Sangakkara (107 not out) puts Sri Lanka in strong position
By Ranjan Anandappa
Kumar Sangakkara induced authority to the Sri Lanka batting on his
way to scoring his 17th Test hundred (107 n.o) as Sri Lanka ended the
day at 251 for 6 with a slender two run first innings lead with four
wickets intact when bad light stopped play with six overs still to be
bowled on the second day of the Third and final Test match at the P.Sara
Stadium yesterday.
Sangakkara walked in at the fall of Michael Van Dort's wicket in the
morning, when the tall left hander was leg before wicket to Zaheer Khan
after a disappointing 14 when the total was 42, Sangakkara batted in his
customary sense of class and stability carrying out his bat at the end
of the day occupying the crease for 330 minutes, facing 226 deliveries
and stroking 11 fours while the others fell to the pace and spin
combination of Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble in a good
post lunch session for India. Sri Lanka continued from their 14 for 1
overnight score with the news of V.V.S.Laxman not taking the field being
injured at a tap rugger session while warming up on the beginning of the
second day.
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Sri Lankan cricketer Kumar Sangakkara (R) raises his bat as
he is applauded by the crowd after completing his century
(100 runs) as Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh (L) looks on
during the second day of the third and final Test match
between India and Sri Lanka at The P. Saravanamuttu Stadium
in Colombo on August 9, 2008. |
Chaminda Vaas and Kumar Sangakkara provided the substance to the Sri
Lankan innings with a stand of 95 runs for the third wicket off 184
balls in 119 minutes. Sangakkara atoned his earlier failures in the
series while for Vaas coming as a nightwatchman would have been a
blessing in disguise.
In fact Vaas had scored his first Test hundred against Bangladesh and
would have certainly been aiming at his second hundred while defying the
Indian bowlers. The two southpaws brought the score from 42 to 137 when
Vaas went for an uppish square drive and Sehwag accepted the catch at
cover point.
Sangakkara and Vaas had paced their stand well in their third wicket
stand, however both Sangakkara and Vaas had their slice of luck with the
score at 101 for 2 Rahul Dravid could not cling on to a Sangakkara (34)
snick and Vaas when 47 was let off by Sachin Tendulkar off bat-pad.
Tendulkar fell heavily on his elbow while diving and left the field,
Anil Kumble was the unlucky bowler on both occasions. Injuries to key
players seemed to be haunting the Indian players and Ishant Sharma
became a casualty when he pulled his hamstring while on his delivery
stride and Harbhajan Singh had to bowl the remaining three deliveries.
Then wicket keeper Patel was hit on the face off Anil Kumble's fast
delivery which reared up, and was forced to keep with a helmet. However,
all four players are expected to take part in the match.
After the dismissal of Vaas, skipper Mahela Jayawardena strode into
the wicket at a time where the Indian spinners were bowling at their
best. Jayawardena while sweeping was judged leg before wicket to
Harbhajan Singh for 2 when third umpire. Billy Doctrove concurred with
the decision of the head umpire Rudhi Koertszen when the Sri Lankan
skipper reffered the decision to the TV umpire. An irresponsible piece
of batting on the part of Sri Lankan skipper who should have settled
down to give his side a substantial lead on a pitch that makes batting
difficult towards the latter stages of the match.
Had India taken their chances, Sri Lanka would have struggled more in
achieving their lead. At lunch, Sri Lanka were 114 for 2 with Sangakkara
unbeaten on 44 facing 70 balls with five fours and Vaas 39 n.o with
eight fours.
In the post lunch session spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh
held sway and kept the score right in check. They shared 28 overs among
themselves and 61 runs were scored for the loss of 2 wickets.
The Indian bowlers had a thankless task , they had no help from the
pitch and all they could do was to bowl a length and keep the batsmen
quite in the hope of improvement.
INDIA - 1ST INNINGS 249
(G. Gambhir 72; A. Mendis 5-56)
SRI LANKA -1ST INNINGS
M. Vandort lbw b Zaheer 14
M. Warnapura b Sharma 8
C. Vaas c Sehwag b Harbhajan 47
K. Sangakkara not out 107
M. Jayawardene lbw b Harbhajan 2
T. Samaraweera c Patel b Zaheer 35
T. Dilshan lbw b Kumble 23
P. Jayawardene not out 1
EXTRAS (b2, lb9, nb1, w2) 14
TOTAL (for six wickets) 251
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-14 (Warnapura), 2-42 (Vandort), 3-137 (Vaas),
4-141 (M. Jayawardene), 5-201 (Samaraweera), 6-244 (Dilshan).
BOWLING: Zaheer 20-4-57-2 (nb1), Sharma 15.3-3-33-1,
Harbhajan 31.3-8-81-2 (w2), Kumble 24-2-68-1, Sehwag 1-0-1-0.
Overs 92
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