Kaneria’s six puts Pak in control

Kaneria finished with 6-102 as Sri Lanka collapsed from a comfortable position of 333-3. With no specialist batsman left at the crease, the Sri Lankans face an uphill task on the final day to save the Test.

In a remarkable final session of play after Jayasuriya (107) and Sangakkara (138) had held the innings together, Pakistan captured four wickets for 27 runs. Kaneria, playing in his 20th Test, captured his sixth five-wicket haul.

Sri Lanka lead the two match series having won the first Test in Faisalabad by 201 runs. Kaneria tormented the batsmen throughout the day and triggered the collapse by having Thilan Samaraweera caught at slip by Younis Khan. Debutant Rana Naved rekindled hopes of a win when he claimed his first Test victim, the prized scalp of Sangakkara, just seven overs before the close.

Sangakkara, who reached his seventh hundred in the first over after tea, batted for nearly six hours and faced 251 balls in an innings which included 20 fours and one six.

He reached triple figures with two flowing cover drives off Abdul Razzaq but was out after snicking the ball.

Kaneria then had Jehan Mubarak caught at leg slip off an inside edge for two and bowled Romesh Kaluwitharana for seven to swing the match Pakistan’s way. Pakistan had to toil hard in the three sessions on an easy paced track. Jayasuriya required just six balls to get the four runs required for his 14th Test century during the morning session when Sri Lanka resumed on 134-1.

Brief scores

208 and 361-7 (Jayasuriya 107, Sangakkara 138, Kaneria 6-102) vs Pakistan: 478.