Records tumble as Sri Lanka take upper hand

Dilanka MANNAKKARA

It was a day of records to be broken as Sri Lanka inflicted another day of toil on the Indian bowlers to reach a seemingly invincible position at the end of the second days play of the second Test match at the SSC ground.

At the end of the days play the Indian openers put on a quick fire 94 runs as Sehwag was in his attacking mode and reached fifty with 9 boundaries. Sehwag was on 64 and Murali Vijay on 22.

The Sri Lankans who resumed their score of 312 for 2 overnight went on to make a mammoth total of 642 for 4 and declared their innings after the third centurion of the Sri Lankan innings, Mahela Jayawardena was out for a wonderful 170 while Skipper Sangakkara hit a majestic 219.

Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, achieved individual landmarks on a placid track against a Indian attack which lacked sting that has left its batsmen with another Test to save, though in much more favourable conditions.

Sanga started off the day with hitting the first ball through extra cover for a beautiful boundary. Thereafter he continued his aggressive approach and with his trademark flick shots, cover drives, lofted drives, vicious cuts and ferocious pull shots racing towards the fence making the Indian fielders a mere spectators.

Ishanth Sharma and Mithun were hammered to all corners of the ground by Sangakkara and even the good balls were masterfully dealt for runs. Mahela Jayawardena who had a very watchful start eventually joined Sanga as he started middling the ball and finding his classic timing back, much to the poor Indian bowlers dismay. Sanga reached his 150 in quick time off a streaky shot towards second slip and it was his 12th 150 plus score in his 89 test match career.

Mahela reached yet another half century in a sedate fashion of 100 balls and as the game went on records started to tumble. Sanga and Mahela reached their 12th century partnership and broke yet another partnership record which was previously held by Aravinda and Arjuna which was 11 century stands.

Dhoni brought back Harbhajan and he started bowling around the wicket to the right hander and opted for a leg side field to stop the run feast and although the runs didn’t flow as smoothly Mahela broke the shackles by coming down the track and hitting some magnificent in side out strokes.Sanga went on the offensive once again and hit four consecutive fours off Ojha with some cracking shots over the bowlers head.

He hit a lovely square drive to reach his seventh double century off 304 balls with 27 fours. With his seventh double century Sanga became the player to score the most number of double centuries for Sri Lanka and is currently placed third in the all time list along with the English great Wally Hammond.

Sri Lanka scored 145 runs in just 29 overs in the morning session and just after lunch Sanga threw his wicket away trying to guide a ball towards the third man region and was caught at slip off the bowling of Sehwag.

Sanga hit 29 fours in a flawless knock and he along with Mahela had put on 193 runs for the third wicket before he departed. Mahela was joined by Thilan Samaraweera and soon afterwards Mahela reached his 28th test century.

It was also his 10th test century at the SSC and, eventually made him the batsman to score the most number of test centuries at a single ground breaking the 9 century record held by the invincible Sir Don Bradman at the MCG. Mahela also holds the record for the highest number of runs in a single ground with 2641 runs at the SSC in 23 matches with an outstanding average of 82. Thilan Samaraweera also joined a party with a well made fifty of 89 balls hitting 7 fours.

Mahela reached a stylish 150 off 218 balls with 19 fours. He continued to flourish and hit Harbhajan for a beautiful six but a lazy flick shot provided his downfall and he eventually fell for 170.