Sangakkara century seals draw

Captain Kumar Sangakkara hit a match-saving century as Sri Lanka carved out a draw in the final Test against Pakistan in Colombo.

Set 492 for victory, Sangakkara's knock ensured his team fought off the tourists' challenge to seal a 2-0 series win and at tea even looked set for a late dart at an improbable win.

Instead he closed unbeaten on 130, with partner Angelo Mathews hitting 64no in a fourth-innings total of 391 for four.

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Sri Lanka had needed 154 from a possible 38 overs in the final session but Sangakkara shook hands with opposite number Younus Khan with 101 needed from the 16 remaining overs.

It marked the end of a mammoth battle for the Sri Lanka captain, who had batted over seven hours to save the Test.

He had added 122 for the fourth wicket with Thilan Samaraweera (73) and an unbroken 114 for fifth wicket with Mathews.

Pakistan's bowlers started the day hopeful of securing a face-saving victory, but instead were put through the grind and finished with just one success - Samaraweera caught behind off Saeed Ajmal.

Sri Lanka pair stands firm

Sri Lanka, overnight 183 for three, started the day needing 309 runs for victory and remained on course for victory as Samaraweera and Sangakkara batted resolutely through the morning.

Younus unwittingly aided their cause when handing fast bowler Umar Gul the ball in the morning rather than leading wicket-taker in the match, leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.

Gul had struggled not only with his run-up, but strayed in line as well, allowing the Sri Lankan batsmen to easily work off morning blues.

It's all about numbers

Samaraweera was the dominant partner in that fourth-wicket stand which, driving Gul confidently off the front and back foot.

The middle-order batsman started with a sweetly-timed cover drive which yielded three and got his team past the 200-run mark with another cracking drive through long-off the fast bowler.

Samaraweera could easily have had more than the 11 boundaries he finished with in his innings had it not been for a slow outfield.

However, Gul and the second new ball helped him reach his half-century with another drive to the cover boundary just an hour in.

Top performer: Sangakkara

Sangakkara's innings was circumspect right through as the Sri Lanka captain concentrated on holding his end up.

He eventually lost Samaraweera a few overs into the afternoon session, the middle-order batsman succumbing more to a bout of cramps than any brilliance on the part of Pakistan's bowlers.

Samaraweera had needed treatment for a cramped hamstring in the first over after the lunch interval and batted briefly with a runner before being dismissed.

Samaraweera, who had shown immaculate footwork against the spinners, leaned forward to defend a delivery from Saeed Ajmal but failed to get to the pitch and Kamran Akmal grasped the edge.

Mathews plays a crucial knock

Pakistan's hopes of making further inroads, however, suffered another setback as Mathews continued where Samaraweera left off.

He struck stride immediately and lifted the run rate as the opposition wilted in the field.

Together with Sangakkara, Mathews turned the tables and left Sri Lanka needing 154 from the final session of a possible 38 overs - still a gettable ask.

But Sri Lanka ended the suspense by, perhaps surprisingly, calling for a truce just when the first drinks break of the final session was announced.

Sangakkara faced 303 deliveries and cracked seven boundaries, while Mathews struck seven boundaries and a six off Ajmal during his stay at the crease.

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Pakistan eye face-saving win

Pakistan remained on course to win the final Test against Sri Lanka after denting the home team's chase of a record target.

Sri Lanka, set an improbable 492 to sweep the series 3-0 after they had won the first two Tests, were 183-3 in their second knock at stumps on the fourth day at the Sinhalese sports club.

When play begins on the fifth day for the first time in the series -- the first Test ended in four days and the second in three -- Pakistan will need seven wickets and Sri Lanka a further 309 runs in 90 overs.

No team has scored 492 runs in the fourth innings to win a Test match. The highest successful chase so far is 418-7 by the West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 2003.

Sri Lanka were given a minimum of 150 overs to get the runs after Pakistan declared their second innings at 425-9 soon after lunch with former captain Shoaib Malik making 134.

Sri Lankan openers Malinda Warnapura and Tharanga Paranavitana put on 83 for the first wicket in 25 overs, their best partnership of the series, to raise visions of a history-defying feat.

But the fall of three wickets in the final session set Sri Lanka back even as skipper Kumar Sangakkara returned unbeaten on 50, having surpassed the 7,000-run mark in his 83rd Test on the way.

Thilan Samaraweera was the other batsman at the crease on 20.

Warnapura, who made 31, was unfortunate to be given out caught by English umpire Ian Gould as television replays showed the ball from Danish Kaneria go off the pad to the short-leg fielder.

Paranavitana went on to make a fluent 73 before tapping an easy catch to Fawad Alam at forward short-leg off Malik to make Sri Lanka 139-2.

Kaneria picked up his second wicket soon after when Mahela Jayawardene, who plodded for 29 minutes to make two, poked at a wide ball and edged a catch to wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal.

Earlier, Pakistan added 19 runs to their overnight score of 300-5 when Akmal fell in the day's fourth over after making 74 during a sixth-wicket stand of 133 with Malik.

Tailender Umar Gul showed there were no hidden demons in the pitch as he helped Malik add 52 for the seventh wicket, himself contributing 22 in the partnership.

Malik was dismissed after a six-hour vigil at the crease when he holed out in the deep off spinner Rangana Hearth.

The right-hander hit 13 fours and two sixes to shore up Pakistan's innings after they had collapsed to 67-4 before lunch on the third day.

Gul helped himself to his highest Test score of 46 from 50 balls before he was caught at deep square-leg attempting a fourth six off Herath.

Left-arm spinner Herath returned with 5-157 from 46 overs, his second five-wicket haul in as many matches.

Pakistan's declaration marked the last stint at the bowling crease for veteran Sri Lankan seamer Chaminda Vaas, who retires from Test cricket after the match with 355 wickets from 111 Tests.

The 35-year-old, who was overlooked for the first two Tests, claimed just one wicket in 39 overs in his final match.

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Malik ton puts Pakistan in control

Shoaib Malik hit an unbeaten 106 to put Pakistan on course for a face-saving victory in the final Test against Sri Lanka.

Pakistan, who lost the first two Tests to hand Sri Lanka a decisive lead in the series, finally flexed their batting muscle to pile up 300/5 in their second innings by stumps on the third day.

Kamran Akmal returned unbeaten on 60 after adding 114 for the unbroken sixth wicket with Malik as Pakistan established an overall lead of 366 runs with five wickets in hand.

Sri Lanka will need to put on their best batting display in the series to record a 3-0 sweep over the remaining two days after failing to cross 300 in any of the five previous innings.

Pakistan appeared to have thrown away the advantage of a 66-run first innings lead when, starting the day at 16-1, they lost three quick wickets to slip to 67-4 before lunch.

Malik and Misbah-ul Haq led the fightback with a 119-run stand for the fifth wicket, staying together for the entire post-lunch session to frustrate the Sri Lankan bowlers on a hot and humid day.

Misbah made 65 before he gifted his wicket after tea, attempting a wild heave off seamer Angelo Mathews that took the edge to wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara.

Malik reached his second Test century just before close by lofting left-arm spinner Rangana Herath for a six, having survived a missed stumping by Sangakkara in the bowler's previous over.

The hosts missed a second spinner alongside Herath after dropping Ajantha Mendis to accommodate veteran seamer Chaminda Vaas for his final Test in a four-man pace attack.

Vaas, who claimed one wicket in the first innings, was kept out of the firing line till the 33rd over today before sending down 14 unsuccessful overs for 29 runs.

Pakistan had added just six runs to their overnight score when Fawad Alam fended at a short ball from left-arm seamer Thilan Thushara and spooned an easy catch to the bowler.

Left-handed Alam, who hit 168 on debut in the second Test, scored 16 in each innings here.

Younus Khan looked solid while making 19 when he was unfortunate to be given leg-before to Nuwan Kulaksekera by umpire Ian Gould. Television replays showed an inside edge off the bat.

Malik reached his second Test century just before close by lofting left-arm spinner Rangana Herath for a six, having survived a missed stumping by Sangakkara in the bowler's previous over.

The hosts missed a second spinner alongside Herath after dropping Ajantha Mendis to accommodate veteran seamer Chaminda Vaas for his final Test in a four-man pace attack.

Pakistan appeared to have thrown away the advantage of a 66-run first innings lead when, starting the day at 16-1, they lost three quick wickets to slip to 67-4 before lunch.

Malik and Misbah-ul Haq led the fightback with a 119-run stand for the fifth wicket, staying together for the entire post-lunch session to frustrate the Sri Lankan bowlers on a hot and humid day.

Misbah made 65 before he gifted his wicket after tea, attempting a wild heave off seamer Angelo Mathews that took the edge to wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara.

Malik reached his second Test century just before close by lofting left-arm spinner Rangana Herath for a six, having survived a missed stumping by Sangakkara in the bowler's previous over.

The hosts missed a second spinner alongside Herath after dropping Ajantha Mendis to accommodate veteran seamer Chaminda Vaas for his final Test in a four-man pace attack.

Vaas, who claimed one wicket in the first innings, was kept out of the firing line till the 33rd over today before sending down 14 unsuccessful overs for 29 runs.

Pakistan had added just six runs to their overnight score when Fawad Alam fended at a short ball from left-arm seamer Thilan Thushara and spooned an easy catch to the bowler.

Left-handed Alam, who hit 168 on debut in the second Test, scored 16 in each innings here.

Younus Khan looked solid while making 19 when he was unfortunate to be given leg-before to Nuwan Kulaksekera by umpire Ian Gould. Television replays showed an inside edge off the bat.

Malik reached his second Test century just before close by lofting left-arm spinner Rangana Herath for a six, having survived a missed stumping by Sangakkara in the bowler's previous over.

The hosts missed a second spinner alongside Herath after dropping Ajantha Mendis to accommodate veteran seamer Chaminda Vaas for his final Test in a four-man pace attack.

Vaas, who claimed one wicket in the first innings, was kept out of the firing line till the 33rd over today before sending down 14 unsuccessful overs for 29 runs.

Pakistan had added just six runs to their overnight score when Fawad Alam fended at a short ball from left-arm seamer Thilan Thushara and spooned an easy catch to the bowler.

Left-handed Alam, who hit 168 on debut in the second Test, scored 16 in each innings here.

Younus Khan looked solid while making 19 when he was unfortunate to be given leg-before to Nuwan Kulaksekera by umpire Ian Gould. Television replays showed an inside edge off the bat.

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Pakistan in commanding position

Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria's five-wicket haul put Pakistan in command on the second day of the final Test against Sri Lanka.

Kaneria added four wickets in the final session to the one he had claimed just before lunch as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 233 in response to Pakistan's first-innings total of 299.

Sri Lanka struggled throughout and Pakistan could have walked off with a much bigger lead had it not been for battling knocks from Mahela Jayawardene (79) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (44) in Colombo.

Pakistan's openers Khurram Manzoor and Fawad Alam (14 not out) had extended the lead to 82 with a stand of 16 for the first wicket when Rangana Herath produced the breakthrough by bowling Maznoor for two.

The wicket was the 14th to fall in the day and Younus Khan played out one delivery as Pakistan closed on 16 for one.

In the morning, the home side's bowlers continued the fine work they had started at the end of the final session on the first day, skittling out Pakistan inside the first 17 minutes of play.

Thushara mops up Pakistan tail

Left-arm paceman Thilan Thushara dismissed Kamran Akmal and last man Saeed Ajmal cheaply to claim his first five-wicket haul of his career.

The 28-year-old had figures of five for 83 from 20.4 overs, while his fast-bowling partner Nuwan Kulasekara finished with three for 47 from 16 overs.

Bowlers, however, continued to hold sway on a track that offered some movement but was thought good for batting.

Pakistan fight back after collapse

Sri Lanka began their innings badly with opener Malinda Warnapura being bowled by Umar Gul with the first delivery of the innings.

Sri Lanka slipped further into trouble when fellow opener Tharanga Paranavitana was bowled by part-timer Younus, the batsman shouldering arms to one that came in sharply.

Kumar Sangakkara, driving fluently and batting with confidence, then steadied the innings in the company of Jayawardene.

The Sri Lankan captain began with a superbly-timed square driven boundary on the leg side and accumulated runs at a fair clip, surviving a reprieve en route.

He was dropped by Manzoor at gully, the fielder fumbling a straightforward catch, but was dismissed on the stroke of lunch when umpire Ian Gould upheld a leg-before appeal from Ajmal.

The ball pitched a shade outside leg stump but Gould sent Sangakkara on his way, ending his innings on 45.

Jayawardene struggled against the spinners but it was Thilan Samaraweera who lost the battle first in the post-lunch session, the batsman being cramped by one from Ajmal that span back sharply from outside off.

The delivery knocked out middle stump and left Sri Lanka at a precarious 82 for four.

Angelo Mathews, who was dropped on 12 by Akmal, and Jayawardene then revived the side with a 71-run stand for the fifth wicket but that burgeoning partnership was ended by Kaneria.

He dropped one short and drew Mathews forward in defence. The ball flicked the edge and went straight to Misbah-ul-Haq at first slip.

Kaneria skittles Sri Lanka

Wickets then tumbled quickly as Chaminda Vaas - batting ahead of Dilshan in order to give him more time to rest an injured finger - was trapped in front by Kaneria, while Nuwan Kulasekara and Herath followed quickly after, the former a victim of Ajmal and the latter falling to Kaneria.

Dilshan then took charge and chipped in with a brave innings. He frustrated Pakistan with a 29-run stand for the last wicket with Thushara, all the while reducing the deficit.

Dilshan, who had relinquished the wicketkeeper gloves in the morning to Sangakkara, then suffered another injury - a nasty cut above the eye when a delivery from Ajmal slipped through the visor.

Dilshan struck two fours and two sixes during his vigil at the crease but his innings was ended when he was caught behind off Kaneria.

That wicket gave the leg-spinner his 13th five-wicket haul in Tests as he finished with figures of five for 62 from 20.3 overs.

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Sri Lanka regain advantage

Khurram Manzoor and Mohd Yousuf struck determined fifties but could not prevent Pakistan surrendering the advantage.

Opener Manzoor made a 93 and Yousuf hit 90, the two helping Pakistan recover from the loss of two quick wickets in the morning session with a 167-run stand for the third wicket on the first day of the final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

The pair were dismissed within seven runs of each other when facing the second new ball as Pakistan slumped from 203 for three to 289 for seven at stumps.

Left-arm paceman Thilan Thushara, who claimed the wickets of Fawad Alam and Younus Khan in the morning, snared another in the final session, while Nuwan Kulasekara picked up two scalps with the second new ball.

Kamran Akmal and Danish Kaneria, both on one, were unbeaten at the crease at the close.

Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara won the toss but his decision to field under overcast skies looked questionable when openers Alam and Manzoor made a solid start.

Manzoor began with an edged boundary, and while new-ball bowlers Chaminda Vaas and Kulasekara occasionally went past the outside edge, the openers saw off the shine confidently.

Thushara secured the breakthrough just inside the first hour, sending back Alam and captain Younus in the space of three deliveries.

Alam had made 16 when he dangled his bat to one directed in the corridor and the edge flew to wicketkeeper Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Younus began his innings with a confident straight drive which yielded a couple of runs, but his stay at the crease was brief as he dragged a short and wide delivery on to his off stump while attempting to cut.

The two quick wickets raised fears of another Pakistan batting slump, but Manzoor and Yousuf steadied nerves with a risk-free approach.

The duo safely carried Pakistan into the lunch interval without further loss and consolidated with a tediously slow but steady performance in the afternoon session.

Sangakkara shuffled his bowlers around, pressing left-arm spinner Rangana Herath into the attack once Yousuf came to the crease.

The two built a solid foundation with Manzoor reaching his second Test half century with consecutive boundaries off Thushara and Yousuf reaching his 29th with a couple of runs through the covers.

Yousuf had a lucky escape on 57 when an edge off Kulasekara flew low through the slip cordon, just wide of Angelo Mathews, but the home side struck twice in quick succession in the final session.

Vaas, who will retire from Test cricket at the end of this game, scalped Manzoor, getting the batsman to edge one to Mahela Jayawardene at first slip.

Yousuf was joined in the middle by Misbah but their association was brief as the former was run out while attempting a quick single after an overthrow.

Shoaib Malik kept Sri Lanka's bowlers at bay for a while in an aggressive knock which was ended when he was trapped in front by Thushara just five short of a half century.

Kulasekara then got into the act, getting rid of Misbah for 27 with just minutes remaining in the final session.

Umar Gul fell three deliveries later, dragging one back onto his stumps while attempting a drive.

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