COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Pakistan declared its second innings an over after tea at 100-2 and set Sri Lanka 261 in 37 overs to win the second Test on the last day Wednesday at Sinhalese Sports Club.
A draw was still expected, with Sri Lanka leading the three-Test series 1-0.
Sri Lanka started the day still in its first innings, on 278-5 overnight.
Kumar Sangakkara missed out on a double hundred for a second time in the series as the left-hander was dismissed for 192. Sri Lanka was eventually bowled out for 391 as its last five batsmen were dismissed for only 21 runs.
Left-arm seamer Junaid Khan bowled superbly with the old ball and finished with 5-73, his second five-wicket haul in test cricket. He was well supported by left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman, who finished with 4-78.
Sangakkara, who resumed on his overnight score of 144, added 92
for the sixth wicket with Angelo Mathews as Sri Lanka didn't lose a wicket in the morning session, avoiding the follow on target of 352 in the process.
But after lunch, there was a sudden collapse as Junaid forced Mathews to nick one to the wicketkeeper on 47.
Sangakkara, trying to work Abdur Rehman on the on-side, ended up top-edging a catch to Taufeeq Umar at short square leg, missing a double century for the second time in successive games. He was left stranded on 199 in the first test in Galle after he ran out of partners.
In the one hour that Pakistan batted before tea, they went for quick runs losing two wickets. Mohammad Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar opened with 51 together, and after Hafeez was dismissed for 21, Pakistan promoted big-hitting Rehman, giving indications of a declaration after tea.
Rehman smashed 36 off 22 balls with three fours and three sixes before being bowled by Suraj Randiv in the last over before tea.
The declaration came one more run and one more over after tea. – Sapa-AP