Sri Lanka in line for a series clinching win
Thanks to Kulasekera (4 for 21) and Sangakkara (81
not out):
Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from the P. Sara Oval
The Sri Lankans are on course for a series clinching win at the end
of the first day of the Second Test against Pakistan at the P.Sara Oval,
yesterday.After the Pakistani batsmen gave a weak kneed display to be
bundled out for 90, the Lankan batsmen gave a lesson on how to
consolidate and play themselves into a position of strength by making
164 for three a lead of 74 with seven wickets and four more days
remaining in this five day Test match.
The Sri Lankans are in this unassailable position due to a remarkable
spell of pace bowling by Nuwan Kulasekera 4 for 21 which broke the back
of the Pakistani batting and a steady unbeaten 81 by Sangakkara.
With the Pakistanis batting only for 167 minutes, they have given a
leading Sri Lankan batsman the opportunity of breaking batting records
and even putting to second best Brian Lara’s individual batting record
of 400 not out.
After losing Malinda Warnapura for 11 at 28, Tharanga Paravitharne
and Kumar Sangakkara out on 54 for the second wicket before
Paranavithane went for 28.
Then Mahela Jayawardena joined his skipper and added a further 51 for
the third wicket when Jayawardena who was shaping well went caught
bat-pad by Mansoor off off spinner Saeed Ajmal for 18.
Sangakkara has so far played a captain’s inning is unbeaten on 81
with 9 fours. He was cool and collected and played his usual stylish
strokes allround the wicket and looks set for a big score. With him at
the wicket is Thilan Samaraweera on 13 not out.
The Lankan bowlers and fielders obliged in style and now it is left
to the batsmen to grind the Pakistani bowlers, bat for two more days run
up a score that would further demoralize their opponents and then lynch
them in the second time when they strike.
As for the Pakistanis, unless they can rise phoenix like from the
ashes, and bat more meaningfully in the second innings there is no
future for them in this game.
Sri Lanka winners in Galle went into this Test with the same
team,while Pakistani gave left hand batsman Fawad Alam his first Test
cap and left out regular opener Salman Butt. Probably Butt would have
been kept out as a punishment for the silly shot he played in the second
innings of the First Test.
After winning the toss and batting on good wicket the Pakistani
batsmen gave another sorry batting display to be dismissed for 90 in
just 36 overs and a batting time of 167 minutes.
The Pakistani batsmen have not learnt from their poor showing in
Galle where they were bundled out for 117 and the malaise continued and
if this is what they are capable of, then this Test could well end
inside four days.
Being a Test match and with their pride at stake they should have
shown more responsibility and character and approached batting with more
purpose. That their big batting guns failed to fire was inexplicable.
After capitulating in Galle,one expected to see the Pakistanis
fighting back and making amends and striving for victory by squaring the
series and keeping the series alive with the final Test at the SSC as
the decider.
They were given the opportunity when skipper Younus Khan called
correctly and decided to strike on a good batting wicket. Although the
wicket was covered it did not retain any moisture and the batsmen were
expected to make big runs.
But what one saw was a procession of batsmen coming and going as
quickly as they came in, playing some strokes that was not in keeping
with the levels of Test cricket.
Six of the best on their backsides is what the batsmen require if
they are to improve and give a better batting display in the second
innings and if they are to take this Test into the final day.
After opener Khuram Mansoor snicked to wicket keeper Dilshan with 4
runs on the board after making 3, batting greats Younus Khan dragged a
ball from Mirando to be bowled without scoring and then Mohammed Yousuf,
Misbah Ul Haq and Kamran Akmal from whom runs were expected made 10, 0
and 9 respectively.
While the top Pakistani batsmen were giving a lesson on how not to
bat, former skipper and allrounder Sohaib Malik stood tall and with no
support whatsoever played the bowling on its merits to remain undefeated
with 39 made in 131 minutes of superb concentration facing 88 deliveries
with 5 fours. It is hoped that Malik’s approach would rub off on his
team mates in the second innings.
Full marks to the Sri Lankan bowlers, both pace and spin. Nuwan
Kulasekera bowling a good line and moving the ball away from the right
handers proved unplayable and returned the excellent figures of 4 for 21
in 9 overs with 3 maidens.
Left arm seamer Thusara Mirando seemed to continue from where he left
off in the second innings in Galle with figures of 2 for 23.Spinner
Ajantha Mendis bounced back to form with 3 for 20 and Angelo Matthews
had one for 15.
PAKISTAN 1ST INNINGS
Khurram Manzoor c Dilshan b Kulasekera 3
Fawad Alam lbw b Mathews 16
Younus Khan b Thushara 0
Mohammad Yousuf c Herath b Kulasekera 10
Misbah-ul Haq c Dilshan b Kulasekera 0
Shoaib Malik not out 39
Kamran Akmal c Dilshan b Thushara 9
Abdur Rauf lbw b Kulasekera 0
Umar Gul c Samaraweera b Mendis 1
Mohammad Aamer lbw b Mendis 2
Saeed Ajmal lbw b Mendis 0
Extras: (b4, lb2, nb2, w2) 10
Total (all out, 36 overs) 90
Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Manzoor), 2-6 (Younus), 3-17 (Yousuf), 4-19 (Misbah), 5-51 (Alam),
6-67 (Akmal), 7-74 (Rauf), 8-80 (Gul), 9-90 (Aamer), 10-90 (Ajmal).
Bowling: Kulasekera 9-3-21-4 (w2), Thushara 8-3-23-2 (nb2), Mendis 10-3-20-3, Mathews 3-0-15-1, Herath 6-3-5-0.
SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS
M. Warnapura lbw b Gul 11
T. Paranavitana c Akmal b Ajmal 26
K. Sangakkara not out 81
M. Jayawardene c Manzoor b Ajmal 19
T. Samaraweera not out 13
Extras: (b8, lb1, nb5) 14
Total (for 3 wkts, 48 overs) 164
To bat: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Angelo Mathews, Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Thushara, Nuwan Kulasekera.
Fall of wickets: 1-28 (Warnapura), 2-82 (Paranavitana), 3-133 (Jayawardene).
Bowling: Gul 10-1-28-1 (nb2), Aamer 9-2-30-0, Rauf 8-1-31-0 (nb2), Ajmal 15-1-45-2, Younus 6-1-21-0 (nb1). |
