SHARJAH // Kumar Sangakkara, the stylish left-handed batsman, on Friday termed it a privilege to reach 9,000 Test runs during his attractive knock of 144 in the third and final Test against Pakistan at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
"It's pretty encouraging to know that I've reached 9,000 Test runs," said Sangakkara, who is the 11th batsman in the world, and second Sri Lankan behind Mahela Jayawardene, to reach the milestone.
The former captain anchored Sri Lanka's first innings to 413 before Pakistan finished the second day on 35 for two, still 378 runs behind. Pakistan lead the three-Test series 1-0.
Sangakkara and Jayawardene had been expected to build on their overnight third-wicket partnership of 68, but added only another 16 runs before Jayawardene (39) was controversially given out lbw to Junaid Khan by the umpire Simon Taufel.
Sangakkara, 34, has enjoyed a good run of form which saw him hitting a match-saving 211 in the drawn first Test in Abu Dhabi.
He also made 78 in Pakistan's nine-wicket win in the second Test in Dubai.
"My job is to just keep scoring runs and doing as well as I can for the team," he said. "Every Test match is a new challenge.
"I am enjoying my career at the moment and I am looking forward to doing what I can for the side."
Sangakkara miscued a pull off Saeed Ajmal, the off-spinner, soon after lunch, and his dismissal triggered a middle-order collapse which saw Sri Lanka lose four quick wickets.
"It was disappointing because at that stage if I had waited for a few more overs, we would have pushed on quite hard perhaps when we got closer to tea," Sangakkara said.
He hoped his bowlers restrict Pakistan to 250 on Saturday.
"The pitch is still batting-friendly," Sangakkara said. "The wicket was a bit slow on the first two days and it will probably be the same [on Saturday].
"It's not the easiest wicket to play, so it would be good if we can restrict them to under 250."
Ajmal, on the other hand, hoped his team bat as productively as they did in the first two Tests.
"We need to bat well and take the lead. We are positive and want to win this Test so that we can win the series 2-0 and I am happy to play my part," said the bowler, who finished with figures of four for 132.
