KUMAR Sangakkara was left one run short of a double-century after Saeed Ajmal put the brakes on Sri Lanka’s run-fest in the first Test in Galle yesterday. Sangakkara was undefeated on 199 out of the home side’s total of 472, his hopes of reaching the landmark dashed as he ran out of partners.
Sangakkara had seen Tillakaratne Dilshan hit a hundred on the opening day and also completed his own before adding more runs at a steadier rate yesterday morning, but Ajmal claimed three wickets in the day’s first session – including two in as many balls – as Pakistan fought back.
The tourists had struggled on Friday as Sangakkara and Dilshan put Sri Lanka in a commanding position.
But Ajmal added to his two previous scalps with three more. The off-spinner continues to show why he is Pakistan’s most potent bowler, deceiving the batsmen in flight throughout his stint.
Sangakkara and Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene had put on 128 for the third wicket before the 34-year-old made the breakthrough in the eighth over of the second day.
Jayawardene, having added just seven runs to his overnight 55, missed with an uncharacteristically brash heave and was bowled.
Sangakkara continued unabashed after Thilan Samaraweera and Angelo Mathews departed to steady the Sri Lanka innings, with Prasanna Jayawardene scoring 48 before he was caught behind off Mohammad Hafeez.
Suraj Randiv and Nuwan Kulasekara both went cheaply, with Sangakkara pushing on for runs as the hosts’ innings drew towards a close. When Rangana Herath and Nuwan Pradeep both fell for ducks, the latter taking Hafeez’s haul to three wickets, Sangakkara was left one short of a double-hundred.

Scorecard
SRI LANKA 1st innings (o/n 300 for 2)
K  Sangakkara not out 199
D. Jayawardene b Ajmal 62
T, Samaraweera stp. Akmal b Ajmal 06
A. Matthews c & b Ajmal 0
H. Jayawardene c Akmal b Hafeez 48
S. Randiv c & b Rehman 8
K. Kulasekara c Ayub b Hafeez 0
H. Herath run-out (Gul/Hafeez) 0
A. Fernando b Hafeez 0
Extras: (b-10, lb-7, w-5, nb-2) 24
Total: (all out, 153.2 overs) 472
Fall of wickets: 1-63, 2-187, 3-315, 4-335, 5-335, 6-415, 7-438, 8-439, 9-455.
Bowling: Gul 27-8-76-0 (nb-2, w-1), Khan 18-5-52-0, Hafeez 19.2-3-55-3, Ajmal 46-9-146-5, Rehman 43-7-126-1.

PAKISTAN 1st innings
M. Hafeez lbw b Randiv 20
T. Umar lbw Kulasekara 9
A. Ali c H. Jayawardene b Kulasekara 0
Y. Khan not out 15
S. Ajmal c Paranavitana b Randiv 0
A. Shafiq c H. Jayawardene b Herath 0
M. Ayub not out 01
Extras: (lb-2, w-1) 03
Total: (for 5 wickets off 24 overs) 48
Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-17, 3-43, 4-43, 5-44.
Bowling: Kulasekara 7-3-15-2 (w-1), Fernando 4-1-17-0, Herath 8-3-9-1, Matthews 2-2-0-0, Randiv 3-0-5-2.