England cruise to 258/5

Vaughan misses a well deserved ton:

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE

When England seemed to be consolidating and heading for a big score, the taking for the second new ball by skipper Mahela Jayawardena changed the complexion and brought Sri Lanka back into the picture and when play ended with three more overs to be bowled owing to bad light England were 258 for 5 on day one of the Second Test at the Singhalese Sports Club ground, yesterday, with Paul Collingwood on 49 and Matt Prior on 10.

When play resumes on day two, the Lankans who are leading the series 1- nil, must not let the Collingwood and Prior stand to blossom.

They must knock them off early and then the rest of the batting and then take strike and aim for a total that would not make them have to bat a second time.

Muttiah Muralitharn two, Chaminda Vaas one and Lasith Malinga two were among the wickets. With the Englishmen dominating play and attempting to take a stranglehold on the game, the manner in which the Lankans dismissed Kevin Pietersen was to say the least a disgrace. It is something that should not have happened considering that the game is the thing.

The questions to be asked are: Why did not umpire Harper seek the third umpire’s help when Pietersen stood his ground?. Why did not captain Mahela Jayawardena in consultation with the fielders ask Harper to consult the third umpire?. As it is the incident left a bad taste in the mouth. Had the third umpire’s help been sought, everything could have ended tickety boo.

But the damage has been done and it sure would have gone to sour the good relations that was existing between the two teams. The TV replays tells it all. The Lankans have always been sporty. Why did they have to sully it? Shame.

Had Pietersen survived, he would certainly have provided the batting entertainment that this Test was yearning for.

Stung to the quick by the bad decision, Paul Collingwood joined Cook and when a collapse seemed possible steadied the innings with careful batting, cutting out all undue risks and when they seemed to be taking the team to a formidable score, Cook who was all concentration and safe strokeplay went LBW to Malinga after Jayawardena took the second new ball. Cook made 81 and seemed heading for a three figure score when he fell to a Malinga yorker.

He hit 8 fours. Next ball Malinga bowled Ravi Bopara for no score and England from 237 for 3, slumped to 237 for 5. Malinga fired the hat trick ball wide down the leg side.

It was a lovely morning when the two captains Mahela Jayawardena and Michael Vaughan walked out to toss. Vaughan called correctly and sported a broad smile as he decided to take had to win this or deprive Sri Lankans of going ahead to keep the series alive.

Sri Lanka began Test cricket life without the belligerent batting, excellent fielding and the partnership breaking left arm spin of Sanath Jayasuriya.

Upul Tharanga another Jayasuriya look alike took his place. For England Matthew Hoggard who was their best bowler at Asgiriya had to skip this game with a back injury and in his place came in Stephen Harmison. England left out James Anderson whom Jayasuriya mauled for six fours in six balls and gave Stuart Broad his first Test cap.

From Chaminda Vaas’ first over it was evident that there was not going to be any movement in the air or off the seam. And what was inexplicable was that there was no early life in the wicket.

Vaughan was the more enterprising of the two and was always looking to make runs when the opportunity presented itself. On the other hand Alistair Cook who had a bad game at Asgiriya was determined to make amends and bat the way we know he can.

Vaas as usual was a trier with the new ball but with no assistance was ineffective. So was Lasith Malinga and Dilhara Fernando.

With the new ball 11 overs old and with shine still on it, Jayawardena asked his match winning bowler Muttiah Muralitharan to have a go, hoping that he would oblige like at Asgiriya.

But the usually penetrative Muralitharan was also ineffective as Vaughan and Cook settled down to thwart the bowlers and put runs on the board and lay the foundation for the batsmen following to build a total, from where they could put pressure on the Lankan batsmen and if possible lure them to defeat.

With the opening partnership growing in strength, it also proved the lack of depth in the bowling if Vaas and Muralitharan fail to strike.

With Vaughan and Cook dominating, skipper Jayawardena would have been wishing he had another spinner in the form of Malinga Bandara who could easily have come into the team in place of a specialist batsman, considering that Bandara could also bat.

The openers saw through the first session of play and went to lunch at 97 for no loss with Vaughan having completed a steady 74 and Cook on 21.

After lunch they added another 36 runs when Vaughan playing for the turn from Mualitharan had the ball coming straight and lollied it to see the ball nestling between the legs of short leg Jehan Mubark. He made 87. Ian Bell who was a batting success at Asgiriya joined Cook and after adding another 35 runs, Bell fell caught at short leg by Mubarak off Muralitharan for 15.

Then Kevin Pietersen joined Cook and after putting on five runs and with Pietersen on one, what happened should not have happened. Pietersen snicked a Vaas delivery.

Chamara Silva at slip dived and scooped the ball off the ground and Sangakkara took the ball and with the fielders appealing, umpire Darrel Harper consulted his co-umpire Aleem Dar who convinced Harper that the ball taken by Sangakkara was clean.

Apparently Dar was unsighted as to what happened initially.

Pietersen who saw the incident quite rightly stood his ground. Harper ruled him out and with the replay on the giant screen showing that the batsman was not out, Pietersen again waited only to see Harper rule him out again.

Finally it was a sad Pietersen who made the lone walk. Did not the ‘Barmy Army’ let out a deafening boo at the horrendous decision.

The ‘Barmy Army’ was really enjoying themselves, making a lot of noise and keeping everyone happy singing English perennials and Christmas carols in this season of goodwill and cheer.

ENGLAND 1ST INNINGS

A. Cook lbw b Malinga			81
M. Vaughan c Mubarak b Muralitharan	87
I. Bell c Mubarak b Muralitharan	15
K. Pietersen c Sangakkara b Vaas	 1
P. Collingwood not out			49
R. Bopara b Malinga			 0
M. Prior not out			10
EXTRAS: (b8, nb7)			15
TOTAL (for five wickets)		258
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-133 (Vaughan), 2-168 (Bell), 3-171 (Pietersen), 
4-237 (Cook), 5-237 (Bopara).
BOWLING: Vaas 23-5-49-1 (nb2), Malinga 14-1-57-2 (nb4), 
Fernando 16-2-59-0 (nb1), Muralitharan 34-5-85-2.