Sri Lanka solid in Pakistan Test run chase

Kumar Sangakkara continued his strong form with an unbeaten half-century to anchor Sri Lanka’s first innings on Friday’s third day of the first Test against Pakistan in Galle.

The hosts carried their overnight score of 1-99 to 2-174 by lunch, still trailing Pakistan’s 451 by 277 runs on a good batting wicket.

Sangakkara was not out 63, the 13th 50-plus score in his past 14 Tests since December 2012. The left-hander has converted six of them into three figures, including 319 and 105 in one match against Bangladesh in February.

Sangakkara, a 36-year-old veteran of 127 Tests, has hit seven boundaries in his typically fluent innings.

Mahela Jayawardene, who will retire from Test cricket after the two-match series, survived an anxious start to return unbeaten on 18.

The overnight pair of Sangakkara and Kaushal Silva negotiated Pakistan’s pace and spin attack comfortably to add 45 runs in the first hour’s play.

Silva, who was on 38 at stumps on Thursday, reached his half-century by pulling seamer Junaid Khan to the square-leg fence for his ninth boundary.

Silva made 64 in the second-wicket stand of 120 when he edged a ball from fast bowler Mohammad Talha and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed dived to his right to hold a low catch.

Jayawardene walked in to a guard of honour of raised bats by schoolchildren and was greeted in the middle by applauding Pakistani fielders, as fireworks exploded outside the ground.

He was immediately into his stride, punching the third delivery he faced, from offspinner Saeed Ajmal, to the cover boundary.

When on 11, Jayawardene successfully challenged upstairs after English umpire Ian Gould had given him out lbw off Junaid. Replays showed the ball missing off stump.

Gould then negated Junaid’s appeal for lbw against Sangakkara, then on 62, but the review system agreed with the umpire this time.

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!