KARACHI, 1 November 2004 — Leg-spinner Danish Kaneria extinguished a fine Sri Lankan fightback with three late wickets off 26 deliveries on day four of the second Test here yesterday to set Pakistan up for a likely series saving victory.
Kaneria returned figures of 6-102 from 45 overs to restrict Sri Lanka to 361-7 at stumps, a lead of 91 runs, after the tourists had reached 333 for the loss of just three wickets.
Sri Lanka resumed yesterday on 134-1 after beginning their second innings 270 runs behind Pakistan.
Kumar Sangakkara was both the hero and villain for Sri Lanka after batting superbly all day to make 138, then starting the collapse when he edged a delivery off debutant Rana Naveed ul-Hassan to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal.
It was Hassan’s first wicket in Test cricket, although the 23-year-old Kaneria quickly stepped in to steal the glory with the next three wickets to record his sixth five-wicket haul of his 20-Test career.
Kaneria dismissed Thilan Samaraweera for 22, Jehan Mubarak for two and Romesh Kaluwitharana for seven to revive Pakistan’s hopes of leveling the two-match series after they lost the first Test at Faisalabad by 201 runs.
Kaneria’s efforts overshadowed the hard work of Sangakkkara and veteran Sri Lankan opener Sanath Jayasuriya, who also scored a century (107) yesterday. Sangakkara, who celebrated his 27th birthday last week, hooked and drove to perfection during his 357-minute stay at the crease that was made up of 251 deliveries and included 20 boundaries and a six.
He was involved in three solid stands — of 53 for the second wicket with Jayasuriya, 83 for the third wicket with Mahela Jayawardene and 80 for the fourth wicket with Samaraweera.
Sangakkara also brought up his 1,000th Test run of the calendar year yesterday when on 24, becoming the fifth batsman after Jayasuriya and the West Indies’ Brian Lara, Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan to achieve the feat.
His century, off 204 balls, was the seventh in his 44-Test career.
Resuming on 96, Jayasuriya, quickly posted three figures but then became Kaneria’s first victim of the day, sweeping straight to Shoaib Malik at deep square leg. Jayasuriya brought up his 14th career century off 110 balls in 122 minutes, including 14 boundaries and a six.
Sri Lanka’s slim hopes of extending their lead enough to draw or win the Test rest on their tail with Chaminda Vaas, on one, and Farveez Maharoof, yet to get off the mark, still at the crease.
