Jayawardena ton puts Lankans in winning way
Elmo RODRIGOPULLE from the West Indies
A century from skipper Mahela Jayawardena which had responsibility
writ all over it, has placed Sri Lanka in a winning position on the
second day of the First Digicel Test against the West Indies here today.
It was Jayawardena’s 22nd Test Century and his first against the West
Indies. He made 136. After Sri Lanka declared after making a massive 476
for 8, left arm seamer Chminda Vass, as he usually does got the early
breakthrough with the big wicket of skipper Chris Gayle for no score
with the total on 4.
The home team’s first hurdle was to avoid the ignominy of a follow by
getting to 277. They have wiped off 29 and need another 248 to make the
Lankans bat again.
‘It was not easy batting on this slow wicket. It needed a lot of
concentration. I played the bowling on its merits and was confident that
if I stuck there the runs would come.
‘This morning when we lost two wickets, that of Tillekeratne Dilshan
and Prasanna Jayawardena, I had to stay put and see that we reached the
first hurdle, that of getting past the 400 mark and then push it from
there.’
When asked about his side’s chances, the skipper said that they are
in a winning position and should push on from here, with the fielders
taking the half chances. Jayawardena played straight and his driving on
the V was a treat. He also cut and pulled for his runs. Never in an
undue hurry, he showed the incoming batsmen like Dilshan, Prasanna
Jayawardena and Chaminda Vass how to make runs on this slow track.
Jayawardena who has made the most number of centuries in Test cricket
for Sri Lanka, pushed a ball to the leg and scampered for that single to
reach the dream figure of 100 and celebrated by showing his bat in him
team mates and the crowd and ended the celebrations by kissing his
helmet.
His team mates and the crowd stood acknowledging this well made
century. Jayawardena had good support coming from Prasanna Jayawardena
21 and added 54 for the sixth wicket and then with Chaminda Vaas who
made his first half century against the Windies he added 126 for the
seventh wicket.
Jayawardena was unfortunate the manner in which he was ruled out by
umpire Billy Bowden. He attempted a reverse sweep, the ball from Gayle
kept low and hit his glove and the umpire erred in ruling him out LBW.
On an unresponsive pitch, the Windies bowlers kept pegging on. The
most effective was paceman Jerome Taylor who was unlucky not to have
five wickets. He finished with 4 for 110. Gayle had 2 for 66.
The West Indies could have restricted the Lankans had not butter
fingered Devon Smith dropped three catches. It proved costly for the
home team.With skipper Gayle gone, the Windies are on the back foot.
They have more stroke makers to come. But if the Lankans can put
pressure on them and lure them into false strokes, then there is no
reason, why the Lankans should not stand on the victory podium at the
end of the game.
If the Lankans are to win, then Muttiah Muralitheran must get into
his match winning bowling act. In the few overs he bowled, he did not
receive any help from the wicket that lacked pace, bounce or vicious
spin. But then Murali has his way doing things.
Georgetown, Guyana,
SRI LANKA - 1ST INNINGS
(overnight 269 for four)
M. Vandort lbw b Taylor 52
M. Warnapura c Ramdin b Bravo 120
K. Sangakkara s D.S. Smith b Taylor 50
M. Jayawardene lbw b Gayle 136
T. Samaraweera c (sub) Dowlin b Taylor 00
T. Dilshan lbw b Taylor 20
P. Jayawardene b Powell 21
C. Vaas not out 54
T. Thushara c (sub) Dowlin b Gayle 00
R. Herath not out 13
Extras (lb7, w1, nb2) 10
TOTAL (8 wkts declared) 476
M. Muralitharan did not bat.
FALL OF WICKETS:
1-130 (Vandort), 2-205 (Warnapura), 3-243 (Sangakkara),
4-243 (Samaraweera), 5-277 (Dilshan), 6-331 (P. Jayawardene),
7-457 (M. Jayawardene), 8-459 (Thushara).
BOWLING: Powell 29-3-89-1; Taylor 33-8-110-4; Gayle 27-4-66-2;
Bravo 30-3-74-1 (nb2, w1); Benn 40-6-120-0; Hinds 3-0-10-0.
WEST INDIES 1ST INNINGS
C. Gayle lbw b Vaas 00
D. Smith not out 08
R. Sarwan not out 21
TOTAL (1 wkt) 29
TO BAT: M. Samuels, S. Chanderpaul, R. Hinds, D. Bravo,
D. Ramdin, S. Benn, J. Taylor, D. Powell.
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-4 (Gayle)
BOWLING: Vaas 5-2-10-1; Thushara 4-2-2-0; Dilshan 1-0-2-0;
Muralitharan 3-0-10-0; Herath 3-1-5-0. |
