“Patchy” Sri Lanka look to sweep Pakistan series

Colombo: Kumar Sangakkara hopes to complete a 3-0 sweep against Pakistan in his first Test series as Sri Lanka captain despite admitting his team had played “patchy” cricket so far.

“We have certainly not been at our best in this series,” Sangakkara told reporters ahead of the third and final Test starting at the Sinhalese sports club on Monday.

“It is always good to aim for a sweep, but you can’t achieve that without playing your best cricket. We have been patchy, and so has Pakistan.”

Sri Lanka took a decisive 2-0 lead in the series despite failing to hit the 300-run mark in two Tests against a Pakistani attack lacking experience.

“The batting has to improve,” said Sangakkara. “We have to buckle down and bat positively.”

If Sri Lanka do succeed and win their first ever home series against Pakistan, it would be due mainly to three inexplicable batting collapses by the tourists in four innings.

Pakistan dominated the initial three days of the first Test in Galle, only to falter on the fourth morning when, needing 97 to win with eight wickets in hand, they managed to lose the match by 50 runs.

In the second Test at the P.Sara Oval in Colombo, Pakistan crashed to a timid 90 in the first innings and then lost nine wickets for 35 runs in the second innings after coasting on 285-1 at one stage.

Sangakkara however warned Pakistan would be looking to avenge defeat. “Pakistan has always been a temperamental side, they can be self-destructive at times, but they are a dangerous team.”

Sri Lanka, still without spin king Muttiah Muralitharan who is resting a knee injury, will look to give veteran seamer Chaminda Vaas a fitting farewell.

Vaas, 35, said on Sunday he will retire from Test cricket after the Pakistan series, but will continue to play limited-overs internationals.

The 110-Test veteran with 354 wickets was overlooked for the first two Tests, but has been recalled for the final match at the risk of changing a winning formula.

“There is a good possibility that we may go in with four seamers and leave out a bowler who has not done well,” said Sangakkara.

Vaas could be the fourth seamer alongside Nuwan Kulasekera, Thilan Thushara and Angelo Mathews on a wicket that has taken a lot of rain over the last few days.

That would mean right-arm spinner Ajantha Mathews, who has been unimpressive so far in the series with just five wickets in four innings, would miss out.

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam said he hoped his team raises their game to earn a consolation win ahead of the five-match one-day series against Sri Lanka.

Bureau Report