Record breaker Mendis puts Sri Lanka on the winning path
Elmo RODRIGOPULLE
Mystery tweaker Ajantha Mendis who has hit the international cricket
scene like a meteorite broke a bowling record that stood for 63 years
when he put to second best the famous England medium pacer Alec Bedser’s
debut series haul of 23 wickets in a Three Test series.
At the new-look P. Sara Stadium when play began yesterday, Mendis had
23 wickets. Mendis equalled Bedser’s record against India here when he
had Sourav Ganguly LBW and then went past the great Bedser when he had
Sachin Tenduksr similarly out to make the record all his own. It was a
magnificent effort and one that would take some beating.
Mendi’s effort has put Sri Lanka in a very strong position from where
they could probe for a series clinching victory against India on the
third day of the Final Test. When play ended India who trailed Sri Lanka
by 147 runs were 161 for 5 a lead of 14 runs with five wickets intact.
At the wickets were Rahul Dravid on 46 and V.V.S.Laxman on 17. Mendis
had 2 for 39,Muralitheran 1 for 56 and Prasad 2 for 46.
India made 249 and in reply Sri Lanka made 396.
The Lankans must see that complaceny does not set in. But go for the
kill from the first ball today and finish off the game early. They have
it in them to do just that. What they need to do is believe in
themselves and then the pieces will fall right.
After two days of absorbing cricket, the third day promised more as
the exchanges were even when play began in glorious sunshine with Sri
Lanka on 251 for six in reply to India’s 249. Kumar Sangakkara played a
majestic innings to remain unbeaten on 107. His was a truly wonderful
innings considering that his team was not in a promising position. His
century was worth its weight in gold, because he held the batting
together.
Sangakkara cut the frills and his natural stroke play and was intent
in playing an innings that would help his team gain the upper hand and
get into a position from where they could dominate.
When play began yesterday, Sangakkara and Prasanna Jayawardena had to
stay put at the wicket and see their side to a formidable first innings
lead. This they performed to a nicety with good understanding and very
sensible batting. There was no hurry.
They played the bowling on its merits and frustrated the Indian
bowlers who were unable to gain anything from the wicket.
In addition skipper Anil Kumble badly missed his hit man Ishant
Sharma who went off the field before the close on the second day and
could not take part in the action today. Without Sharma the taking of
the second new ball did not prove anything and it sure would have
worried Kumble.
In the meantime Sangakkara and Jayawardena went along without any
undue worry and with the wicket playing true, continued to increase the
lead. Sangakkara as usual played his repertoire of strokes on either
side of the wicket and Jayawardena too played some lovely drives,
After adding 80 for the seventh with Sangakkarara went caught behind
by Parthiv Patel when he tried to tickle a ball and as usual did not
wait for the verdict but walked for a well played 144 with 14 fours off
288 balls and 224 minutes. He went at 324. Then saw a stand of 43 for
the eighth wicket between Jayawardena and Dhammika Prasad. Prasad with
some beefy strokes showed that he could turn out into being a good all
rounder for the future. Jayawardena went caught at square leg for a well
made 49 with 5 fours off 116 balls at 367.
Then Prasad and Mendis added 29 and then Mendis went for 17 and the
innings ended at 396 and a very vital lead of 147 runs.
The Indian bowlers could not get any help from the wicket as their
figures show.Khan had 3 for 105, Harbhajan 3 for 104 and Kumble 3 for
123.
INDIA 1ST INNINGS 249
(G. Gambhir 72; Mendis 5-56)
SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS (overnight 251-6):
M. Vandort lbw b Zaheer 14
M. Warnapura b Sharma 8
C. Vaas c Sehwag b Harbhajan 47
K. Sangakkara c Patel b Kumble 144
M. Jayawardene lbw b Harbhajan 2
T. Samaraweera c Patel b Zaheer 35
T. Dilshan lbw b Kumble 23
P. Jayawardene c Harbhajan b Zaheer 49
D. Prasad st Patel b Harbhajan 36
A. Mendis lbw b Kumble 17
M. Muralitharan not out 0
Extras (b4, lb14, nb1, w2) 21
Total (for all out) 396
Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-42, 3-137, 4-141, 5-201, 6-244, 7-324, 8-367, 9-396, 10-396.
Bowling: Zaheer 32-5-105-3 (nb1), Sharma 15.3-3-33-1, Harbhajan 40.3-8-104-3 (w2), Kumble 41.2-4-123-3, Sehwag 2-0-2-0, Ganguly 3-0-11-0.
INDIA 2ND INNINGS:
G. Gambhir b Prasad 26
V. Sehwag c Samaraweera b Prasad 34
R. Dravid not out 46
S. Ganguly lbw b Muralitharan 18
P. Patel lbw b Mendis 1
S. Tendulkar lbw b Mendis 14
V. Laxman not out 17
Extras (b1, lb1, nb1, w2) 5
Total (for five wickets) 161
Fall of wickets: 1-62, 2-65, 3-108, 4-109, 5-131.
Bowling: Vaas 3-0-18-0, Prasad 8-0-46-2 (nb1, w2), Muralitharan 16-0-56-1, Mendis 18-5-39-2. |
