Kumar Sangakkara hit a fighting hundred but could not prevent Sri Lanka from losing the two-day tour match by 112 runs against Patron's XI here on Wednesday. The attractive left-handed batsman scored 100 off 176 balls before retiring hurt as the tourists managed 283-5 in their allotted 90 overs, losing the match on the first-innings basis at the Defence Stadium.
The Patron's XI scored 395-4 in their stipulated 90 overs with centuries from Ahmed Shahzad and Azhar Ali on Tuesday. Sangakkara hit 10 boundaries and built a 112-run third wicket stand with skipper Mahela Jayawardene who made 49. Sri Lanka had lost openers Malinda Warnapura (nought) and Tharanga Paranavitana (five) with the total on 26.
Jayawardene hit four boundaries and two sixes before he fell to leg-spinner Yasir Shah. Thilan Samaraweera chipped in with 46. The tourists start the first of two Tests here on Saturday. The second Test will be played in Lahore from March 1.
"We were not particularly bothered about the result because our top batsmen got the much needed practice before the Tests," said top order batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan, who hit a century in each innings in Sri Lanka's last Test - against Bangladesh last month.
ABBREVIATED SCORES: Patron's XI 394-5 in 90 overs (Ahmed Shahzad 146, Azhar Ali 100; C. Vaas 1-27) Sri Lanka 283-5 in 90 overs (K. Sangakkara 100 retired hurt, M. Jayawardene 49).