Dilshan century lifts Sri Lanka
Tillakaratne Dilshan smashed his fifth century of the year as Sri
Lanka made a spirited reply in the first Test against India here on
Tuesday.
Dilshan hit 112, his 10th Test hundred, as Sri Lanka cruised to 275-3
by stumps on the second day in reply to India’s first innings total of
426.
The right-hander put on 74 for the first wicket with Tharanga
Paranavitana (35) and 115 for the second with skipper Kumar Sangakkara,
who made 31.
Former captain Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera built on the
good start by adding 81 for the unbroken fourth wicket before stumps
were drawn for the day.
Jayawardene was unbeaten on 36 and Samaraweera was on 45 with Sri
Lanka 151 runs behind India with seven wickets in hand.
Dilshan, who passed a late fitness test on a sprained ankle to play
the match, revelled in excellent batting conditions at the Motera
stadium to hit 12 fluent boundaries.
The 33-year-old opener has scored 961 runs in nine Tests this year at
an average of 73.92. His 162 against Bangladesh in January was the best
of his five centuries in 2009.
Dilshan said Sri Lanka had put themselves in a good position to force
a result over the last three days.
“If we can build on what we have at present and take a lead of around
150, India will be under pressure to save the match because the wicket
will start to take turn,” he said.
“I am happy to contribute every time I go in to bat. Opening the
batting gives me time to build my innings, but I am not happy the way I
got out today.”
Sri Lanka, who were comfortably placed at 189-1 soon after tea, lost
Dilshan and Sangakkara in successive overs from Indian pace spearhead
Zaheer Khan, to slip to 194-3.
The left-arm seamer had Dilshan top-edging an intended pull to Rahul
Dravid at gully, before Sangakkara hooked Zaheer to fine-leg, where
Sachin Tendulkar took a well-judged catch. India, who earlier resumed at
Monday’s score of 385-6, lost their last four wickets for 41 runs and
were all out soon after the first drinks break. Dravid, whose unbeaten
177 on the first day helped India recover from a disastrous 32-4, failed
to add to his overnight score when he was bowled by Chanaka Welegedara
in the morning’s third over.
Zaheer brought up India’s 400 by slashing two consecutive deliveries
from Dammika Prasad over the slips to the third man fence.
Prasad responded with a full toss at Zaheer’s midriff that sent the
batsman sprawling to the ground. The bowler immediately apologised to
Zaheer, indicating the ball had slipped from his sweaty hand.
Harbhajan Singh made 22 with the help of two boundaries when he was
bowled while attempting a reverse sweep off the prolific Muttiah
Muralitharan.
Muralitharan, the world’s most successful Test bowler, had last man
Ishant Sharma stumped four balls later to finish with three wickets in
the innings and take his overall tally to 786.
Welegedara, playing only his second Test, returned with the wickets
of India’s first four batsmen — Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir,
Tendulkar and Dravid — against his name. AHMEDABAD, India, Tuesday, AFP
INDIA first innings (385-6 overnight)
G. Gambhir b Welegedara 1
V. Sehwag lbw b Welegedara 16
R. Dravid b Welegedara 177
S. Tendulkar b Welegedara 4
V. Laxman b Prasad 0
Y. Singh c Dilshan b Muralitharan 68
MS. Dhoni c P. Jayawardene b Prasad 110
H. Singh b Muralitharan 22
Z. Khan lbw b Herath 12
A. Mishra not out 7
I. Sharma st P. Jayawardene b Muralitharan 0
Extras: (b-2, lb-2, w-1, nb-4) 9
TOTAL (all out; 104.5 overs) 426
Fall of wickets: 1-14 2-27 3-31 4-32, 5-157, 6-381 7-389
8-414 9-426.
Bowling: Welegedara 22-4-87-4 (nb-1, w-1), Prasad, 22-1-106-2 (nb-2), Mathews 12-1-50-0,
Muralitharan 25.5-4-97-3,(nb-1), Herath 22-2-79-1, Dilshan 1-0-3-0.
SRI LANKA first innings
T. Dilshan c Dravid b Zaheer 112
T. Paranavitana c Dhoni b Ishant 35
K. Sangakkara c Tendulkar b Zaheer 31
M. Jayawardene not out 36
T. Samaraweera not out 45
Extras (lb-5, w-2, nb-9) 16
TOTAL(three wickets; 70 overs) 275
Fall of wickets: 1-74 2-189 3-194
Bowling (to date): Zaheer 15-2-45-2 (w-1, nb-3), Ishant 14-0-53-1 (w-1, nb-3), Harbhajan 20-2-72-0, Mishra 18-0-89-0
(nb-3), Yuvraj 3-0-11-0. |
