Sri Lanka post 413 against Pakistan

SHARJAH, Nov 4 (Cricinfo): An adventurous ninth-wicket stand made a refreshing change from two sessions of slow scoring as Sri Lanka made their way to 413 against Pakistan on the second day in Sharjah. The fickleness of Test cricket was on display as Sri Lanka lost four wickets in just over an hour's play to slip from a robust 300 for 3 before Rangana Herath's swing-at-everything cameo pushed them past 400. The conditions had provided little for the bowlers in the first day, but there was considerably more spin on offer today and Umar Gul dramatically reverse-swung the old ball, to make things difficult for the batsmen. Another day of run-accumulation seemingly beckoned for Sri Lanka but none of the established middle-order batsmen provided the impetus in the morning. Mahela Jayawardene wasn't at his fluent best before becoming the latest victim of an umpiring blunder. Jayawardene was given out lbw to a delivery from Junaid Khan that jagged in from short of a length, striking him on the thigh pad. The ball was going to head over the stumps, but the usually accurate Simon Taufel disagreed, much to Pakistan's relief. Sangakkara remained his unflustered self, and though he too couldn't force the pace there weren't too many anxious moments either. Sri Lanka 413 (Sangakkara 144, Dilshan 92, Ajmal 4-132) v Pakistan.