- City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
- Dubai 04:27 05:45 12:20 15:47 18:49 20:07
Sri Lankan players celebrate the dismissal of Pakistan's batsman Azhar Ali (right) during the third day of the first Test at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. (AP)
Kumar Sangakkara struck a defiant unbeaten 113 Friday but Sri Lanka were still facing an uphill task to avoid defeat against Pakistan in the opening test at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
Sri Lanka trailed by 314 runs after the first innings and were still 102 behind after going to tea on day four at 212-4.
Angelo Mathews was 10 not out with Sangakkara, whose 26th test century spanned 210 balls and 293 minutes and included 12 fours.
The 33-year-old Sangakkara batted through the morning session with Lahiru Thirimanne (68) to stretch their second wicket stand to 153 and raise Sri Lankan hopes.
But once Thirimanne gifted his wicket with a careless run out after lunch, Pakistan took the initiative with two more wickets in the second session.
Thirimanne, who struck four boundaries off 159 balls in his maiden test half century, tried to squeeze a second run after clipping to deep square leg but Azhar Ali's accurate return found him a yard short.
Seven runs later, Saeed Ajmal claimed the prized wicket of veteran Mahela Jayawardene, who under-edged a cut onto his stumps right after getting off the mark with a classy on-drive for four.
Captain Tillekeratne Dilshan (9) also fell cheaply, losing his middle stump to left-arm seamer Juniad Khan at 191-4.
Sangakkara and Mathews shared an unbroken partnership of 21 before the tea break.
Junaid claimed 1-32 while Ajmal took 1-68.
AP
Scorecard
Sri Lanka 1st innings 197 (A. Mathews 52 not out; Junaid Khan 5-38)
Pakistan 1st innings 511-6 dec (Taufiq Umar 236, Mohammad Hafeez 75, Azhar Ali 70; R. Herath 3-126)
Sri Lanka 2nd innings (overnight 47-1)
T. Paranavitana lbw b Gul 0
L. Thirimanne run out 68
K. Sangakkara not out 113
M. Jayawardene b Ajmal 4
T. Dilshan b Khan 9
A. Mathews not out 10
Extras: (b3, lb4, nb1) 8
Total: (for four wkts) 212
Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Paranavitana), 2-153 (Thirimanne), 3-160 (Jayawardene), 4-191 (Dilshan)
Bowling: Gul 8-0-30-1 (nb1), Cheema 14-0-55-0, Ajmal 29-7-70-1, Khan 12-0-32-1, Hafeez 9-1-18-0
Overs: 72
Toss: Pakistan
Umpires: Tony Hill (NZL) and Rodney Tucker (AUS)
Tv umpire: Ahsan Raza (PAK)
Match referee: David Boon (AUS)
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