Majestic Mahela century fails to save Sri Lanka
Not even the Majestic century from Magnificent Mahela Jayawardena
could save Sri Lanka from defeat in the crucial third game of the five
match one-day series and gifting the series by three games at the Rajiv
Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday.
The stylish right hander who retired from the established game and
who is now concentrating on the shorter formats played one of his best
innings in the 50 over format on Sunday.
Coming in to bat when Sri Lanka were off to a paralyzing start losing
two wickets for seven runs that of Kushal Janith for four and the
consistent Kumar Sangakkara for a first ball no score, Jayawardene took
on the threatening pace and swing of Umesh Yadav to add respectability
to his team's score.
When skipper Angelo Mathews won his third toss in a row and batted on
what looked a good track for batting, and expected his opening batsmen
Kushal Janith and Tillekeratne Dilshan to give them a solid start in an
endeavour to win this crucial game and keep the series alive, the start
was horrible.
Both left handers Kushal Janith and Kumar Sangakkara went in similar
fashion. Both playing from the crease with absolutely no footwork which
is essential and vital in batting nibbled the late swing of Yadav and
snicked catches behind. Janith to the wicket keeper Saha and Sangakkara
to Ashwin in the slips.
The deliveries that got both out were what dreams are made of.
Pitched line on length and moved that extra bit to kiss the bat of both
batsmen before nestling in the hands of the fielders. And from the
moment these two champions departed, the cross of responsibility fell on
the shoulders of Jayawardene to carry.
And he shouldered that responsibility like the true sportsman that he
is. During his illustrious playing career, he has been in similar
situations of match losing. But had stood tall, taking the opposition
fearlessly and admirably winning games for the country.
Again he played a masterly inning scoring 118 and in the process
hurdling past the 12 thousand run mark in one-day internationals. The
first to achieve that no mean feat was the present Chairman of Cricket
Selectors Sanath Jayasuriya followed by Kumar Sangakkara.
Not that Jayawardene craves or looks for records when batting, but it
comes to him naturally and when it does come and it is announced only
then does it dawn on Jayawardene. As he always says and puts it and
believes - the game's the thing for him.
The manner in which he began his innings was exemplary. He had a good
look at the bowling and how the wicket was playing and slowly and
steadily gave life to his innings. He is a role model and it was a
lesson to the youngsters watching. His three figure score was richly
deserved an one that he will remember, because it came after a drought
and after the scintillating 100 he made in the 2011 World Cup final in
India.
But it would have hurt him when his sterling effort was in vain
because Sri Lanka captivated meekly by 6 wickets and gifted the series
to India. He showed that he has the thirst and hunger for more cricket
and runs. His early retirement from Test cricket will be queried.
When batting first, it is paramount that the openers give the side a
good platform to build on, get a formidable score and put the side
chasing under pressure. From the moment Janith and Sangakkara went, it
was a struggle and an uphill task and although Jayawardene, Dilshan and
Seekkuge Prasanna did their best the total of 242 was well short of a
target that should have been around the 300-run mark.
The failures of Skipper Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera could be
excused. Both got devil balls from left arm spinner Patel and Yadav and
there was no way that they could have survived.
Imagine Kushal Janith 4, Sangakkara 0, Mathews 10 and Perera 1,
Chaturanga de Silva 2 and Ashan Priyanjana 2 and where's the future?
But that the Lankans finally got to 242 was creditable, but not
enough to keep the rampaging Indian batsmen from winning the game and
with it the series and the remaining two games could be used for record
breaking purposes.
The series from Sri Lanka's point was a calamity, a debacle and one
that the cricketers, the selectors, the coaches, the trainers, Sri Lanka
Cricket and the cricket crazy public will want to erase from their
memory.
When the whingeing started when it was announced that Sri Lanka
Cricket was going to fill the void created by the West Indians owing to
a pay dispute with their Board, there was no doubt that the tour could
be a flop and that is how it ended.
But Sri Lanka Cricket, the selectors and the cricketers need not be
disheartened or disappointed. These are early days and a lot more time
for the bottom line that is the 2015 World Cup.
True this tour is a testing one. It is no easy task beating the
Indians in their own backyard. Not many teams have had the satisfaction
of achieving success in the sub continent. With cricket crazy and wildly
cheering supporters flocking to every venue and inspiring the players,
the cricketers raise their game and become larger than life.
The Indian cricket cupboard is overflowing with talent. Not ordinary
talent, but rich talent that is the envy of other countries. They have
batsmen who could punish any attack, bowlers who can penetrate any
defence and fielders who can make caches out of nothing.
And in Virat Kohli, the captain in waiting to take over from Mahendra
Singh Dhoni, the Indians have an excellent leader. After a dismal tour
of England, where probably other distractions knocked his concentration,
he is now batting in the form of old which would have warmed the cockles
of the Indian selectors.
And after the no nonsense former Captain Ravi Shastri was invited to
join their cricket set up, the team has shown marked improvement all
round. He has added the agro that was lacking on the tour of England to
the team.
POSTCRIPT
Apropos last Sunday, I reproduce below a message I received from my
former Benedictine team mate Cyril Ernest, a well known sportsman of
years gone by where I recall with affection and nostalgia the blinder of
a catch he took at leg slip to dismiss the writer off bowler Oliver
Ranasinghe after I had hit him for fours in the two previous deliveries
in the 'Sara' game between the Saracens and the Adastrians at Rifle
Green.
Here is Ernest in his own words: Thank you very much for including
some snippets about me in your 'SPORTSCOPE' article. I am always
delighted to see your articles on the internet or the newspapers about
cricket and other matters associated with cricket.
You have in your own right become a legend in international sports
journalism and I am proud to have you as a close friend. It was indeed a
wonderful era in the annals of sports at St. Benedict's College during
the time we had the privilege of representing our Alma Mater.
We forged lasting friendships during this time and really enjoyed the
camaraderie with our fellow sportsmen and the supporters and our
classmates.
Perhaps you wouldn't know it, but I have to let you know how thrilled
I am to see your name appearing in any sports article that you pen.
Good luck and all the best in your future endeavours.
Enjoy life now, It has an expiry date on it.
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