Dilshan (106) helps Sri Lanka to pile up 319 for 8 wickets
Ranjan Anandappa in South Africa
Tillekeratne Dilshan hit a splendid 106 to help Sri Lanka to a
spirited display in the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy when
they reached a commendable 319 for 8 in their stipulated 50 overs
through a second wicket stand of 158 runs between Dilshan and Sangakkara
after South African captain Graeme Smith won the toss and elected to
field on a wicket that looked perfect for batting.
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Sri Lanka batsman Mahela Jayawardena
plays a shot on September 22, during the first ICC Champions
Trophy cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at
Supersport park in Centurion, South Africa. AFP |
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Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan
raises his bat after his century during the first match of
ICC Champions Trophy between South Africa and Sri Lanka at
SuperSport Park in Centurion on September 22, 2009. Sri
Lanka scored 319 for the loss of 8 wickets after South
Africa captain Graeme Smith won the toss and opted to bowl
first. AFP |
Smith would have justified his decision for a moment when Jayasuriya
was adjudged lbw after hitting two fours but Kumar Sangakkara and
Dilshan quickly re-established the Sri Lankan batting supremacy by some
skilful and sensible batting on a pitch that looked increasingly easy
for batting.
With the dismissal of Dilshan and Sangakkara, Jayawardena and
Samaraweera joined the run fiesta.
Smith would have put his trust on his paceman Dale Steyn, Albie
Morkel and Jacques Kallis on the assumption that the wicket would help
them. The South Africans had a lay off for about five months had badly
misjudged the state of the pitch and it was a rare decision that enabled
the Lankans to make their highest total in the Champions Trophy. Dilshan
tore into the South African attack with ruthless efficiency while Kumar
Sangaakra batted with exquisite timing. Dilshan in particular hit Steyn
for two fours one to square leg and the other to mid wicket. The pair
posted the 50 in 49 balls with Dilshan on 31. With both Sangakkara and
Dilshan batting with supreme confidence they opted for the second power
play at 72 for 1 wicket.
Dilshan reached his 50 off an extra cover drive off 39 balls and the
total was racing towards the 100 run mark.
Dilshan drove a Albie Morkel no-ball for 4 and the ensuing free hit
was struck furiously by Dilshan for a six to post the 100 run mark (103
for 1) in 88 balls. Sangakkara and Dilshan provided the most
entertaining batting of the innings much of it featuring solid shots.
Dilshan raced to his third ODI hundred off 89 deliveries with 15
fours and a six and soon became a victim of Dale Steyn’s first ball of
his second spell when he cut on uppishly to deep third man. Sangakkara
followed soon when he pushed one tentatively back to the bowler Duminy
and threw the bat in disgust for a workmanlike 54 with five fours.
With the score reading 181 for 3, Samaraweera joined Jayawardena and
picked up the threads and batted in a blaze of glory. The pair batted
with absolute perfection to frustrate the South African bowlers. It was
visible that the even the South African fielding was wilting under
pressure.
Jayawardena and Samaraweera batting based on sound conventional
strokes, a firm off drive, a sure cut and a hook that steered the ball
along the ground which left South African skipper Graeme Smith pondering
most of the innings.
The Jayawardena- Samaraweera association for the fourth wicket added
116 runs for the fourth wicket. Then the rest of the batting Angelo
Mathews, Thilina Kandamby, Nuwan Kulasekera all perished in the quest of
scoring quick runs. Jayawardena after facing 61 balls for his 77 in the
quest of quick runs was caught by Duminy off Parnal. By then Sri Lanka
had reached a total of 300 plus.
South Africa was struggling at 121 for 4 wickets in 22 overs with A.B.
De Villiers unbeaten on 17 and Mark Boucher not out on 1.
Spinner Ajantha Mendis had captured 3 wickets for 12 runs in four overs
including the wickets of Jacques Kallis (41) and J.P. Duminy (0) in
successive deliveries.
SCORECARD SRI LANKA
T.Dilshanc Morkel b Steyn 106 S.Jayasuriyalbw b Steyn 10 K.Sangakkarac and b Duminy 54 M.Jayawardenec Duminy b Parnell 77 T.Samaraweerac Van der Merwe b Parnell 37 A.Mathewsb Steyn 15 T.Kandambyc Duminy b Parnell 06 N.Kulasekararun out 01 M.Muralitharannot out 00 Extras (lb5, w5, nb3) 13 Total (8 wkts, 50 overs) 319 Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Jayasuriya), 2-174 (Sangakkara), 3-181 (Dilshan),
4-297 (Jayawardene) 5-297 (Samaraweera), 6-314 (Kandamby),
7-317 (Kulasekara), 8-319 (Mathews)
Bowling: Steyn 9-2-47-3 (1w), Parnell 10-0-79-3 (1nb, 3w), Kallis 7-0-43-0, Morkel 4-0-39-0 (1nb),
Botha 9-0-53-0 (1nb, 1w), Van der Merwe 10-0-42-0, Duminy 1-0-11-1.
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