Paranavitana, Sangakkara flay India in first Test
GALLE:
Opening batsman Tharanga Paranavitana and captain Kumar Sangakkara hit superb centuries as Sri Lanka dominated a rain-hit opening day of the first Test against India.
The left-handed duo put on 181 for the second wicket to lead Sri Lanka to 256 for two in their first innings before heavy rain stopped play 22 overs early at the Galle International Stadium.
Sangakkara made 103, his 22nd Test century and fourth against India, while Paranavitana notched up his maiden ton to remain unbeaten on 110 at the close.
India’s depleted bowling attack, missing the injured pace duo of Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth, proved ineffective on the easy-paced wicket after Sri Lanka elected to bat.
Paranavitana and his opening partner Tillakaratne Dilshan made use of good batting conditions to smash 55 runs in 10 overs.
India’s new seamer Abhimanyu Mithun was rewarded for his steady bowling when Dilshan edged a pull shot to Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind the stumps.
Dilshan, who hit six fours in his 25 off 24 balls, appeared to indicate the ball went off his elbow to the wicket-keeper.
But Paranavitana and Sangakkara ensured that the Indians tasted only one more success as they took advantage of the toothless attack. The Sri Lankan captain, who hit 12 boundaries, fell against the run of play after tea though when he pulled a short ball from part-time spinner Virender Sehwag to Sachin Tendulkar at deep mid-wicket.
Meanwhile, some 15,000 fans came to watch the final Test for world bowling record holder Muttiah Muralitharan, who needs eight more scalps to reach the 800-wicket mark.
Earlier, Sri Lanka’s sports minister Chandrasiri Ratnayake also presented Muralitharan with a silver plaque before the start of play, which was delayed by 30 minutes due to a wet outfield. Afp
Published in The Express Tribune, July 19th, 2010.
Opening batsman Tharanga Paranavitana and captain Kumar Sangakkara hit superb centuries as Sri Lanka dominated a rain-hit opening day of the first Test against India.
The left-handed duo put on 181 for the second wicket to lead Sri Lanka to 256 for two in their first innings before heavy rain stopped play 22 overs early at the Galle International Stadium.
Sangakkara made 103, his 22nd Test century and fourth against India, while Paranavitana notched up his maiden ton to remain unbeaten on 110 at the close.
India’s depleted bowling attack, missing the injured pace duo of Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth, proved ineffective on the easy-paced wicket after Sri Lanka elected to bat.
Paranavitana and his opening partner Tillakaratne Dilshan made use of good batting conditions to smash 55 runs in 10 overs.
India’s new seamer Abhimanyu Mithun was rewarded for his steady bowling when Dilshan edged a pull shot to Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind the stumps.
Dilshan, who hit six fours in his 25 off 24 balls, appeared to indicate the ball went off his elbow to the wicket-keeper.
But Paranavitana and Sangakkara ensured that the Indians tasted only one more success as they took advantage of the toothless attack. The Sri Lankan captain, who hit 12 boundaries, fell against the run of play after tea though when he pulled a short ball from part-time spinner Virender Sehwag to Sachin Tendulkar at deep mid-wicket.
Meanwhile, some 15,000 fans came to watch the final Test for world bowling record holder Muttiah Muralitharan, who needs eight more scalps to reach the 800-wicket mark.
Earlier, Sri Lanka’s sports minister Chandrasiri Ratnayake also presented Muralitharan with a silver plaque before the start of play, which was delayed by 30 minutes due to a wet outfield. Afp
Published in The Express Tribune, July 19th, 2010.