Samaraweera stands firm

Thilan Samaraweera brought up his second century of Sri Lanka's Test tour today

Centuries from Kumar Sangakkara and Thilan Samaraweera put Sri Lanka in control on the opening day of the second Test against Pakistan in Lahore.

Fast bowler Umar Gul gave the hosts a brisk start by claiming two wickets inside the first hour, but their grip weakened under a strong performance from the Sri Lanka duo.

Sangakkara prevented the tourists’ innings from unravelling with a battling 104, while Samaraweera was unbeaten on 133 as Sri Lanka reached 317 for four at stumps.

Tillakaratne Dilshan, on three, was keeping Samaraweera company when play was called off due to bad light with 3.2 overs still remaining.

Gul justified Pakistan's decision to bowl first at the Gaddafi Stadium by sending back opener Malinda Warnapura for eight and then dismissing Tharanga Paranavitana for 21.

Sangakkara walked to the crease at the fall of Warnapura's wicket with Sri Lanka on 16 for one, but watched as Paranavitana fell at the other end.

Despite the quick blows, Sangakkara looked fluent at the start and took the attack to Pakistan's inexperienced pacemen by putting on 61 runs for the third wicket with captain Mahela Jayawardene.

Jayawardene, playing his last match as skipper, went on to reach 30 when his innings was ended by Gul at the start of the afternoon session.

The fast bowler, resuming proceedings after lunch, snared his third victim in his second over when he got Jayawardene to edge one to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal.

Samaraweera then joined Sangakkara and the two held sway.

Sangakkara had briefly withdrawn into a shell at the fall of Jayawardene's wicket, but came into his own again with consecutive blows off Gul to reach his half-century.

Samaraweera then began to shoulder the attack and the two added 204 runs for the fourth wicket as the balance slowly shifted Sri Lanka's way.

Kumar Sangakkara took the attack to Pakistan's inexperienced pacemen to put Sri Lanka in control

Pakistan were not without their chances, though.

Sangakkara was put down by Faisal Iqbal when he was on 55, while Samaraweera was dropped on 68 by Akmal, the wicketkeeper failing to grasp an outside edge.

Samaraweera, who contributed 122 runs to Sangakkara's 72 in the stand for the fourth wicket, reached his century with consecutive boundaries off Gul.

Sangakkara then passed the three-figure mark with a couple of runs through midwicket off leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.

Fast bowler Yasir Arafat finally dislodged Sangakkara having the batsman caught behind with just over eight overs remaining in the day.

Gul, the only experienced fast bowler in the Pakistan side, had toiled in the morning with some success, but Younus Khan's side struggled to contain the run flow.

Fast bowler Mohammad Talha, making his debut, had shared the new ball with Gul but leaked runs against an attacking field.

Gul had a good shout for leg before against Warnapura in his first over turned down, but struck when he got the left-hander to edge a delivery to Misbah-ul-Haq at first slip.

Paranavitana, who made his debut in the first Test in Karachi, looked good during his brief stay at the crease but fell to an impressive catch by Shoaib Malik at gully.

Paranavitana powerfully cut a short-pitched delivery from Gul, but the ball flew in the air and Malik dived smartly to his left to complete the catch.