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Test over just after tea on the fourth day:
Herath and Randiv have them in a flat spin:
Sri Lanka slap 75-run defeat on England
ELMO RODRIGOPULLE reporting from Galle
Top class spin bowling by the left arm, right am combination of
Rangana Herath and Suraj Randiv helped Sri Lanka slap a 75- run defeat
on the world number one team England in the First of Two Test matches at
the Galle International Cricket Stadium, here today.
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Rangana Herath cannot hide his joy
after capturing a match-bag of 12 for 171
to bowl Sri Lanka to victory in the first
Test at Galle. Picture by Kamal Jayamanne |
The Test was over just after tea on the fourth day and it was
England�s fourth defeat in a row which must be galling to the country
that gave the game to the world.
Herath had figures of 6 for 74 in the first innings and 6 for 97 in
the second innings which gave him a memorable match bag of 12 for 171
and he was adjudged the man of the match. Suraj Randiv who supported
Herath well finished with 4 for 74.
High class spin
It was spin bowing of high class not seen for a long time. The
experienced England batsmen, other than for Jonathon Trott and Ian Bell
looked novices and did not seem to have the right technique to counter
the spin.
It was sad considering that they are the number one team in world
cricket. Some of their batsmen committed the cardinal sin of playing
across the line. It was certainly not an example to the youngsters
watching.
Full credit to come back captain Mahela Jayawardena for a wonderful
job. He out thought and out played his opposite number Andrew Strauss in
every move and inspired his team mates that brought his team this
excellent win.
Two Tests meaningless
When the umpires called �play� on the 4th day, England were 111 for 2
requiring 229 more and Sri Lanka having to capture 8 wickets for either
side to go one-up in the meaningless Two Test series.
It was once again a lovely day for cricket. A big and colourful crowd
of fans were present to lap up the action. It was going to be a day of
destiny.
The teams would have had long meetings discussing strategy and how
they would go. The 4th day wicket was going to take spin. Sri Lanka had
two spinners in Rangana Herath and Suraj Randiv and England had batsmen,
especially Ian Bell who could counter spin.
The 120 minutes of play in the morning was tense and absorbing. The
batsmen were not taking the risks they usually do and the bowlers were
on line teasing and tormenting the batsmen looking to dismiss them.
Lacking bounce
The wicket had the usual spin, but it was slow and lacking the bounce
that spin bowlers would love to have. Oven night not outs Jonathon Trott
and Kevin Pietersen, who was lucky to have been dropped by Kumar
Sanagkkara at leg slip off Randiv late on the third day, started very
cautiously against the spin of Randiv and pace of Suranga Lakmal.
The experienced Pietersen was like a cat on a hot tin roof. He did
not seem, to be organized and it did not come as a surprise when he
dollied a catch to Jayawardena at short mid wicket off Randiv after
adding six runs to his overnight score of 29. 118 for 3.
The technically correct Ian Bell who is a good player of spin bowing
and from whom much was expected to hold the Lankan spinners started
confidently and after making 13, attempted to paddle sweep Rangana
Herath, missed and was adjudged LBW. It was unlike Bell and an
irresponsible shot considering the plight that England was in. 152 for
4.
Reliable and consistent
The reliable and consistent Trott in the mean time was playing the
correct cricket, not talking any undue risks, playing the bowling on its
merits and accumulating his runs with some neat off drives and pushes to
vacant areas on the field.
Joined by wicket keeper batsman Matt Priot, Trott took England to
lunch at 177 for 4 putting on 25 hard earned runs. Trott was 76 not out
and Prior 15.The morning session produced 66 runs in 30 overs for two
wickets.
Second fiddle
After lunch Trott and Prior, slowly, but surely built their
partnership and gave their side hopes of an unlikely victory. Trott was
all concentration and was always on the lookout for runs.
Prior on the other hand played second fiddle and supported his senior
partner.
They took their stand to 81 and when it looked as though they will
build on it and threaten the home team, Proior who was going untroubled,
suddenly swung Herath to be brilliantly taken by Lahiru Thirimane at
short leg for 41 with 3 fours.
Then the flood gates opened. Samit Patel was taken by Dilshan off
Herath for 9, Then Trott who was fighting a lone battle completed a
grand century and in going to 112 in 266 minutes, in 266 balls with 10
fours tickled a Randiv delivery for Dilshan to take a diving catch at
leg slip.
The England innings did not last long. Before tea Graeme Swann went
hitting across, LBW to Herath for 1 and England went to tea at 259 for
8. After Herath completed his over after tea, Randiv got rid of James
Anderson caught behind for 5 and Panesar for no score first ball,
leaving the bowler on a hat-trick and he will have to wait for the
Second Test at the P.Sara.
Sri Lanka
1st innings 318
England
1st innings 193
Sri Lanka
2nd innings 214
England
2nd innings
A. Strauss c Dilshan b Herath 27
A. Cook c P. Jayawardene b Herath 14
J. Trott c Dilshan b Randiv 112
K. Pietersen c M. Jayawardene b Randiv 30
I. Bell lbw b Herath 13
M. Prior c Thirimanne b Herath 41
S. Patel c Dilshan b Herath 9
S. Broad not out 5
G. Swann lbw b Herath 1
J. Anderson c P. Jayawardene b Randiv 5
M. Panesar c Dilshan b Randiv 0
Extras: (lb6, w1) 7
Total (all out, 99 overs) 264
Fall of wickets: 1-31 (Cook), 2-48 (Strauss), 3-118 (Pietersen), 4-152 (Bell), 5-233 (Prior),
6-252 (Patel), 7-256 (Trott), 8-259 (Swann), 9-264 (Anderson), 10-264 (Panesar).
Bowling: Welegedara 13-2-40-0, Lakmal 10-5-22-0, Herath 38-9-97-6, Dilshan 12-1-25-0, Randiv 26-2-74-4.
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