LAHORE: Thilan Samaraweera became just the sixth batsman in Test cricket to notch a double hundred in consecutive matches as Sri Lanka made Pakistan toil in the second and final Test here yesterday.
The 31-year-old followed his 231 in the drawn first Test with an imperious 214 to lift Sri Lanka to 606 in their first innings and shared a record 207-run stand for the fifth wicket with Tillakaratne Dilshan (145).
Despite being under pressure to score 407 to avoid the follow-on, Pakistan got off to a confident start, finishing the second day on 110-1 with opener Khurram Manzoor unbeaten on 59. Salman Butt was run out in the last over for 48.
Khurram, playing only his second Test, hit eleven boundaries in his maiden half-century on a day when Sri Lanka once again dominated with the bat. Before Samaraweera, Australia's Don Bradman and England's Walter Hammond achieved the feat of hitting double hundreds in successive Tests twice.
Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara, South Africa's Graeme Smith and India's Vinod Kambli have also done it. Samaraweera was eventually run out after failing to beat a throw from the covers after being sent back by Dilshan.
He batted for 414 minutes, faced 338 balls and hit 32 boundaries and in the company of Dilshan erased the previous best stand of 143 for the fifth wicket against Pakistan set by Russel Arnold and Romesh Kaluwitharana on the same ground in 1999. Dilshan also joined in, plundering a hapless Pakistan attack before he too was run out as Sri Lanka lost their last four wickets for 40 runs. Dilshan, who flopped in the first Test in Karachi, made amends as he knocked 21 boundaries during his 170-ball innings.
Pakistan's bowling attack toiled hard on a pitch, which eased for batting. Paceman Umar Gul was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with a career-best 6-135, his fourth five-wicket haul in Tests.
Gul removed Prasanna Jayawardene (15), Thilan Thushara (10) and Ajantha Mendis (nought) to polish off the tail. His previous best of 5-31 came against India on this ground in 2004. Muttiah Muralitharan (22) and Dilhara Fernando (14) added a quickfire 34 for the last wicket before debutant Mohammad Talha took his much-awaited first wicket by bowling Muralitharan.
Pakistan's experienced leg-spinner Danish Kaneria was once again a major disappointment, conceding 183 runs without taking a wicket in his 47 overs. Sri Lanka resumed on Monday at 317-4 and were 452 at lunch without further loss.
Samaraweera, 133 not out overnight, took a single off Shoaib Malik to complete his double hundred soon after lunch. It took him 306 balls to reach the second double hundred of his career.
Dilshan matched his partner shot for shot and hit Kaneria for his 14th boundary to reach his eighth Test hundred off just 109 balls.
