OH! for a Bandara at Karachi

Richard Dwight

When our cricketers smashed a massive first innings score of 644/7 against Pakistan at Karachi, with double centurions, Mahela and Thilan involved in a record breaking partnership.

None would have ever thought, that this young Pakistani side led by the newly appointed captain, in Younis Khan, will get over 300 runs which would necessitate Pakistan to follow on, for Sri Lanka to win by an innings or by a few wickets and runs.

Pakistan could have been easily overawed in having to contend with a formidable score such as this. And to make matters worse they had to begin their reply towards the close of play and, had the misfortune of losing their first wicket early.

At moments like the accepted practice is to send out a night watchman - But instead skipper Younis took on the responsibility of going out, virtually taking the "Bull by the horns". He was on a mission to redeem his side, and how well he accomplished it as a colossus with a huge 313, is history now.

He exuded confidence, that was infectious amongst Shoaib Malik, Faisal Iqbal, Yasir Arafat, all of whom scored half centuries, with Kamran Akmal as well, who scored a century. All of which helped Pakistan to a mammoth score of 765 for 6.

The characteristic feature of Younis' batting was that he was well composed with evenness of mind and, with his pleasant disposition did endear himself to the Sri Lankan Cricketers and to the crowd present.

It was certainly a hard grind for our cricketers, who apart from the established 5 bowlers, did make use of 4 non bowlers, making it 9 bowlers in all.

It did surprise us to why the off spinner Samaraweera was not made use of. And if Kumar the wicket-keeper batsman, had donned gloves to relive Prasanna, who if he bowled and along with Samaraweera, 11 bowlers would have been used. Silly as it would have been, but then crickets is such a funny game.

Notwithstanding all this, the question that many ask is, as to why the proven right arm leggie, Malinga Bandara wasn't selected, as against some passengers being included.

Bandara is a tidy compact player who could Bowl, bat and field well. Amongst the many batsmen that he has dismissed, the one that stands out is the way he foxed, Sachin Tendulkar and Virendra Schewag and the bringing Sri Lanka into the reckoning by taking 3 crucial wickets in the Twenty/20 game against India.

Ah! yes but what could he possibly do when those in authority 'Have eyes and see not, have ears and hear not'. They do aim at the stars in the sky and lose the jewels at their feet.