Two valuable stands help Lanka recover
By Ranjan Anandappa
It was fighting cricket by both sides as Makhaya Ntini (4 for 84) and
Dale Styn (5 for 82) produced telling blows to break the backbone of the
Sri Lanka batting before two highly productive partnerships between
Chamara Kapugedera and wicket keeper Prasanna Jayawardena and there
after Chaminda Vaas and Farveez Maharoof salvaged some pride into the
Sri Lanka batting at the end of the second day of the Second cricket
Test between Sri Lanka and South Africa at the P. Sara Stadium
yesterday.
The Sri Lanaka batting was woven around these two partnerships as
Prasanna Jayawardena and Kapugedera added 105 for the fifth wicket
bringing the score from 86 for 5 to 191 for 6 while another entertaining
stand between left hander Chaminda Vaas (64), who recorded his eleventh
Test 50, and Farveez Maharoof (56) was associated in a 117 run stand for
the eight wicket in 228 deliveries brought the score from 191 for 7 to
308 reducing the defect. Maharoof faced 110 deliveries and struck ten
fours while Vaas faced 130 balls reaching the fence on ten occasions in
his 64.
In reply to South Africa's first innings total of 361 Sri Lanka were
all out for 321 conceding a 40 run defect, The visitors had to face just
two overs in their second innings and they were 6 for no loss.
Sri Lanka started fresh in the morning ,but lost wickets in rapid
succession. By the 22nd over the South African speedster had shattered
the Sri Lanka batting capturing 5 wickets for 86 runs with Makhaya Ntini
cutting through the hard crust of the host team batting claiming the
wickets of Upul Tharanga, Jayasuriya, Sangakkara and Dilshan.
Ntini who had a nightmare of a match in the first Test which Sri
Lanka won, found things suitable for his liking, while Steyn playing in
his eight Test got the prized wicket of Jayawardena caught behind by
Boucher going for a cut as the Lankans were heading towards disaster. At
lunch Sri Lanka were 98 for 5 with the cream of the batting enjoying the
comfort of the pavilion.
Tharanga was the first to depart when he miscued a pull shot and
presented Boje with an easy catch of Ntini. The in the third over of the
day second by Ntini Sangakkara who was shaping well was snapped up by
Amla at mid wicket for 14. Skipper and triple centurion Mahela
Jayawardena joined by Jayasuriya added a further 31 runs. Jayawardena
going for an ambitious cut managed to touch one and wicket keeper
Boucher took the catch.
The entire morning session was dominated by the South African fast
bowlers. Ntini took four of the five wickets which fell in the pre lunch
session. Steyn who looked the fastest of the pace trio accounted for
Dilshan and the Lankan batting was in an disarray at lunch 98 for 5.
Jayasuriya who began in his own inimitable style in the opening overs
hitting Steyn twice to the cover boundary became more cautious with
wickets falling around him. Jayasuriya was given a bit of torrid time by
Steyn, he was hit in the chest, but stood up well. But just before the
lunch adjournment he too fell edging one to Gibbs in the slips for 47
after facing 67 deliveries with eight boundaries.
Soon after lunch Chamara Kapugedera and Prasanna Jayawardena resumed
their rescue operation. If ever there was an opportunity for both
Kapugedera and wicket keeper Prasanna Jayawardena to prove beyond doubt
that they were now an essential part in the Sri Lankan side this was
surely an opportunity not to be missed. They were immediately tested to
the full by the pacemen who were operating at top gear. They withstood
everything produced by the Protease pacemen and looked more sound and
secure than any of the previous batsmen. Kapugedera hit Ntini for a six
over square leg and drove Boje for another six. He also had nine fours
after facing 77 deliveries when Boje got him bowled around his legs.
Jayawardena too played exceptionally well hitting a six off Ntini to mid
wicket and hammering another six fours facing 49 deliveries. The fifth
wicket pair of Jayawaredena and Kapugedera realised 105 runs.
SOUTH AFRICA 1ST
INNINGS - 361
SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS
U. Tharanga c Boje b Ntini 2
S. Jayasuriya c Gibbs b Ntini 47
K. Sangakkara c Amla b Ntini 14
M. Jayawardene c Boucher b Steyn 13
T. Dilshan b Ntini 4
C. Kapugedera b Boje 63
P. Jayawardene b Steyn 42
F. Maharoof b Steyn 56
C. Vaas c Boucher b Steyn 64
L. Malinga not out 8
M. Muralitharan c Hall b Steyn 0
Extras (lb-1, nb-5, w-2) 8
TOTAL (all out, 85.1 overs) 321
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-16, 2-43, 3-74, 4-85, 5-86,
6-191, 7-191, 8-308, 9-317, 10-321.
BOWLING: Ntini 21-3-84-4, D. Steyn 13.1-1-82-5 (nb-3 w-2),
S. Pollock 16-4-52-0 (nb-2), A. Hall 15-7-31-0,
N. Boje 20-6-71-1.
SOUTH AFRICA
H. Gibbs not out 4
A. Hall not out 2
Extras 0
TOTAL (for no loss, 2 overs) 6
BOWLING: C. Vaas 1-0-4-0, L. Malinga 1-0-2-0. |