Third Test, Colombo, day five:
Sri Lanka 233 & 391-4 drew with Pakistan 299 & 425-9dec
Match scorecard

It was Sangakkara's first century as captain in his third Test in charge

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara scored a superb unbeaten 130 but the third and final Test against Pakistan in Colombo petered out to a draw.

The Sri Lankans were attempting a world record target of 492 to seal their first 3-0 whitewash over Pakistan.

They resumed on 183-3 and Sangakkara extended his partnership with Thilan Samaraweera to 122 before sharing an unbroken 114 with Angelo Mathews.

With 101 needed from the final 15 overs and light fading, a draw was agreed.

Pakistan, seeking their first Test win since January 2007 stretching back 11 matches, opted for Umar Gul to begin the proceedings.

He struggled to find his rhythm, however, and Sangakkara punished him some sweetly timed drives through the off-side.

The elegant left-hander would have added to his seven boundaries had the outfield not been slow.

Samaraweera, who needed treatment for cramp in the first over after lunch, was dismissed by a Saeed Amjal doosra which he edged through to keeper Kamran Akmal.

Mathew appeared to signal Sri Lankan intent with a six followed by a four in an Amjal over, which also recorded the century partnership.

606: DEBATE Don't understand as to why they didn't play on, a stupid decision between the captains to draw the match, but overall a very good series AmirMir

That left 113 needed from 19 overs, but shortly afterwards at the drinks interval the home side called for an end to the contest.

Meanwhile Samaraweera was named in a 15-man squad for the one-day series beginning on 30 July.

The 32-year-old, who suffered a bullet wound in his thigh when the team bus was attacked in Lahore in March, last played a one-day international in November 2005.

Left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas, who retired from Test cricket at the end of this match, was overlooked along with the injured Tillakaratne Dilshan, who is awaiting the results of a report on his fractured finger.

Sri Lanka one-day squad: K Sangakkara, M Muralitharan, S Jayasuriya, M Jayawardene, T Samaraweera, C Kapugedara, A Mathews, N Kulasekara, L Malinga, A Mendis, T Kandamby, M Bandara, T Thushara, I Udana, U Tharanga.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version