanga Paranavitana gave Sri Lanka a steady start in the second innings putting together 83 for the first wicket before Warnapura became a victim of a bad decision by umpire Ian Gould. A Kaneria delivery turned and bounced and took Warnapura’s pads on its way to the leg slip but as soon as the fielders’ went up, so did Ian Gould’s finger.

Skipper Sangakkara was the next to come in. And he and Paranavitana played intelligently, turning the strike over regularly. As the partnership grew, you could tell that they were gaining in confidence. It was Shoaib Malik who got the breakthrough for Pakistan when he dismissed Paranavitana caught at short leg for 73. Then came the big wicket of Jayawardena when Kaneria produced a ripper to dismiss him. Kaneria produced a perfect leg-spinner, pitching on middle, turning and taking the outside edge with Akmal not making any mistake behind the stumps. Jayawardena went for 2.

Thilan Samaraweera was the next man in and he along with Sangakkara made sure that Sri Lanka doesn’t suffer any more blows. Both of them batted with determination and took Sri Lanka safely to close of play at 183 for 3 with Sangakkara unbeaten on 50 and Samaraweera on 20. During the course of his half century, Sangakkara also went past 7000 test runs, only the second Sri Lankan to do so and in only his 83rd test.

Earlier, Pakistan declared their second innings at 425 for 9. Shoaib Malik continued his mammoth effort on the fourth day making 134 of 240 deliveries before eventually he fell to Herath. Starting the day at 300 for 5, Pakistan lost Akmal early when he edged a Kulasekara delivery to slip where Jayawardena took the catch. He made 74. Umar Gul then played a breezy knock of 46 of just 50 balls to take Pakistan past 400.

Chaminda Vaas came on to great cheers from the sparse crowd, but it had no impact on the proceedings, with Gul freeing his arms to deposit one into the grassy banks behind midwicket.

Gul was in a rampant mood, sweeping Herath for four and then top-edging Vaas for another, in between swiping two massive sixes over midwicket. Herath had the last word though, with another big heave smartly taken by Vaas running in from long leg. When Kaneria holed out soon after, he had five for the innings, but it was unlikely to be anything more than a consolation in a match that Pakistan had controlled from the opening session.

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka 233 and 183 for 3 (Paranavitana 73, Sangakkara 50*) need a further 309 runs to beat Pakistan 299 and 425 for 9 dec (Malik 134, Akmal 74, Herath 5-157)

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