Pakistan And Sri Lanka Settle For Draw

Pakistan And Sri Lanka Settle For Draw

Kumar Sangakkara hit an unbeaten century as Sri Lanka and Pakistan drew in Colombo.

©REUTERS/Vivek Prakash (SRI LANKA SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Pakistan 299 & 425-9 dec. (Shoaib Malik 134) drew with
Sri Lanka 233 & 391-4 (Sangakkara 130no)
Scorecard
Third Test, Colombo

Going into the final day, Sri Lanka had batted themselves into serious contention to chase down a world record target to win the Test match against Pakistan. However, despite six wickets in hand, Sri Lanka settled for a 2-0 series victory as Kumar Sangakkara batted his side to a draw.

The hosts resumed on 183 for three and progressed well, potentially batting themselves into a winning position. Captain Sangakkara and Thilan Samaraweera put on 122 for the fourth wicket before the latter became Pakistan’s only wicket of the day when he fell to Saeed Ajmal for 73.

Sangakkara kept on his merry way, notching up his 19th Test match century and was ever present until the end of the day in an unbeaten partnership of 115 with all rounder Angelo Mathews who scored 64 not out.

It was more and more evident throughout the day’s play that both sides were happy to settle for a draw as the Sri Lankan batsmen became defensive, as did the Pakistan field settings. At 391 for four, just one hundred runs away from victory, both teams called time on the match and the draw was official.

This was somewhat of an anti climax to a series that had produced many twists and turns as well as some superb performances. Sri Lanka claimed revenge over the Pakistani's having lost out in the recent World Twenty20, however Pakistan showed a lot of potential with a relatively inexperienced side, and also considering the lack of Test cricket they have played in recent times. All in all, it was an entertaining series in which Sri Lanka ran out deserved 2-0 winners.

© Cricket World 2009

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