ABU DHABI : Kumar Sangakkara compiled his eighth double hundred in Test
cricket and with able support from Prasanna Jayawardene took Sri Lanka
closer to salvaging a draw on the final day of the opening test against
Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Jayawardene (110 not out)
and Rangana Herath (nought) were the batsmen at the crease at tea as
Sri Lanka reached 434 for six, a lead of 120.Sangakkara
(211) and Jayawardene, both unbeaten overnight, batted resolutely to add
201 for the sixth-wicket as Pakistan were left to rue Friday's dropped
chances. Stylish left-hander Sangakkara, who was dropped on
56 by Younis Khan off Mohammad Hafeez, got past the 200-run mark with a
glance to the fine leg boundary. The former Sri Lanka
captain, who also survived a run-out chance on 190, hit 18 boundaries
during his 431-ball knock, before he fell lbw in the last over before
tea to give part-time legspinner Azhar Ali his first Test wicket.Jayawardene,
who also received a life on Friday when substitute fielder Wahab Riaz
put down an easy catch off Umar Gul, completed his fourth test hundred
with a lofted drive over spinner Saeed Ajmal's head.The
Pakistan pacemen managed to extract a bit of reverse swing with the old
ball in dry conditions at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium and troubled the
batsmen but failed to make any break throughs .Pakistan are playing their threeTest "home" series in the Gulf region because of security fears in their own country.
