Sanga in a lone battle

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting

The Sri Lankan cricketers failed to realise that impossible dream and gifted the Warne-Muralidaran Trophy on a platter to the Australians losing by 96 runs just after lunch on the final day at the Bellerive Oval, here in Hobart, today. The rampaging Aussies thus win the insignificant series 2-nil to chalk up their 14th win in a row, chasing the 16 won when Steve Waugh captained them.

The Sri Lankans resuming on 242 for 3, made 410. But in losing they were certainly not disgraced considering that they made 410 on a fourth innings wicket against the best side in the world.

The Lankan batting, other than for Kumar Sangakkara fell to pieces and with it went the effort to pocket one of the most amazing victories in Test cricket. While nothing of significance in the remaining batting took place to write home about, reams could be written on the fabulous century knock played by vice captain Kumar Sangakkara.

His was an innings that would not easily be seen at the Bellerive Oval. He stood tall, weathered pace and spin and the pressure exhorted on him and his innings had class written all over it, until it was cruelly cut short by one of the most atrocious pieces of umpiring seen in Test cricket when Rudi Koetzen ruled him, caught off bat and helmet.

As a left hander he can be bracketed in the class of Neil Harvey, Sir Gary Sobers, Graeme Pollock, Brian Lara and Matthew Hayden. As his innings showed had he been supported by the rest of the batsmen, the ending could have been another story.

In an innings of amazing concentration, where he showed fine technique , temperament, rare timing and silk like execution, his 192 which had 27 fours, 1 six, in 431 minutes and 282 balls was a treat.

When will a knock of such excellence and magnificence be seen again at the Bellerive Oval? Was the question asked by connoisseurs of the game here.

In playing that dream innings, Sangakkara erased Aravinda de Silva's highest Test score of 167 made in a Brisbane Test. He was also involved in a record stand of 74 for the ninth wicket with Lasith Malinga.

Skipper Mahela Jayawardena, at the press briefing paid his vice captain glowing tributes and described it as magnificent.

"He was disappointed with the decision. And so were we, because it was a cruel ending. But that is how the game goes. One day a decision can go for you, on another day it can go against you", said Jayawardena.

On Marvan Atapattu's decision to retire, he said it was his own decision and thanked him for his wonderful contributions to the game over the years.

Speaking of the future and the England tour, Jayawardena said that changes would be made, but the important thing was to remain focused.

Ricky Ponting too praised the knock by Sangakkara saying it was a wonderful effort. At that moment Sangakkara was ruled out, he was just mincemeating the listless Aussie attack and hitting it all over the park and over it as well with some daring and audacious strokeplay.

He was on his 15th Test century and heading for another double hundred when he was struck down. He could not believe the umpire's decision, but like a true sportsman walked back without showing any disappointment.

After the game Koetzen had said sorry to Sangakkara, who accepted the apology graciously and in good faith.

When the fourth day's play ended with Sri Lanka on 247 for 3, requiring another 260 the stage was set for another absorbing fifth day, what with the elegant and punishing Kumar Sangakkara on 109 and the explosive Sanath Jayasuriya 32 at the wicket, searching for that elusive victory that would rewrite the record books.

The fourth day belonged to the Lankans who made the Aussies chase leather, after they declared their second innings closed on 210 for two, setting the Lankans a mammoth 507 to show what they are capable of and achieve a victory that has never before happened in the game's history.

After the Lankans lost Michael Vandort early, Marvan Atapattu and Kumar Sangakkara joined forces and playing with great composure and playing some eye catching and aggressive strokes, put the ball in the Australian court and made skipper Ponting rethink strategy.

The 143 stand between Atapattu and Sangakkara that gave the Lankans hope. Then after Mahela Jayawardena went without scoring, Sanath Jayasuriya partnered Sangakkara and further enhanced Lanka's chances with an unbroken stand of 89, with Sangakkara scoring a dream century 109, and Jayasuriya 32.

Everyone here did not rule out a famous Sri Lankan victory, if Sangakkara and Jayasuriya could get their act going. Jayasuriya started off as though he was going to finish the Test before lunch.

But after adding another 18 runs, Jayasuriya's impetuosity cost him his wicket, going for a cut shot and snicking Lee to Gilchrist 265 for 4.

Then with the addition of 7 further runs, Mitchell Johnson sent Chamara Silva 0 and Prasanna Jayawardena also for 0 and then Stuart MacGill who was massacred by, especially Sangakkara got a scalp when he had Fareez Mahroof for 4, Dilhara Fernando was run out for 2, and suddenly the Lankans were on the skids on 288 for 8. Silva edged to Ponting at second slip, Jayawardena went LBW without offering a stroke and Mahroof lofted to Lee at mid on.

When these batsmen were required to keep their ends up and support Sangakkara who was playing a lone hand, they were spineless, showing poor technique and temperament and gifted their wickets and with it blew their chances.

Then after a grand stand between Sangakkara and Lasith Malinga that realised 74 runs in 96 balls, misfortune struck Sangakkara when he was ruled caught by Ponting off Clarke off bat- helmet when he was not.

Then after a last wicket stand of 46 runs between Malinga and Muralidaran, Lee knocked back Muralidaran's stumps and that was the end of the Test and the end of the series.

Malinga played a gutty innings of 42 not out, his highest in Test cricket which had 5 fours and three massive sixes. If only the earlier batsmen had the guts of Malinga, the story could have been different.

Bellerive Oval, Hobart, Tuesday

SCOREBOARD

Australia 1st Innings
542-5 dec.
 
Sri Lanka 1st Innings: 246
 
Australia 2nd Innings: 210-2 dec.
 
Sri Lanka, 2nd Innings
 (Overnight: 247-3)
     
Marvan Atapattu c Jacques b Lee		 80
Michael Vandort c (sub) b Johnson	  4
Kumar Sangakkara c Ponting b Clark	192
Mahela Jayawardene b Lee		  0
Sanath Jayasuriya c Gilchrist b Lee	 45
Chamara Silva c Ponting b Johnson	  0
Prasanna Jayawardene lbw b Johnson	  0
Farveez Maharoof c Lee b MacGill	  4
Dilhara Fernando run out (sub)		  2
Lasith Malinga not out			 42
Muttiah Muralitharan b Lee		 15
EXTRAS: (13nb, 6w, 6lb, 1b)		 26
TOTAL: (all out)			410
OVERS: 104.3. Batting time: 470 minutes.
FALL OF WICKET: 1-15, 2-158, 3-158, 4-265, 5-272, 6-272, 7-284,
8-290, 9-364, 10-410.
BOWLING: Brett Lee 26.3-3-87-4 (5w, 4nb), Mitchell Johnson 28-4-101-3 (1w,1nb),
Stuart Clark 24-5-103-1 (4nb), Stuart MacGill
20-1-102-1 (4nb), Michael Clarke 6-1-10-0.
Umpires: Aleem Dar, Pakistan, and
Rudi Koertzen, South Africa.
TV Umpire: Peter Parker, Australia. Match Referee: Mike Procter,South Africa.
Series: Australia wins 2-0.