ABU DHABI : Sri Lanka were fighting to save the first Test under a heavy
300-plus deficit after Pakistani opener Taufiq Umar hit his maiden
double hundred on the third day here on Thursday.Shot out
for a low score of 197, Sri Lanka closed on 47-1 after Umar hit a sedate
236 to lift Pakistan to 511-6 declared in their first innings at Abu
Dhabi stadium.Sri Lanka, who conceded a 314-run lead, still
need another 267 runs to avoid an innings defeat with the pitch showing
sings of turn which Pakistan's off-spinners Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad
Hafeez will likely exploit.Paceman Umar Gul struck with the
first ball of the second innings, trapping Tharanga Paranavitana before
Lahiru Thirimanne (20) and Kumar Sangakkara (27) survived some anxious
moments to see off the day.It was Umar's typical Test match
knock which held the Pakistani innings together, adding invaluable runs
with Azhar Ali (70), Younis Khan (33), Misbah-ul Haq (46) and Asad
Shafiq (26 not out).Umar's is the first double hundred by a
Pakistani opener since Aamir Sohail's 205 against England at Old
Trafford in 1992, highlighting the lack of quality openers and their
regular chopping in the country's team.The 31-year-old
left-hander hit 17 boundaries and a six during his marathon 700-minute
stay at the crease, showing immense concentration and application,
before he ran out of stamina and was run out.He batted
solidly, consumed 496 deliveries to notch the second highest Test score
by a Pakistani opener behind Hanif Mohammad's 337, made against the West
Indies at Bridgetown in 1958.Umar said it was his wish to score a double hundred."I
had a burning desire to score a double hundred," a jaded Umar said
after play. "It was hot out there but I am glad that I am now in the
illustrious company of Sohail and Hanif who were great players from
Pakistan."He added 160 for the second wicket with Ali, 82
with Younis for third, 76 with Misbah for the fourth and 75 with Shafiq
for the fifth.Pakistan resumed at 259-1 with overnight pair
Umar and Ali extending their second wicket stand as they again remained
unflappable on a pitch that gave little response to pace and spin.Ali,
who has 10 half centuries in 14 Tests now, yet again failed to register
his maiden hundred as he came late on a swinging delivery which
uprooted his off-stump. Ali struck six boundaries.Younis had
a shaky start as he was beaten by Welegedara first ball and was then
dropped by Prasanna Jayawardene off skipper Tillakaratna Dilshan when a
leg-side edge was dropped by the wicket-keeper despite getting two
attempts.Umar, 31, remained steady as he hit a glorious
boundary off Suranga Lakmal and then took a single off Herath to go past
his previous best score of 135, made on two occasions.He
hit 135 against South Africa at Cape Town in 2003 and repeated that
score against the West Indies at St. Kitts earlier this year.Younis was trapped leg-before by paceman Chanaka Welegedara.Misbah
upped the tempo with four boundaries and six before he was caught
behind off left-arm spinner Rangana Herath who finished with 3-126.
