Still need another 74 runs to avoid follow on:

Centuries from Dilshan and Sanga take Lanka to 278/5

Elmo Rodrigopulle Reporting

Centuries like they did in the Galle Test from two of the most experienced batsmen, Tillekeratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara helped Sri Lanka post a score of 278 for 5 in reply to Pakistan’s 551 for 6 declared on another rain shortened fourth day of the Second Test at the SSC, yesterday.

At the wicket was Sangakkara 144 not out. Night watchman Suraj Randiv was out LBW in the last over. The batsmen out today were Dilshan when he went LBW to Junaid Khan after making 121, Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera without troubling the scorers.

Dilshan shared a partnership of 225 with Sangakkara. Jayawardene padded up to a delivery that was pitched outside the off stump. He did not look in line when the ball struck. But in the view of umpire Simon Taufell he was out and the dreaded finger went up. The batsman looked surprised.

Both batted with great patience, determination and discipline and never allowed the bowlers to dictate. In the process they broke a 32-year old record for the second wicket when they went past the 217 which was to the credit of Sidat Wettimuny and Roy Dias in Faisalabad in Sri Lanka’s first tour abroad.

Only 105 minutes of play was possible in the morning and Sri Lanka continuing from 70 for one made 135 without losing a wicket at lunch, when a thin drizzle after lunch turned heavy and the game resumed at 2.30 p.m. 110 minutes of play was lost.

With the wicket, that could be best described as a concrete pitch, being batting friendly throughout and being heart break to bowlers as shown by the scores made, this Test is destined to go down in the record books, as a draw spoilt by rain and a dead wicket.

This is skipper Mahela Jayawardene’s home wicket. And aware that it will be batting friendly throughout the five days would have prompted him to put the Pakistanis in, confident that what eve score Pakistan makes, he has the batting to survive on a wicket that will not deteriorate.

Play was scheduled to start at 9.45 a.m. but a few drops of rain just before the start delayed play by 30 minutes and the game got underway at 10.15 a.m.

The overnight not outs Tillekeratne Dilsha 46 and Kumar Sangakkara 22 started cautiously, watching how the wicket would play and went for runs only when the loose balls came along.

Dilshan’s approach was swashbuckling when he started his innings. But today he did not throw caution to the winds and go for his shots and was more subdued, showing responsibility. He reached 50 with 9 fours in 72 balls.

Sangakkara too batted cautiously and was very watchful and supported Dilshan well. Sangakkara scored mostly on the leg side with delicate pushes and well timed leg glances. He reached 50 with in 74 balls with 6 four. Both played some lovely drives on the off.

Skipper Misbah switched his bowlers around. But with no help from the wicket his pacemen and spinners were ineffective. Off spinner Ajmal from whom much was expected failed to impress.

Dilshan 60 and Sangakkara 72 took Sri Lanka to lunch at 135 for one. Dilshan had 9 fours in 112 balls and Sangakkara 8 fours in 110 balls. With the umpires waking out after lunch a thin drizzle began to fall and the covers came on.

After lunch play was possible only at 2.30 p.m. In the 60 minutes of play, Dilshan and Sangakkara continued their partnership and went to tea at 178 for one, adding another 43 runs.

The boundaries had dried down and the batsmen were content in pushing for ones and twos as there were a lot of open spots in the field. Both got to their nineties and the race was on and it was interesting to watch who will get to 100 first.

Dilshan won the race getting to his 14th hundred in Tests when on 98 he danced down and hit Saeed Ajmal for six over long on. His century came in 259 minutes with 121 fours and a six in 178 balls. It was a well compiled innings.

Sangakkara was second to the three figure score when on 99 he cut Ajmal to point to bring up his 30th Test century and ninth against Pakistan. It came in 247 minutes with 8 fours and 180 balls. It was a patient knock. SSC, Tuesday.

	PAKISTAN 1ST INNINGS
	  551-6 declared
(Mohammad Hafeez 196, Azhar Ali 157)

	SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS
	  (overnight 70-1)
T. Paranavitana c Azhar b Junaid 	 00
T. Dilshan lbw b Junaid 		121
K. Sangakkara not out . 		144
M. Jayawardene lbw b Junaid 		 00
T. Samaraweera lbw b Ajmal 		 00
S. Randiv lbw b Rehman 			 05
Extras: (b4, lb4) 			 08
Total (for five wickets, 85.4 overs) 	278

Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Paranavitana), 2-236 (Dilshan), 3-250 (M. Jayawardene), 4-259 (Samaraweera), 5-278 (Randiv).

Bowling: Cheema 18-5-66-0, Junaid 19-3-56-3, Ajmal 26-0-77-1, Rehman 16. 4-3-50-1, Hafeez 6-0-21-0.