Sangakkara piles agony
on Pakistan

Kumar Sangakkara flayed the Pakistan bowling attack on his way to an imperious 230 as Sri Lanka took total control of the Asian Test Championship final on Thursday.

At stumps on the second day, Sri Lanka had powered to 447 for five to give them a commanding 213-run lead over their hosts who were bowled out for 234 in their first innings.

Sangakkara's marathon innings was the second highest by a wicketkeeper in Tests and only the sixth double hundred by a wicketkeeper.

The 25-year-old left-hander, who plays for the Nondescripts club in Colombo, was at the crease for 480 minutes and faced 327 balls.

He hit 27 fours and three sixes before he was caught at first slip by Younis Khan off Abdur Razzaq's bowling in the closing moments of the day's play.

Sangakkara's 230 also bettered the previous highest by a Sri Lankan batsman against Pakistan, Marvan Atapattu's 207 at Kandy in 2000.

Sri Lanka lost Russell Arnold four balls later for 44 when he was bowled by Shoaib Akhtar, who enjoyed his first success of the day after suffering heavy punishment from Sangakkara and the other Sri Lankan batsmen.

Play was halted four overs before the scheduled close because of bad light even though the stadium lights had been switched on -- for the first time in a Test in Pakistan -- 15 overs earlier

TOTAL DOMINATION

Sangakkara, who came into bat after Sri Lanka had lost Atapattu to the first ball of the innings on Wednesday, featured in three major partnerships on his way to a career-best score.

He put on 203 runs for the second wicket with skipper Sanath Jayasuriya, who fell for 88 in the fourth over after lunch, Pakistan's first success in 51.2 overs.

He then put on 173 at just under a run a ball with Mahela Jayawardena (68), and then added 71 runs with Russell Arnold.

On a wicket that has settled considerably since the first day, Sangakkara gave only two chances when he was dropped on 119 and 182.

The Pakistani bowlers did not help their cause by bowling too short, allowing the batsmen to rack up 339 runs in the day.

Sri Lanka's total domination of the match has left the home side facing a daunting challenge to save the match and defend their title.

Sangakkara, who resumed on his overnight 39, launched into the Pakistan bowlers from the outset, reaching his 100 in the last over before lunch by taking three fours off Shahid Afridi.

His 150 was scored from 201 balls in 304 minutes while his double hundred came after the second new ball had been taken in 394 minutes and 272 balls.

His three sixes all came off off-spinner Shoaib Malik but he was especially severe on pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who conceded 96 runs in 19 overs.

Mail Cricket Editor