Kumar Sangakkara missed a double-century for the second successive match as the rain-hit second Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka ended in a dreary draw in Colombo yesterday.
Sangakkara, who was stranded on an unbeaten 199 in the first Test at Galle, was dismissed for 192 after helping Sri Lanka avoid the embarrassment of a follow-on on the fifth and final day.
The hosts, who began the day needing 74 more runs to make Pakistan bat again, were all out for 391 in the post-lunch session in reply to Pakistan’s 551-6 declared.
Pakistan, leading by 160 runs on the first innings, made 100-2 in their second knock when skipper Misbah-ul Haq declared the innings soon after tea to attempt an unlikely win.
Sri Lanka appeared disinterested in chasing the tough victory target of 261 in 37 overs and were 86-2 in 22 overs when the match was called off at the Sinhalese Sports Club.
Sri Lanka will head for the third and final Test in Pallekele from Sunday with a 1-0 lead, having won the opening encounter in Galle by 209 runs.
The home side, who began the day at 278-5, were steered out of trouble by a 89-run stand for the sixth wicket between Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews (47).
But Mathews’ dismissal soon after lunch triggered a middle-order collapse in which Sri Lanka lost their last five wickets for 21 runs.
Young left-arm seamer Junaid Khan finished with his second five-wicket haul in Tests and spinner Abdul Rahman claimed four as the Pakistanis extracted more from the slow pitch than their Sri Lankan counterparts.
Sangakkara looked set for his ninth double-century when he fell after defying Pakistan’s attack for almost nine hours.
The left-hander stepped out to loft Rahman and only managed a thick edge to Tawfiq Umar at square-leg.
Sangakkara, who hit 15 fours and a six in his 30th Test century, raised a cry of anguish before walking off to warm applause from less than 500 spectators at the ground.
Sangakkara is already the highest run-getter against Pakistan, having surpassed Indian great Sunil Gavaskar’s tally of 2,089 runs when he reached 60 on Tuesday.
He has nine three-figure knocks against Pakistan with a top score of 230 in Lahore in March, 2002.
Junaid had Mathews caught behind and then bowled Nuwan Kulasekara, while Rahman dismissed Prasanna Jayawardene and last man Nuwan Pradeep to terminate the innings.
In the brief second innings for both teams, Umar scored an unbeaten 42 for Pakistan and Tharanga Paranavitana made 32 for Sri Lanka.
The Test was marred by bad weather, which allowed just 71 of the stipulated 180 overs to be bowled on the second and third days.
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