Sangakkara shines on gloomy day

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE from New Zealand

CRICKET: The final day of spring was not a good omen for Sri Lanka because overnight rain and strong winds delayed the start of play on the first day against Otago at the University Oval, here today.

In the game that began after lunch and was restricted to 36 overs Sri Lanka had made 141 for three with Kumar Sangakkara unbeaten on 51 and Tillekeratne Dilshan on 14.

The Sri Lankans were looking to have a good hit in the only practice game before the First Test beginning in Christchurch on December 7, but were thwarted by bad weather.

After a frustrating wait Mahela Jayawardena won the toss and elected to bat first and the Lankans lost the wicket of Sanath Jayasuriya to a first ball duck when he dragged a delivery from left armer G.S. Shaw with the score on 4.

Upul Tharanga made 19 and was out at 32. Jayawardena joined his vice captain Kumar Sangakkara who was going well and together they began the rescue act.

Sangakkara was his usual confident self and began to unwind and show good form and went to an unbeaten 51 with 7 fours made in 91 balls. Together with Jayawardena, he put on 84 for the third wicket. Jayawardena too showed good touch making 48 in 71 balls with nine fours.

After the dismissal of Jayawardena, Dilshan and Sangakkara have taken the score without further loss with Dilshan unbeaten on 14 off 26 balls with 2 fours.

Jayawardena said that overall it was a good outing, although they lost some playing time. He was hopeful that the weather would be kind to them on day two so that the other batsmen could have a bat and be in readiness for the Test.

He was happy with his form and also that of Sangakkara. It was good on the part of the home team to agree to start play. The ball did a bit early on, but the wicket settled down beautifully as the game progressed and made batting more easy', he said.

SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS

 U. Tharanga b Scott  			19  
S. Jayasuriya b Shaw  			0  
K. Sangakkara not out 		51  
M. Jayawardene c Cumming b Smith  	48  
T. Dilshan not out  			14  
Extras (lb 6, w 2, nb 1) 		9 

TOTAL (3 wickets; 36 overs) 		141

TO BAT: C. Kapugedera, P. Jayawardene, C. Silva, 
	F. Maharoof, L. Malinga, A. Ganegama, D. Fernando.
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-4 (Jayasuriya), 2-32 (Tharanga), 
	3-116 (Jayawardene)
BOWLING: M.J. Harvie 9-1-43-0 (1w), G.S. Shaw 10-2-37-1 (1w), 
	B.E. Scott 11-4-23-1, C.M. Smith 6-0-32-1 (1nb).