Sangakkara smashes half century to lead the fightback
Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara plays a shot during the fourth day of the first test cricket mach between Sri Lanka and South Africa in Galle (Photo: AP)
Galle: Kumar Sangakkara smashed his 49th half-century as Sri Lanka launched a fightback on the fourth day of the first Test against South Africa on Saturday. The prolific left-hander also shared 96 runs for the unbroken second wicket with Kaushal Silva (37) to take Sri Lanka to 110/1 at stumps.
The hosts need 260 runs with nine wickets in hand to pull off a magical come-from-behind win with three full sessions left in the game. “In a situation like this where you have 90 overs to bat, a win is not guaranteed but there is a chance,” Sri Lankan coach Marvan Atapattu said after the day’s play.
“It’s a challenging total but we’ve got a team which is willing to fight.” Sri Lanka had been forced on the backfoot after they were bowled out for 292 to concede a huge 163-run lead in the first innings. But a sporting declaration by new South African skipper Hashim Amla at the tea score of 206-6 turned the game on its head.
( Source : AFP )
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