13, June 2012 (Cricturf): Kumar Sangakkara on the last day of the 3rd Test against Pakistan had the opportunity to reach another century. But making the teams goal was his own goal, Sangakkara along with the team call it off the innings with 54 balls remaining in the innings.
All the Lankans were hoping to see a second win over Pakistan to win the series while Sri Lakan team suddenly finished the game as a draw. Pakistan gave a target of 270 in 71 overs. The youngster Dinesh Chandimal and Sanga's partnership started giving winnings glimpses to Sri Lanka. Chandimal was a key and Mahela stating ‘Chandimal’s wicket added lot of impact to the final decision of the game. He gave us hope about winnings from the beginning’ is a confirmation for it.
Kumar Sangakkara and Dinesh Chandimal started to increase the hopes about a win after Sri Lanka lost the wicket of Paranavithana. Both of them were rotating and hitting the ball comfortably. Chandimal had to depart for 65 after playing a careless shot,at that point of the innings and Sangakkara showing his class as the World’s no.1 Test cricketer ended his unbeaten inning with 72 runs.
When Sri Lanka call off the game, it was Sangakkara and Mathews who was on the crease and Sangakkara who was only 28 runs away from is 31st century without any hesitation honored the teams decision to end the game as a draw. Kumar Sangakara and the rest of the team call off the game at such a position even with wickets in hand created a buzz among the commentators, cricket experts and fans who thought it was a possible chase. 
As Mahela stated in the post match, it was not a easy decision to take but nevertheless a decision they had to take giving the priority to the series win because anything in the game could have changed in seconds.
This was the first Test series win for Sri Lanka after 2009 and most importatnly the first series win after the Lankan legend Muralitharan left international cricket. Looking at all those historical facts, taking a less risk and deciding to end the game and win the series from Mahela’s point of view is quite a Captains decision in a situation like this.
Sri Lanka at the end won the series as 1-0 and Kumar Sangakkara became the Man of the Series for his total of 490 runs throughout the series. This is Kumar Sangakkara’s second Man of the Series in Test cricket and the interesting fact is his first is also with Pakistan.
- Full Photo Album
- Mahela's media briefing video
- Highlights: 3rd Test - 5th day Sri Lanka vs Pakistan 12/07/2012
- ටෙස්ට් ශතකයක් හා ජයක් අතහැර ගෞරවාන්විත ලෙස තරගාවලියක් ජයගත් අපේ කාලයේ
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