Chamara's masterpiece sets Kiwis a daunting task

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE in New Zeland

CRICKET: Chamara Silva's masterpiece of 152 not out was the only shining light in an otherwise dull and gloomy day where nearly two hours of play was lost on the third day of the Second National Bank Test at the Basin Reserve, here today.

Sri Lanka who made 268 in the first innings and then skittled the New Zealanders for a paltry 130, bettered their first innings score in the second visit to make 364 and set their opponents to make a mammoth 504 for victory.

When play ended the Kiwis had made 75 for 2 and staring down the barrel, still requiring another 429 with Matthew Sinclair 10 and Stephen Fleming 4 at the wickets and Sri Lanka on the victory trail having to take 8 more wickets in the remaining two days and celebrate victory and share the Two Test series

Unless the unforeseen happens and the unpredictable Wellington comes to the rescue of the homesters, it should be all over sometime tomorrow, bar the shouting

The Kiwi batsmen are struggling against the frightening pace of Lasith Malinga and the vicious spin of Muttiah Muralitheran who had the wickets of Craig Cumming and Jamie Howe. Malinga's figures were 1 for 20 and Muralitheran 1 for 4.

Silva a chirpy little right hander batted in the manner born. His failures in his first outing, made him all the more determined to hit back, and he hit back with a vengeance. He has strokes all round the wicket and is never afraid to give reign to his wide array of shots.

The hostile pace of Shane Bond and Chris Martin and the tantalizing spin of Daniel Vettori did not worry him. He was the master as he cut, hooked, drove and played the inside out shot with perfect timing and placement.

With these two knocks there is no doubt that he has cemented his place in the Sri Lanka team. His temperament is superb and what is outstanding is that he is not afraid to launch an attack on the opposing bowlers whatever the situation.

The Kiwis who cut him short in the Christchurch Test stood and watched in amazement the marvelous stroke play of the little man and inside would have been cheering and acknowledging his master craftsman at work.

The third day of the Test saw a late start. There was rain overnight and early this morning and the conditions were overcast. The wicket was covered and when the rain ceased the grounds people were quick to run the super sopper, remove the covers and then see that only 40 minutes of play was lost.

The wicket was expected to have a bit of life because of the sweating as the square was covered. But when play resumed the wicket played easy and Silva and Jayawardena did not show any discomfort as they began to build on the overnight lead of 363.

The New Zealand bowlers who took a bashing on Saturday, failed to put a stop on the rate of scoring and the batsmen began to pick up singles and pierce the field for the boundaries.

Silva was the more aggressive and continued to punish the bowlers with some lovely cover drives and back cuts. Once he got into the nineties he did not show the nerves that is usually associated when a batsman gets into this mode.

On 91 and the second new ball in play, he drove Shane Bond for 2 fours and in the next over pushed a single to reach the promised land - the land of centuries - that every batsman yearns for.

His century was worth its weight in gold. When he scampered the single, he was ecstatic as he removed his helmet, punched the air, waved his bat to the crowd who gave him a big cheer.

He was hugged by Prasanna Jayawardena who partnered him to this dream figure. His mates stood up and put their hands together and it was a sight to behold.

When he made his belated Test debut in Christchurch and made a 'pair', it would have been a terrible disappointment. But then it is said that failures are the pillars of success, and Silva proved this adage in the Second Test.

In the first innings he made a smart 61 and in the second visit made a memorable century and as wickets fell around him, he stood unconquered with 152 that included 20 well timed boundaries. With Jayawardena who made a valuable contribution of 37 he added 94 for the sixth wicket.

Chaminda Vaas who came into batting form with a quick 47, helped Silva put on 88 for the 7th wicket.

After Vaas' dismissal, Maharoof, Malinga and Muralitheran did not make any significant contributions and the Lankans were all out for 365 made in 109.3 overs. Left arm spinner Daniel Vettori who bowled 43.3 overs was rewarded with figures of 7 for 130 for his trouble.

When the Kiwis began their chase for victory which was 504 and after 1.4 overs, the light began failing and umpires Simon Taufell and Brian Jerling offered the light to the batsmen Cumming and How who decided to take it for fear of being hit by Malinga thunderbolts.

Prasanna Jayawardena who took a few deliveries on his elbow from Bond did not keep wickets when the Kiwis began their long and probably futile journey and Kumar Sangakkara got back to his familiar position behind the stumps.

Sri Lanka 1st innings  268 
(K. Sangakkara 156no,
C. Silva 61)     
New Zealand  1st innings  130  (L. Malinga 5-69,
M. Muralitharan 4-31)
                  
Sri Lanka 2nd innings

U. Tharanga lbw b Martin		 20
S. Jayasuriya c Fleming b Vettori	 31
K. Sangakkara c Franklin b Bond		  8
M. Jayawardene c Sinclair b Vettori	 31
C. Kapugedera b Vettori			 27
C. Silva not out			152
P. Jayawardene c sub b Martin		 37
C. Vaas c McCullum b Vettori		 47
F. Maharoof lbw b Vettori		  1
L. Malinga lbw b Vettori		  0
M. Muralitharan st McCullum b Vettori	  0
EXTRAS (lb-7 nb-4)			 11
TOTAL (all out, 109.3 overs)		365

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-44 2-62 3-62 4-100 5-168 
6-262 7-350 8-356 9-365 10-365
BOWLING: S. Bond 19 - 3 - 67 - 1 (nb-2), C. Martin 23 - 1 - 98 - 2 (nb-2),
 D. Vettori 42.3 - 6 - 130 - 7, J. Franklin 25 - 8 - 63 - 0                 
                 
New Zealand 2nd innings

C. Cumming c Sangakkara b Muralitharan	20
J. How lbw b Malinga			33
M. Sinclair not out			10
S. Fleming not out			 4
Extras (b-5 nb-3)			 8
Total (for 2 wickets, 22 overs)		75

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-56 2-60
To bat: N. Astle, J. Oram, B. McCullum, D. Vettori,
 J. Franklin, S. Bond, C. Martin                                     
BOWLING: C. Vaas 6 - 0 - 28 - 0, . Malinga 6 - 1 - 20 - 1,                  
F. Maharoof 5 - 1 - 17 - 0 (nb-3), M. Muralitharan  4 - 2 - 4 - 1, 
S. Jayasuriya    1 - 0 - 1 - 0
BASIN RESERVE,
Wellington, Sunday