We need to bat as long as we can - Sangakkara

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara has asked for better contributions from his batsmen in the second Test at the P Sara Stadium in Colombo as his team look to record their first ever home series win against Pakistan. Sri Lanka staged a sensational turnaround on the fourth day in Galle to take a 1-0 lead in the series but the team failed to cross 300 in either innings. Sangakkara was quite aware of his team's failings despite the victory.

"A first innings total is always vital and our job is to go out there and bat as long as we possibly can," Sangakkara said. "We've got a batting line-up of seven that has scored runs against almost every opposition in world cricket. We are just asking everyone to chip in.

"In modern cricket the impact of the tail and how long they keep batting for and how many runs they score is very important. All eleven players contributing to a total is good and big enough for us to put pressure on the opposition."

Sangakkara, however, warned of a backlash from Pakistan, who were in firm control before the fourth day in Galle.

"Any victory gives you a psychological advantage, slightly more confidence than if it was a draw or a loss. But at the end of the day, it's a new Test match and the Pakistanis will come out fighting," Sangakkara said. "We have to be good to absorb the pressure as best as we can."

Interestingly, Pakistan has had the upper hand in contests between the two countries played in Sri Lanka, with the home team winning only two out of 13 Tests. The current series gives Sri Lanka the chance to put that record straight, but in order to do that they need to put sufficient runs on the board to pressurise the opposition.