Abu Dhabi: Kumar Sangakkara’s double century and Prasanna Jayawardene’s ton helped Sri Lanka the draw against Pakistan in the first Test in Abu Dhabi.
Pakistan came out to bat with a potential 20 overs remaining in the match and an unlikely 170 runs to find, but ten overs later the captains agreed a draw.
Sri Lanka, after losing five wickets on the fourth evening while still needing 81 runs to make Pakisan bat again but the Lankans benefited from six dropped chances in the second innings.
The former Sri Lanka captain, who also survived a run-out chance on 190, hit 18 boundaries during his 431-ball knock, before he fell lbw in the last over before tea to give part-time legspinner Azhar Ali his first Test wicket. Sangakkara batted for 651 minutes, faced 431 deliveries and hit 18 boundaries during an epic knock.
Sangakkara finally fell in the last over before tea, who was dropped on 56Â got past the 200-run mark with a glance to the fine leg boundary.
With just 25 overs remaining and the match heading towards a draw, Prasanna fell caught behind off paceman Aizaz Cheema but by that time he and Sangakkara had changed the course of the match.
Jayawardene, who also received a life on Friday when substitute fielder Wahab Riaz put down an easy catch off Umar Gul, completed his fourth Test hundred with a lofted drive over spinner Saeed Ajmal’s head.
In all, Prasanna hit 12 boundaries during his 273-ball knock.
Pakistan used all five bowlers but were left to rue the missed chances of Friday which spoiled their chances of taking the lead in the three-Test series.
The second Test starts in Dubai on October 26, while the third will be played in Sharjah from November 3.
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