Birthday boy Herath spins SL to series win

Ranjan Anandappa

Indian Bollywood film actress Priyanka Chopra poses during the promotion of the song Bubbly Badmaash from the upcoming Hindi crime film Shootout At Wadala directed by Sanjay Gupta in Mumbai on March 18. AFP

Birthday boy Rangana Herath wouldn’t have found a better way of celebrating his 35th birthday with a precious gift, as it coincided in many ways. He became only the third Sri Lankan bowler to take 200 wickets in Test cricket, besides Muthiah Muralitharan and the present bowling coach Chaminda Vaas and created a new ground record taking the highest number of wickets at the Premadasa Stadium in a single Test match (12 wickets).

In addition he almost single handedly bowled Sri Lanka to a seven wicket win with a match bag of (12 for 157) to give his country a 1-0 win in the two match Test series against Bangladesh at the R.Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo.

Sri Lanka was left to get 160 runs to win with the visitors being dismissed for 240 in the first innings and 265 in the second innings. Kumar Sangakkara (55) and T.M.Dilshan (57) added 84 runs for the second wicket and Angelo Mathews captaining only in his second Test match with Lahiru Thirimanne put the finishing touches with both unbeaten on 13.

At the end of the game it left people in doubt in certain issues, illustrating how dependent was Sri Lanka on Herath’s bowling. Without him the spin department looks ominously bare. With the second new ball too, Kulasekera shared it with Herath after having two other fastmen Suranga Lakmal and Shaminda Eranga.

Herath who had got three wickets on the third day evening continued bowling on the fourth day morning with the Bangladesh skipper Mushfiquer Rahim and Monimul Haque needing a challenging score to put pressure on Sri Lanka while their run chase. Bangladesh who were 158 for 4 overnight quickly lost Monimul Haque in the very first over in the morning caught at forward short leg by Karunaratne off Herath for 37.

There after it was Herath who was haunting all over Bangladesh batting once again. Herath who bowled in tandem with the medium pacers from one end took vital wickets whenever the team needed. Bangladesh looked in a poor position at 160 for 5 with half the side out and only a 54 run lead.

Mushfiquer Rahim who was dropped on the previous day evening seemed to have settled down and batting sensibly. His presence was needed with the support of remaining batsmen if his side was to put up a substantial lead for his bowlers to bowl. Rahim stepped out and hit a straight six off Herath, but soon he too became a victim of Herath’s spin which gave him his 200th Test wicket after scoring 40 facing eighty seven deliveries with three fours and a six.

Sohag Gazi who was in the company of Rahim too showed aggression after being dropped by Dimuth Karunaratne in the slips with the second new ball. Sri Lakna’s fielding was deplorable at times.

They dropped at least four straight forward catches. Gazi who was at one benefited from the lapses and taking advantage carted Kulasekera thrice to the boundary in his 26. Abul Hasan, the man who scored a debut century batting at number 10 against the West Indies scored a useful unbeaten 25 facing fifty seven deliveries.

With nine wickets down at the scheduled lunch break at 12 noon, play extended for a further half an hour according to the ICC playing conditions. Before the half an hour elapsed Bangladesh were all out for 265 leaving Sri Lanka to get 160 runs to win.

The Man Of The Series award was won by Kumar Sangakkara for his prolific scoring in the two Tests and Rangana Herath was adjudged Man Of the Match for his match bag of (12for 157).