We play according to the spirit of the game - Mahela

Sanga's century fails to save crushing defeat

Elmo Rodrigopulle from New Zealand

Cricket: Christchurch, Saturday: A truly magnificent century from Kumar Sangakkara failed to save Sri Lanka from a five-wicket defeat against New Zealand in the first of two National Bank Test series at the Jade Stadium, here today. The Test was over with more than two days to spare, which is certainly not good for the game.

Had it not been for the bizzare run out of last man Muttiah Muralitharan, who had docked his bat that gave Sangakkara the single to reach his century and was walking to congratulate his partner, the story could certainly been different.

Chris Martin who was fielding at short fine leg threw the ball to wicket keeper Brendon McCallum who removed the bails and appealed for a run out and South African umpire Brian Jerling had no hesitation in raising the finger of death.

Had this ugly incident been avoided, and the way Sangakkara was toying with the bowling and Muralitharan showing responsibility as a number eleven, there was the possibility of a lot more runs being accumulated which would have gone to make New Zealand's chase for victory that much more difficult.

Overnight rain and early this morning looked like delaying the start. But the good work of the groundsmen and a strong sun that shone before the start made a prompt start possible.

Sangakkara's century can be classed alongside the best scored in the history of Test cricket. Although running out of partners,he played an intelligent innings, farming the bowling and protecting Malinga and Muralitharan in going for his century and adding valuable runs to the total.

He took on the express pace of Shane Bond, Chris Martin and James Franklin and played them with ease. He cut, drove and hooked them with disdain and the square cut for six off Bond was a shot that was admired by all.

When Sri Lanka's batting was falling apart and the board reading a shocking 99 for 8 with indications that the game might be over on the second day, Sangakkara found in Lasith Malinga and Muttiah Muralitharan two tailenders with full of guts who were not willing to go down without a fight.

With Malinga, Sangakkara added 44 for the 9th wicket. Sangakkara did all the scoring and although Malinga did not open his account, the support he gave Sangakkara was admirable.

Then when Malinga, went at 143, Sangakkara found another able partner in Muralitheran, who cut out his usual slog shots, played straight and allowed Sangakkara to take on the bowlers and scatter them around.

The Kiwi bowlers who found the more recognised batsmen easy to lure to destruction, never bargained for the stubborn defence of Malinga and Muralitharan.

With Sri Lanka's lead mounting and the Kiwis trying everything they knew to separate and failing another 30 or 40 runs would have been enough to beat the Kiwis.

Sangakkara and Muralitharan after adding 27 valuable runs and looking good for many more, came the incident, which to say the least was unsporting the way the Kiwis got Muralitheran and with it took away the gloss of Sangakkara's valiant century.

As things began to unfold when the Kiwis batted and Vaas and Muralitharan had them tottering at 68 for 4, another 30 or 40 runs would have seen the Lankans snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

Muralitharan and Vaas again tormented the Kiwis batsmen. Vaas had figures of 2 for 33 and Muralitharan 3 for 34.

'It was a great disappointment. In fact the whole team is disappointed', said skipper Mahela Jayawardena when I asked him about the run out of Muttaih Muralitharan, during the after the match press briefing.

Muralitharan after completing the run that gave Sangakkara his first Test century against New Zealand, unaware of the machinations of the Kiwis, was walking out to congratulate Sangakkara, when to his surprise he heard the Kiwis appealing and South African umpire Brian Jerling ruling him out.

When asked whether he would return the compliment if he was in a similar situation, the Lanka skipper was taken aback by that question posed by one of the journalists and said 'NO WAY'.

'The only way I would like to return that compliment is by beating the New Zealanders in the Second Test in Wellington starting next Thursday!, said the Lankan skipper.

"We play the game in the spirit in which it is meant to be played. At the recent ICC Champions trophy in India, there was a similar situation, where the batsman was Nathan Astle.

"With the ball not yet dead, Astle was walking out to tap the wicket, when Sangakkara who was the wicket keeper asked the batsman whether he was not aware that the ball was not yet dead and that he had every right to stump him, but in keeping with the spirit of cricket he would not do it. So why did it have to happen to Muralitharan and us', asked a visibly annoyed Jayawardena.

The Lankan cricketers have been nurtured on the adage that it is not the winning or the losing that matters, but on how one played the game, this ploy by the Kiwis was unacceptable. I would like to tell the Kiwis that for us Lankans, the game's the thing.

I would also like to ask the Kiwis to recall the incident when Australian skipper Greg Chappell asked his brother to bowl an under arm delivery during a-one-day international, against them.

Did not the Kiwis condemn that act as not in keeping with the spirit of the game and did they not ask for severing of cricketing ties with the Aussies?

Skipper Stephen Fleming would have added to his stature, had he the guts to call back the batsman. But then the fear of losing was lurking in his mind and so the decision to go with the umpire's decision.

When asked for his comments on this incident, Fleming said that Muralitharan should have realised that the ball was not yet dead and not left his crease, and went on to justify the decision.

Fleming however paid a glowing tribute to Sangakkara and said that his century was a class act. 'He is one of the greatest batsmen, and the manner in which he reached his century with only the tailenders for support was great.

He admitted that the Lankans are a tough bunch to beat and that had they got another 30 or 40 runs, the Kiwis would have been struggling. The Muralitharan incident has left a bad taste in the mouth and the good relations that existed between the two teams has been strained.

SRI LANKA - 1ST INNINGS 154 
NEW ZEALAND - 1ST INNINGS 206

SRI LANKA - 2ND INNINGS

U. Tharanga c Fleming b Bond		24
S. Jayasuriya run out (Bond)           	10
K. Sangakkara not out                 	100
M. Jayawardene c Fleming b Franklin   	0
C. Kapugedera c Oram b Bond           	1
C. Silva c Vettori b Bond             		0
P. Jayawardene run out (Bond)         	11
C. Vass c McCullum b Oram             	0
F. Maharoof c McCullum b Bond          	7
L. Malinga c McCullum b Franklin     	0
M. Muralitharan run out (McCullum)    	9 

EXTRAS (LB 5, NB 4)                  	 	9

TOTAL (all out)                       		170

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-18, 2-44, 3-45, 4-46, 5-46, 6-74, 7-80, 8-99, 9-143, 10-170.
BOWLING: Bond 19.1-5-63-4 (3nb), Martin 11-2-38-0, Franklin 13-1-34-2 (1nb), 
	Oram 7-1-19-1, Vettori 2-0-10-0, Astle 1-0-1-0

NEW ZEALAND - 2ND INNINGS

C. Cumming c P. Jayawardene b Vaas 	43
J. How lbw Muralitharan              		11 
M. Sinclair c Sangakkara b Muralitharan	4
S. Fleming lbw b Vaas                		0
N. Astle lbw b Muralitharan           		24
J. Oram not out                       		12
B. McCullum not out                   		14
EXTRAS (B-1, LB-1, W-5, NB-4)         	11

TOTAL (5 wkts)                        		119

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-58, 2-66, 3-66, 4-68, 5-103.
BOWLING: Vaas 12-3-33-2 (3nb), Malinga 4-1-35-0 (1w), Muralitharan 14-5-34-3, Maharoof 3-0-15-0 (1nb)