SANGAKKARA PUT SRILANKA IN COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE FIRST TEST

The left-handed batted for a whopping 199 but was left stranded just a single run short of his double century as he ran out of support at the other end and was left unbeaten with his side bowled out for 472.



In response the visitors were rocked by the loss of early wickets in their reply and were reduced to 48-5 at the close and in danger of being forced to follow on.


Captain Mohammad Hafeez was top scorer with 20 and experienced batsman Younus Khan unbeaten on 15 as Pakistan trailed by 424 runs.


Sangakkara had seen Tillakaratne Dilshan hit a hundred on the opening day and also completed his own before adding more runs at a steadier rate.


Wickets


Saeed Ajmal claimed three wickets in Saturday's first session - including two in as many balls - as Pakistan fought back.


The tourists had struggled yesterday as Sangakkara and Dilshan put Sri Lanka in a commanding position before Ajmal added to his two scalps with three more in the morning.


The off-spinner continues to show why he is Pakistan's most potent bowler, deceiving the batsmen in flight throughout his stint today.


Sangakkara and Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene had put on 128 for the third wicket before the 34-year-old made the breakthrough in the eighth over of the second day.


Jayawardene, having added just seven runs to his overnight 55, missed with an uncharacteristically brash heave and was bowled.


Stumped


Thilan Samaraweera made just six before he missed a drive and was stumped by Adnan Akmal, while Angelo Mathews loosely pushed off the next delivery to give a return catch to a grateful Ajmal.


Sangakkara continued unabashed at the other end to steady the Sri Lanka innings, with Prasanna Jayawardene scoring 48 before he was caught behind off Hafeez.


Suraj Randiv and Nuwan Kulasekara both went cheaply, with Sangakkara pushing on for runs as the hosts' innings drew towards a close.


When Rangana Herath and Nuwan Pradeep both fell for ducks, the latter taking Hafeez's haul to three wickets, Sangakkara was left one short of a double hundred.


But Pakistan's reply had only reached 17 when Taufeeq Umar went for nine and Azhar Ali was dismissed without further addition to the total.


Hafeez and Ajmal both fell with the score on 43 and Asad Shafiq's wicket was the third to fall for a duck with the total then on 44.


Younus and Mohammad Ayub (one) were the not-out batsmen who had taken the total to 48 by the close, with Kulasekara and Randiv claiming two wickets each.