Ton-up Sangakkara Keeps Pakistan on Bay

Kumar Sangakkara put his wealth of experience on show with a pugnacious unbeaten hundred to keep Pakistan's victory bids on hold in the first Test here on Friday.
The 33-year-old left-hander notched 161 for his 26th Test hundred to help Sri Lanka, trailing by 314 runs in the first innings, reach 298-5 in their second knock at close on the fourth day at Abu Dhabi stadium.
They need only 16 runs to make Pakistan bat again, and will look to bat out at least two of the three sessions on the fifth and final day to salvage an unlikely draw.
 Sangakkara found an able ally in Prasanna Jayawardene (25 not out) to fight off the second new ball, with which paceman Umar Gul struck with the first delivery to remove Angelo Mathews (22).
Sangakkara-Jayawardene stand for the sixth wicket has so far yielded 65 runs.
Playing his 101st Test, Sangakkara took the fight to the Pakistani bowlers, adding an invaluable 153 runs for the second wickets with opener Lahiru Thirimanne who made a career-best 68.
Walking into bat after Sri Lanka lost opener Tharanga Paranavitana off the very first ball of their second innings on Thursday, Sangakkara batted with resolve as Sri Lanka, resuming at 47-1, reached 125-1 by lunch.
Pakistan then hit back by dismissing Thirimanne soon after lunch, run out after the opener, taking a second run but failed to beat a throw from the fine-leg by Azhar Ali.
Seven runs later, Mahela Jayawardene (four) played on to off-spinner Saeed Ajmal before paceman Junaid Khan bowled skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan through the gate for nine, leaving Sri Lanka at 191-4.
Despite losing partners, Sangakkara kept his cool, hitting Khan for his 11th boundary to reach three-figure mark, his sixth against Pakistan. He has so far hit 16 boundaries during his 295-ball stay at the pitch.
Pakistan spilled as many as six catches in the day but their first innings, three off Thirimanne, which helped Sri Lanka fight back.
Khan, who destroyed Sri Lanka with 5-38 in their first innings of 197, was the unlukcy bowler on three occasions as Mohammad Hafeez grassed two regulation catches in the slip off Thirimanne when he was on 40.
Much to Khan's disappointment Younis Khan held a sharp edge off Sangakkara but the catch was disallowed by the umpires as the ball had bounced before getting into the hands of the slip fielder.
Pakistan again let off Sangakkara when Younis failed to hold onto a sharp edge when a Saeed Ajmal's delivery surprised the left-handed batsman batting on 56.
Pakistan also let off Prasanna when substitute fielder Wahab Riaz failed to catch a miscued hook off Gul when the batsman was 12.

Brief scores
Sri Lanka 197 and 298 for 5 (Sangakkara 161*, Thirimanne 68)
Pakistan 511 for 6 dec
Status Sri Lanka trial by 16 runs

Malik Ruled Out of Contract From PCB

Pakistan's former captain, Shoaib Malik has been ruled out of contention to get a central contract from the Pakistan Cricket Board as he has still not been able to satisfy the integrity committee about an amount of 90,000 pounds in his account. 
Sources in the board said that Malik, Danish Kaneria, Kamran Akmal and Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Akhtar who had announced their retirements were out of contention for getting a central contract. 
"In Malik's case he has provided everything that was asked for by the integrity committee of the board except for the questions surrounding the fate of the 90,000 pounds," one source said. 
The source said that the amount was found in one of Malik's accounts backdated but than went missing in the latest bank statement he submitted to the board. 
"The integrity committee asked him to explain where he had spent the amount but so far he has been unable to give a satisfactory reply to them," the source said. 
"Malik has told the committee that he gave loans to some of his friends but was unable to give details of the persons he had given the amount to leaving the committee members not satisfied with his response," the source said. 
Another source aware of the details confirmed that during his appearances before the integrity committee, it was also found that an Indian had worked for as Malik's agent for a while and was investigated. 
"The present situation is that Malik is clear in every regard except for the unanswered questions about how the 90,000 pounds were spent and where," the source said. 
The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board in a recent interview had said that once Malik cleared this issue he could walk into the Pakistan team. 
Ijaz Butt had noted that given his performance at the domestic level and his outstanding record in one-day internationals, the Pakistan team needed an allrounder of Malik's caliber in the team. 
"I have myself spoken to him and given him brotherly advice that he should just satisfy the integrity committee about this issue and he is clear to play for Pakistan," Butt had said. 
Malik last played for Pakistan on the England tour last year but since than has been ignored for selection and was also not considered for the World Cup because of his issues with the integrity committee. 
The PCB is due to announce fresh central contracts by next month for the second half of the year.