Sri Lanka Cricket

One of the giants of international cricket is just two days away from the end of his time in Tests, as Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene brings his glittering career to a close.

Against Pakistan in Colombo, at the end of the third day, he was unbeaten on 49 alongside another senior player and his great friend, Kumar Sangakkara.

The pair have taken the Sri Lankans a lead of 165 runs at stumps with their unbroken stand of 98 and have the perfect opportunity to close out their partnership in the best way possible.

For Jayawardene to bow out with a victory in this game—and a 2-0 victory in the series—would be a perfect reward for a superb career.

Between them, Jayawardene and Sangakkara have scored 23,792 runs in Test matches and scored 71 centuries.

They have been part of several of the biggest partnerships in the history of Sri Lankan cricket, most notably in 2006 when they put on 624 against South Africa.

That stand is the record partnership for the third wicket in the history of Test cricket and shows how much the pair have enjoyed batting together over the years.

It is also part of an aggregate of 6,447 runs as a partnership, the third most in the history of the game and at a brilliant average of 56.06.

Now, they have one last chance to impress and to secure victory for their side, and they have already shown they are both still capable of coping on any surface.

When they came together in this game, Sri Lanka were in a little trouble at 79-2 on a pitch that offers more to the bowlers in the final session of the day than at any other time.

However, they both played superb defensive shots and punished any loose balls from a depleted Pakistan attack that lacked hospitalised seamer Junaid Khan.

Their calmness under pressure took the sting out of the game, at least for the time being, and has set Sri Lanka up well to push for the win over the next two days.

So far, it has not been the most prolific series for Jayawardene, as he has only managed 138 runs.

However, the 37-year-old will leave an enormous void when he leaves the international stage at the end of this game, both as a batsman and as a leader.

If he and Sangakkara can continue their partnership and help Sri Lanka set a target from which they can bowl Pakistan out and take victory, it will be the perfect end.

Another series victory, and another big partnership with Sangakkara, would perhaps be the most fitting way to conclude a glittering career.

The second Test in Colombo is evenly poised after Pakistan reached 244-6 at stumps on Day 2, in reply to Sri Lanka's first innings 320.

Spinner Rangana Herath took five wickets but the tourists will be looking to establish a first innings lead with Sarfraz Ahmed unbeaten on 66.

Sri Lanka resumed on 261-8 and boosted their total thanks to a 36-run final wicket partnership between Herath (17) and Chanaka Welegedara (27 not out).

Left-arm paceman Junaid Khan earlier trapped Dhammika Prasad for 13 and finished with figures of 5-87.

Pakistan made a brisk start to their reply, bringing up the 50 in just 9.5 overs, although they lost Khurram Manzoor (23) who was caught behind off Herath.

They were in a promising position at 110-1 but lost four wickets for 30 runs in under 11 overs either side of tea.

Herath had Azhar Ali (32) caught by Angelo Mathews at short mid-wicket before fellow spinner Dilruwan Perera removed opener Ahmed Shehzad (58). He was caught by keeper Niroshan Dickwella off the inside edge.

Herath then accounted for Pakistan's experienced pair of Younus Khan (13) and Misbah-ul-Haq (5) before ending a 93-run partnership for the sixth wicket by bowling Asad Shafiq (42).

Sri Lanka won the opening match of the two-game series by seven wickets.

Sri Lanka won the first Test against Pakistan in a dramatic finish in Galle.

Set 99 runs in 21 overs, after taking nine wickets on the final day, they reached their target with 28 balls to spare.

Captain Angelo Mathews hit the winning run, having blasted 25 off 13 balls, as they pulled off an improbable victory.

Sri Lanka scored 24 from the first six overs and needed five-an-over from the mandatory final 15 overs.

Despite losing wickets and Pakistan using go-slow tactics and fast bowlers from both ends under darkening skies, they managed to reach their target in 16.2 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Both sides had scored over 450 in their first innings, but Pakistan were skittled for 180 on Day 5.

Having resumed on 4-1, they slipped to 66-4 at lunch, with Dhammika Prasad removing nightwatchman Saeed Ajmal (4) and Ahmed Shehzad (16) before Rangana Herath picked up the key wicket of Younis Khan, bowled through the gate for 13.

Azhar Ali (41) and captain Misbah-ul-Haq (28) put on 56 for the fifth wicket before they both fell in the space of three balls to Herath and Dilruwan Perera respectively.

Asad Shafiq and Abdur Rehman were dismissed before tea and Herath wrapped up the tail to finish with incredible figures of 6-48.

Kumar Sangakkara’s latest double-hundred against Pakistan in the first Test at Galle has only served to reaffirm the Sri Lankan’s status as one of the game’s all-time great batsmen.

The erudite law graduate was finally out just before tea on Day 4 for 221, having added 119 more runs to his overnight score, in the process edging past West Indian legend Brian Lara with what was the 10th double-century of his Test career.

And now only Sir Donald Bradman, with 12 double-tons, remains ahead of Sangakkara, although the graceful left-handed batsman did move level with The Don at the Galle International Stadium by compiling the 18th score of 150 or more in his Test career.

Remarkable numbers from a truly remarkable player and one who, when he does finally decide to call it a day, will be remembered as being not just his country’s best-ever batsman, but also alongside both Sachin Tendulkar and Lara as one of the world’s true greats.

Do not forget either that Sangakkara, who was the equal fastest to 10,000 Test runs alongside that aforementioned duo, has had to also contend with keeping wicket throughout many of his 127 Tests to date.

As a result, Sanga’s current average of 59.13—which places him at No. 6 in the all-time Test-match batting averages table—needs to be looked at in that particular light, and yet it is still the highest of any batsman who has played more than 55 Tests or scored more than 7,000 runs.

In fact, when you also factor in the 36-year-old’s excellent batting record outside of Asia, which unlike many other subcontinental stars—especially his best mate Mahela Jayawardene—stands up well in comparison to how he performs in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, then an even clearer picture of the player’s true worth begins to emerge.

Throw in the left-hander’s ability to play both world-class spinners, such as mystery tweaker Saeed Ajmal and express pacemen like Dale Steyn, and it is easy to understand just why Sangakkara is rated so highly.

Ominously, though, for bowlers throughout the world, like a fine wine the veteran simply seems to be getting better with age, if that were possible.

Certainly relinquishing the wicketkeeping duties in the Test arena back in 2008 helped take his batting to new heights, while the No. 3 has continued to churn out the runs during recent series in England and at home to South Africa.

And that decision should ultimately prolong the Sri Lankan’s international career, but for how much longer is open to debate, especially given Jayawardene’s announcement in July to retire from Test cricket at the end of this current series with Pakistan later this month.

Both the experienced duo will definitely carry on until next February’s 50-over World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, though, in an attempt to make up for the pain of Sri Lanka losing in the final of the previous two competitions.

However, the former captain may also then opt to follow Jayawardene in calling it a day, by which time he will be 37 and have nothing much left to achieve in the game following what has been a wonderful 2014 so far for the little island in the Indian Ocean.

As not only did Sri Lanka win the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh in April, but Sanga and Co. then followed up that momentous achievement by recording their maiden Test series win in England two months later.

So all that leaves to tick off for the Sri Lankan would be a 50-over World Cup triumph Down Under next March, to go alongside his own current personal batting achievements for his country which see Sangakkara with the most Test fifties (50), hundreds (37) and runs (11,886).

Now that would be a fitting finale to a glorious career…

Kumar Sangakkara made more history as Sri Lanka eked out a first-innings lead in the first Test against Pakistan in Galle.

Sangakkara scored 221, his 10th double century in Test cricket, as the hosts made 533-9 in reply to Pakistan's 451.

Sangakkara scores his 10th Test double hundred and only behind THE Sir Donald Bradman #PakvSL #SLvPak pic.twitter.com/PcaULjTvyt

— Express Sports (@IExpressSports) August 9, 2014

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews declared with a lead of 82 and had 20 minutes late on the fourth day to bowl at the tourists.

Khurram Manzoor was caught behind off Rangana Herath as Pakistan went to stumps on 4-1 and give Sri Lanka a slim hope of forcing a victory on the fifth day.

Sri Lanka 533/9d Sri Lanka lead by 82 runs with 1 wicket remaining in the 1st innings pic.twitter.com/pJNeOB3fZS

— PTV Sports Official (@PTVSp0rts) August 9, 2014

Sangakkara moved into joint second place in the history of the game with his marathon 425-ball effort, hitting 24 boundaries before finally being stumped off Abdur Rehman.

However, by then, he had shared a 181-run partnership with Mathews, who contributed 91, after the early loss of fellow veteran Mahela Jayawardene.

Sri Lanka resumed on 252-2, but the crowd was silenced as Jayawardene, playing in his penultimate Test, was trapped lbw by Junaid Khan for 59 off the fourth ball of the morning.

Junaid Khan's review against Mahela Jayawardene was first successful review by a "bowling team" in last 3 Tests in SL (two vs SA).#SLvPak

— Farooq khan (@ICCt20_Live) August 9, 2014

Mathews again missed out on a century as he fell just before tea, caught at first slip by Younis Khan, the first of five wickets for Saeed Ajmal.

We are running out of space on this graphic, Angelo... http://t.co/OAZnkTkrDs #slvpak pic.twitter.com/03gUA0MZgE

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) August 9, 2014

Younis dropped Sangakkara on 173 and he took advantage of that slip to bring up his 200 by taking a single off Ajmal.

Kumar Sangakkara (13) now has most score of 190+ in Tests beating Sir Don Bradman (12) #SLvPak

— Cricket Record (@cricinfo_record) August 9, 2014

Kumar Sangakkara scored his 37th Test century as Sri Lanka made steady inroads into Pakistan's first-innings total on Day 3 of the first Test in Galle.

The 36-year-old was 102 not out and shared a 108-run partnership with fellow veteran Mahela Jayawardene as the hosts reached 252-2 in reply to Pakistan's 451.

Kumar Sangakkara`s 37th century and 10th against Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/Wz8mbWlA6d

— PTV Sports Official (@PTVSp0rts) August 8, 2014

Jayawardene, playing in his penultimate Test before retirement, was 55 not out when rain brought a premature end to proceedings with only 46 overs possible.

Fifty up of Mahela Jayawardene in 92 balls. pic.twitter.com/bkBrjecpf8

— PTV Sports Official (@PTVSp0rts) August 8, 2014

Sri Lanka resumed on 99-1 with Kaushal Silva the only wicket to fall before lunch.

The opener departed for 64 when he pushed at a Mohammad Talha delivery and keeper Sarfraz Ahmed dived to his right to take a one-handed catch.

Jayawardene, who will quit Test cricket after the second and final Test of this series in Colombo, had made 11 when he was adjudged lbw to Junaid Khan. However, he successfully reviewed, with replays showing the ball missing off-stump.

Sri Lanka moved to 174-2 at lunch with Sangakkara having brought up his 50 off 123 balls, and they added a further 78 runs in just 20 overs after the adjournment before the heavens opened.

Since Dec 2012 Sangakkara in his last 14 Tests has a 50+ score in 13 of those matches. Missing at Dubai v Pak in Jan 2014 (26 & 9*) #SLvPak

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) August 8, 2014

Sangakkara cut Abdur Rehman to the boundary just before the interruption for his 10th Test ton against Pakistan.

Mahela Jayawardene scored his 34th Test century as Sri Lanka made a strong start to the second Test against South Africa in Colombo.

The hosts, who won the toss and elected to bat, finished day one on 305-5 at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground with Jayawardene finishing unbeaten on 140.

He hit 16 boundaries and a six in his 225-ball innings as SL look to draw the series with a victory in the final match.

Dale Steyn made a double breakthrough in the fifth over of the morning, removing Upul Tharanga and Kumar Sangakkara.

Opener Tharanga fended a catch to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, and then Sangakkara pulled straight to Imran Tahir at square leg to depart for a first ball duck.

Jayawardene raced to his half-century off 58 balls, but SL went to lunch on 115-3 after Kaushal Silva edged JP Duminy to slip after making 44.

Jayawardene and Angelo Mathews put on 96 runs without loss in the afternoon session with the former bringing up his 11th Test hundred at his home venue just before tea.

A 131-run fourth wicket partnership ended when Mathews was caught behind off Duminy after making 63 and Kithuruwan Vithanage fell late in the day for 13 as he could only fend a short Morne Morkel delivery to AB de Villiers in the slip cordon.

South Africa won the opening Test by 153 runs in Galle and will return to the top of the ICC Test rankings if they avoid defeat.