English miracle downs Lankans
Elmo Rodrigopulle – Reporting from England
It is said that the days of miracles are not yet over, not even in
cricket. And this was proved by the unbelievable manner in which the Sri
Lankans tumbled to defeat by an innings and 14 runs in the First Npower
Test here at the Swalec Stadium, today. The Sri Lankans needing 97 runs
to make England bat again were bowed out for 82.
Sri Lanka could grasp for only 24.4 overs and nearly two hours before
disgracefully surrendering. Stuart Broad had 2 for 21,Chris Tremlett 4
for 44 and Greame Swann 4 for16.
When everything pointed to a draw, what with the weather interfering,
the bold declaration by England shocked the Lankans and as it finally
proved and unable to ride the pressure and the pace and spin blitz by
Chris Tremlett, Stuart Broad and Greame Swann were blown off like a pack
of cards.
No excuse however good are acceptable once in the big league and that
the Lankans did have the guts and the courage to play out 51 overs does
not speak well for their future on this tour and unless they can raise
their game Phoenix like from the ashes in which it is now, they will
only be just going through the motions and heaping disgrace on
themselves. Sri Lanka who were jolted by the declaration, suffered two
early hiccups when Tharanga Paranavitana and Tillekeratne Dilshan the
openers went cheaply, prompting questions whether they would capitulate
and concede victory.
Paranavitana and Dilshan ran into an early devastating burst from
Chris Tremlett who was given the new ball in the absence of James
Anderson. Paranavitana pushed too early and snicked to Strauss in the
slips for zero and Dilshan went caught and bowled for 10. At tea Sri
Lanka were 33 for 2 with Kumar Sangakkara on 7 and Mahela Jayawarena on
15. Tremlett had 2 for 5.
Immediately after tea, Tremlett who changed end and came on from the
media box end, pocketed the wicket of Jayawardena without allowing the
batsman to add to his score and add to the total. Three runs later
Samaraweera went cutting against the spin of Swann and dragging the ball
on to the wicket. At 36 for 4,Sri Lanka were looking down the barrel.
Further disaster struck when Sangakkara lunged and edged Swann to
Strauss in the slips for 14, Maharoof went caught behind by Prior again
of Strauss for zero, Prasanna Jayawardena went for 3 caught by Prior off
Tremlett, Herath went caught in front by Swann for 3, Thissara Perera
went for 20 and Suranga Lakmal for 0 to end the misery.
The Test on the final day got started at 3 pm with England on 491 for
5, a lead of 91 with Ian Bell on 98 and Eoin Morgan on 14. Ian Bell got
to his 13th Test century 103 cutting the final ball from Thissara Perera
in the second over to the third man boundary. Bell three figures came
off 159 deliveries with 11 fours and the only six of the match. When
Bell got his hundred, England declared on 496 for 5 batting for nine
minutes and a lead of 96 and added interest to the game, probably
wanting to come hard at the Lankans putting them under pressure and
getting a few wickets and psychologically unsettling the Lankans ahead
of the Lord’s Test.
Once again heavy rains hit Cardiff after the close of play and
continued throughout the night and early this morning. As has become a
ritual here arriving on the ground it was the all too familiar sight of
watching the ground staff sweeping off the water on the covers. It is
horrible just sitting around waiting for the action to begin..
Although the rains turned into a drizzle, it is overcast and very
chilly and if there is any play today, it will be like yesterday after
lunch. Here in the media box I was humming that Tony Brent perennial -
‘The clouds will soon roll by’ and patiently cursing and waiting for the
action to start.
With the First Test ruined by rain, the final day was going to be of
little significance. The interest will be focused on right hander Ian
Bell who is on 98 and how much more runs he is going to accumulate and
keep the Lankans on the field and as to when umpires Aleem Dar and Billy
Doctrov with the consent of the two captains Andrew Strauss and
Tillekeratne Dilshan will perform the final rites and bury this Test in
a watery grave at the Swalec Stadium and end the agony. But when play
finally started, England had other ideas has the declaration showed..
The discussion here was the shocking news that Upul Tharanga, Sri
Lanka’s one-day opener had failed a drugs test during the 2011 World Cup
in the sub continent.
Whether he will be a part of the one-day team to face England in the
Five one-day international series which will begin here after the Three
Tests will be interesting to watch.
When contacted and asked to comment on the Upul Tharanga affair,
Chairman of Selectors Duleep Mendis who is here as selector on tour,
said that he has so far not been informed of anything by Sri Lanka
Cricket and would not like to further comment.
South African born Trott’s efforts are increasingly remarkable with
four scores of over 150 and a superb average approaching 70, second in
history only to the greatest batsman the game of cricket has seen or
will ever see the late great Sir Donald Bradman.
Resuming on 125,Trrott made a relentless 203 in a marathon innings
that lasted eight-and-half hours which was the highest score by an
England batsman against Sri Lanka and his second Test double hundred. It
came off 409 balls with 17 fours. Dilshan finally ended his marathon
innings bowling him.
Also of interest was the failing of Kevin Pietersen for the 43rd time
against left arm spinner.
His woes against left spinners started in 2008 when New Zealand’s
Daniel Vettori caused him a lot of trouble. Rangana Herath, the Lankan
left arm tweaker hit him on the back foot.
Pietersen thought the ball had hit bat first. But the Lankans thought
otherwise and after Doctrov turned down the appeal, asked for the
referral and hot spot showed that the ball had hit pad first and the
South African born right hander had to leave the field, disappointed.
His slot in the England squad will come under scrutiny after this
flop.
Swalec Stadium, Cardiff, Monday
Sri Lanka
1st Innings 400
England
1st Innings
(overnight: 491-5)
A. Strauss c M Jayawardene b Lakmal 20
A. Cook c P Jayawardene b Maharoof 133
J. Anderson c M Jayawardene b Mendis 1
J. Trott b Dilshan 203
K. Pietersen lbw b Herath 3
I. Bell not out 103
E. Morgan not out 14
Extras (b10, lb4, nb5) 19
TOTAL (5 wkts dec, 155 overs, 635 mins) 496
DID NOT BAT: M Prior, S Broad, G Swann, C Tremlett
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-46 (Strauss), 2-47 (Anderson), 3-298 (Cook), 4-305 (Pietersen), 5-465 (Trott)
BOWLING: Lakmal 22-4-68-1 (1nb); Perera 24-5-81-0; Dilshan 16-1-60-1;
Maharoof 28-3-92-1 (3nb); Mendis 21-4-66-1 (1nb); Herath 44-7-115-1
Sri Lanka
2nd Innings
T. Paranavitana c Strauss b Tremlett 0
T. Dilshan c and b Tremlett 10
K. Sangakkara c Strauss b Swann 14
M. Jayawardene c Strauss b Tremlett 15
T. Samaraweera b Swann 0
P. Jayawardene c Prior b Tremlett 3
F. Maharoof c Prior b Swann 0
T. Perera c Bell b Broad 20
R. Herath lbw b Swann 3
A. Mendis not out 12
S. Lakmal c Cook b Broad 0
Extras (b5) 5
TOTAL (all out, 24.4 overs, 117 mins) 82
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-1 (Paranavitana), 2-10 (Dilshan), 3-33 (M Jayawardene),
4-36 (Samaraweera), 5-43 (Sangakkara), 6-43 (Maharoof), 7-43 (P Jayawardene), 8-52
(Herath), 9-82 (Perera), 10-82 (Lakmal)
BOWLING: Broad 7.4-1-21-2; Tremlett 10-2-40-4; Swann 7-1-16-4 |
