Sri Lanka captain Sangakkara rues missed opportunity

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Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara rued a lost opportunity early in the first test after India escaped with a draw on a flat pitch on Friday.

Sri Lanka, aiming to win their first test on Indian soil after 27 years of trying, had the home team struggling in the first innings before they recovered to 426 all out.

"We had our best chance when we had them 32 for four but we gave it away after lunch (on the opening day)," Sangakkara told reporters. "There was not much for the bowlers on the last two days.

"If you were a batsman you would like it. I don't think anyone expected this wicket to be this flat," he said after India finished the fifth and final day on 412 for four in their second innings, 78 runs ahead.

More than 1,500 runs, including a world-record sixth wicket stand of 351 between Sri Lanka pair Mahela (275) and Prasanna Jayawardene (154 not out) and seven centuries, were scored in the match and only 21 wickets fell.

Last year South Africa won a test in under three days on a seaming track at the same ground.

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said the pitch was of little help to the bowlers especially the spinners.

"The wicket was quite flat but I wouldn't say it was the flattest I have seen," said Dhoni.

"I think it was on the slow side so it wasn't much help to the spinners. For the fast bowlers also the wicket got slower and slower."

Dhoni said India did not panic despite being 334 runs behind on first innings.

"We knew if we didn't give early wickets to the Sri Lankan bowlers it would be very difficult for them to get 10 wickets and that's what happened," he said.

The second match in the three-test series is in Kanpur starting on Tuesday.