Prasanna (112) helps Lanka pile up 400
Elmo RODRIGOPULLE reporting, from England
A superb knock of 112 by Prasanna Jayawardena helped Sri Lanka to
pile up 400 runs in their first innings on day two of the first test
against England at Cardiff on Friday.
Jayawardena was involved in two useful partnerships-68 runs for the
seventh wicket with Thisara Perera (25) and 51 for the eighth wicket
with Rangana Herath (25) as the Lankans reached the 400 run mark.
The Sri Lankans who did well to end the first day on 133 for 2,
keeping the over confident Englishmen at bay, made 183 in the two
sessions and took tea at 316 for 6 wickets on day two. At the wickets
were Prasanna Jayawardena on 69 with 8 fours and Thissara Perera on 19.
The Lankans made 109 for 2 wickets in the session after lunch.
There was no much incidents in the two sessions. The Lankan batsmen
weathered the early movement that was there and Tharanga Paranavitana,
Thilan Samaraweera and Prasanna Jayawardena in particular batting
doggedly to make half centuries.
Farveez Mahroof recalled to the side was unfortunately run out
backing up too far when Jonathan Trott deflected a ball on to the
wicket. He made 16 with one four.
Of the England bowlers the most impressive was James Anderson who
bowled with a lot of pace and fire and that he did not meet with more
success was just bad luck. Of particular interest was the top class
umpiring by Aleem Dar and Billy Doctrov who were spot on over ruling LBW
calls.
In contrast to the first day where there was no pace, spin or
movement, the second day was indifferent.
There was pace and above all, good movement and James Anderson and
Stuart Broad kept the ball up and beat the bats of Mahela Jyawardena and
Tharanga Paranavitarna. Strauss supported the pacemen placing four slips
and a gully.
England slips seemed to have copied the Australian style of placing
their slips one in front of the other about two feet apart.
The going was slow with the England pacemen bowling very accurately.
After the early loss of Jayawardena, Thilan Samaraweera joined
Paranvitana and added 26 for the fourth wicket when Paranavitana who was
going very patiently inside edged a ball from Tremlett not getting to
the pitch of the ball.
Paranavitana with his correct approach and unhurried batting helped
keep the Lankan batting together. His 66 was well compiled. He excelled
in the drive and the cut and made his 66 in 191 balls with 6 fours.
The Lankans took lunch on 207 for 4 with Samaraweera stroking the
ball confidently on 38 with 6 fours and Prasanna Jayawardena on 21 with
4 fours. They were involved in a partnership of 48 in 77 balls. The
Lankans scored 74 for the loss of two wickets in the morning session.
England took the new ball a few overs after lunch and met with
success when Anderson who was bowling well throughout got one to move
and Samaraweera edged to Swann at second slip for a well compiled 58 in
89 balls with 9 fours. Samaraweera and Jayawardena added 84 in 119
balls.
The England bowlers ho were awry yesterday, bowled with more purpose
and better control and moved the ball both ways to regularly beat the
bat, but could not find the bats a little bit broader to get a touch.
Disaster struck Sri Lanka who were looking for something over 400,
when Jayawardena after scratching around went without scoring and adding
to the total when he nicked an Anderson delivery to Strauss at first
slip. It was another failure for Jayawardena.
The Sri Lankans in getting to 133 for 2 in the time remaining for
play on a rain shortened first day, did reasonably well to stall the
England bowlers from breaking through and taking honours.
Dilshan had a memorable beginning to his Test career, winning his
first toss and adding to it by notching up a half century. In winning
the toss he also read the wicket well and did right in batting. Swalec
Stadium, Cardiff, Friday
SRI LANKA
1ST INNINGS
T. Paranavitana b Tremlett 66
T. Dilshan b Swann 50
K. Sangakkara c Prior b Anderson 11
M. Jayawardene c Strauss b Anderson 4
T. Samaraweera c Swann b Anderson 58
P. Jayawardene c Prior b Broad 112
F. Maharoof run out (Trott) 16
T. Perera c Tremlett b Broad 25
R. Herath c Trott b Swann 25
S. Lakmal c Broad b Swann 2
A. Mendis not out 1
Extras (b9, lb21) 30
Total (all out, 118.4 overs, 400
Fall of wickets: 1-93 (Dilshan), 2-114 (Sangakkara), 3-133 (M Jayawardene), 4-159 (Paranavitana),
5-243 (Samaraweera), 6-278 (Maharoof), 7-346 (Perera), 8-397 (Herath), 9-397 (P Jayawardene), 10-400 (Lakmal)
Bowling: Anderson 28-8-66-3; Broad 33-4-113-2; Tremlett 26-9-81-1; Swann 24.4-2-78-3; Trott 6-0-29-0; Pietersen 1-0-3-0. |