Sangakkara, Prasanna frustrate Pakistan in Test

Kumar Sangakkara was 15 short of his eighth double hundred as the former Sri Lankan captain in company of Prasanna Jayawardene frustrated Pakistan in the first Test here on Saturday.

The left-handed Sangakkara was unbeaten on 185 and together with Prasanna (66 not out) thwarted Pakistan's victory bids on the fifth and final day as Sri Lanka reached 364-5 by lunch at Abu Dhabi stadium.

Sri Lanka, who conceded a 314-run lead in the first innings, now have a 50-run lead with five wickets in hand. The Sangakkara-Prasanna stand for the sixth wicket has so far yielded 131 runs.

Resuming at 298-5 Sri Lanka survived the two-hour session unscathed as the overnight pair of Sangakkara and Prasanna kept the Pakistan's three-pronged pace attack at bay despite a hostile spell by Umar Gul.

Prasanna, dropped by substitute Wahab Riaz off Gul on 11 -- one of six catches Pakistani fielders dropped on Friday -- hit Aizaz Cheema and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal for consecutive boundaries to help Sri Lanka erase the deficit.

With the second boundary he also brought up his fourth Test fifty, coming off 113 balls.

Sangakkara, whose wicket is crucial for both Pakistan and Sri Lanka then came into his own hitting Ajmal for an exquisite cover drive to the ropes. He has so far hit 17 boundaries during his 370-ball knock.

Pakistan used all five bowlers but were left to rue the missed chances of Friday which could spoil their chances of taking lead in the three-Test series.

The second Test starts in Dubai from October 26, while the third will be played in Sharjah from November 3.