Sri Lankan batsman becomes fourth highest century-maker in Test cricket
Kumar Sangakkara (left) celebrates his 100 with teammate Mahela Jayawardene in Galle yesterday. Pic/AFP.
Galle: Kumar Sangakkara rose to fourth place in the list of century-makers as he and the retiring Mahela Jayawardene plundered Pakistan’s bowlers on the rain-hit third day of the first Test here yesterday.
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Kumar Sangakkara (left) celebrates his 100 with teammate Mahela Jayawardene in Galle yesterday. Pic/AFP.
The hosts, who began the day at 99-1 in reply to Pakistan’s 451, carried their first innings to 252-2 by tea before heavy rain wiped out the final session of play. Just 46 of the stipulated 90 overs were bowled during the day, leaving a draw as the likely result with just 12 wickets having fallen over the first three days.
Sri Lanka will resume today trailing by 199 runs with eight wickets in hand. Left-handed Sangakkara — who turns 37 in October — was unbeaten on 102, his seventh three-figure knock in the last 14 Tests, taking his overall tally to 37 centuries.
Only the retired trio of India’s Sachin Tendulkar, with 51 centuries, Jacques Kallis of South Africa who had 45, and Ricky Ponting of Australia on 41, have scored more hundreds. Jayawardene scored an unbeaten 55. The tried and trusted duo of Sangakkara and Jayawardene have so far put on 108 for the third wicket.
‘Pakistan bowled poorly’
Pakistan’s spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed rued the lack of match practice for his bowlers. “We bowled poorly but that has got a lot to do with the fact that we have not played Test cricket for seven months,” he said.
7: The number Test centuries Kumar Sangakkara has scored in the last 14 Tests
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 252-2 (K Sangakkara 102*, K Silva 64, M Jayawardene 55*) trail Pakistan 451-10 (Y Khan 177; D Perera 5-137) by 199 runs
Live today: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, Day Four on Ten Cricket, 09:30
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