A century by skipper Kumar Sangakkara helped Sri Lanka to reach 294 for five in their first innings after an early collapse on another rain-shortened day of the second Test against the West Indies yesterday.
The elegant left-hander was unbeaten on 135, stroking 16 fours and a six before heavy rain washed out play for the rest of the day 25 minutes before the scheduled tea break.
With Sangakkara going strong at one end, West Indies targeted the batsmen at the other and captured two in the afternoon session.
PHOTO: AFP
Thilan Samaraweera joined his captain with Sri Lanka struggling at 34-3 and they batted throughout the second morning.
Samaraweera outscored his captain and beat him to his half-century, reaching it in 103 balls with six fours and one six.
Sangakkara greeted spinner Shane Shillingford, who came on to bowl the eighth over of the morning, with a boundary.
After putting on 170 for the fourth wicket, Samaraweera was dismissed for 80 when he pulled Dwayne Bravo down fine-leg to Shillingford.
With Sri Lanka resuming on their overnight score of 84-3, West Indies rang the bowling changes constantly, but endured a frustrating day.
Angelo Mathews lived dangerously attempting extravagant shots and was fortunate not to fall while on 12 after his mishit shot dropped in the middle of three fielders.
Kemar Roach picked up his third wicket of the innings by forcing Mathews to edge a catch behind the wicket for 25.
PAKISTAN V SOUTH AFRICA
AP, ABU DHABI
An unbeaten 87-run fourth-wicket partnership by captain Misbah-ul-Haq (58 not out) and Azhar Ali (28 not out) ensured Pakistan secured a second draw against South Africa in the two-Test series at the Zayed Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Pakistan were 153-3, having been set a stiff target of 353, when South Africa agreed to end the game at the drinks break before the scheduled close.
Earlier, South Africa had added another 30 runs at the cost of one wicket to their overnight score of 173-4, before leaving the opposition with 82 overs to go for victory.
Needing to score at a little over four an over, Pakistan’s openers started strongly, but suffered some anxious moments in the second session when they lost three wickets at the lunchtime score of 66, including that of Younis Khan for a second-ball duck.
Pakistan then recovered, with Misbah and Azhar grinding out the next 189 minutes to close the door on the Proteas.
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