Keeping to Murali has helped me read Ajmal better, says Kumar Sangakkara

Kumar Sangakkara

Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara scored his 10th double century in Test matches in the first Test against Pakistan at Galle. After his innings of 221, he now enjoys an incredible average of 167 against one of the leading spinners in the world, Saeed Ajmal.

"I think it's mainly because I've kept a lot to Murali, so I've had to learn to read deliveries from the hand," Sangakkara said of his good record against the off-spinner. The left-hander became the first Asian to aggregate 500+ runs against a single bowler.

"I don't say that I read Ajmal all the time, but most of the time I do read his doosra, so that makes it slightly easier to play. Because I'm a leftie I don't have to worry about being hit on the pads when he beats my bat. If he does beat my bat, it's usually straight to the wicketkeeper. As a right-hander, he can beat you on both sides of the bat, so that makes it a bit hard. It's a combination of both factors." added the 36-year-old.

It was the 137-Test veteran’s 3rd double ton against the Asian rivals. Speaking on his consistent run making habit against the team that is known to boast a competitive bowling line-up, Sangakkara said: "My first double-hundred was against them in Lahore. Since then I've just had a knack of scoring against them.

“They've got a very good attack, but it's maybe because I'm a left-hander. Maybe their spinners find it a bit difficult to bowl to me - I don't know. I think I've had a bit of good fortune as well along the way. They sometimes drop a few catches along the way, which helps me. Sometimes as a batsman you feel in sync and in rhythm with a certain attack, and I think the Pakistanis have been like that for me."

We’ll put pressure on Pakistan

In his 37th Test century, he also became the batsman with most 190+ scores bettering the legendary Don Bradman’s record of 12.

On his side’s chances of winning this Test, Sangakkara remained hopeful.

"Maybe there is a bit less turn in this pitch. It maybe broke up a bit less and there was more grass cover on the wicket. I think it was a fantastic effort by the curator to give us a wicket of such quality after the rain that they had and the preparation being stalled.

I think it was a case where again we let the Pakistan tail get away with a few too many runs, especially with Rehman getting a fifty. Other than that if we can get a few early wickets in the morning, we'll try and see if we can put pressure on them," he said after the fourth day’s play.

Boosted by his ton, the home side is now pushing for a win with Pakistan struggling at 66/4 at lunch on the final day. Sri Lanka were ahead by 16 runs by that time and will be looking to send off the retiring Mahela Jayawardene on a high.