Sangakkara leaves India in doldrums
Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene piled on the runs on their favourite ground.
COLOMBO:
Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene piled on the runs on their favourite ground to send India chasing leather in the second cricket Test.
Sangakkara hit 219, his seventh double-century, and Jayawardene made 174 as Sri Lanka declared at 642 for four on the second day at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC).
India, who trail 1-0 in the three-match series, replied confidently with 95 for no loss by stumps, but still face a long haul to reach 443 and avoid the embarrassment of following on for the second game in a row.
Virender Sehwag was unbeaten with a typically aggressive 64 off 63 balls, while Murali Vijay was on 22.
Earlier Sangakkara and former captain Jayawardene continued the run-spree after opener Tharanga Paranavitana’s century on the first day on a lifeless wicket that has offered little for the bowlers. The senior duo, who compiled Test cricket’s highest partnership of 624 runs at the same venue against South Africa four years ago, put on 193 runs for the third wicket.
Sangakkara’s seventh double-century brought him level with Wally Hammond of England. Only Australian legend Don Bradman (12) and West Indian Brian Lara (nine) have more scores of 200 or more.
Jayawardene’s 10th three-figure knock at the SSC is the most by a batsman at a single ground, surpassing Bradman’s tally of nine at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
“There is no comparison,” said Jayawardene. “Bradman did it in only nine Tests, I took 23, so you can’t compare me with him.
“But it is great to be in this good position. The wicket is typical of SSC, good for strokeplay. I think we have a very good total on the board.
“Now we need to chip at the Indian batting. There is still some bounce in the wicket, which should help our spinners. It is important to get early wickets.”
Starting the day at 312 for two, Sangakkara and Jayawardene added 65 runs from 14 overs in the first hour, easily seeing off the second new ball claimed late on Monday evening.
Sangakkara moved to 199 with four boundaries in one over from left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, and then reached 200 with an edged four to third man off Harbhajan Singh.
The captain fell in the fourth over after the lunch break when he edged a lazy drive off part-time spinner Virender Sehwag to lone slip Rahul Dravid. The left-hander hit 29 boundaries during his seven-hour stay at the crease.
Jayawardene smashed 20 boundaries and a six in his 28th Test century before holing out to mid-wicket to give off-spinner Harbhajan his first success in the series. Thilan Samaraweera remained unbeaten on 76, having put on 176 for the fourth wicket with Jayawardene.
India’s four main bowlers conceded over 100 runs each as Sri Lanka took advantage of a toothless attack on a lifeless pitch.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 28th, 2010.
Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene piled on the runs on their favourite ground to send India chasing leather in the second cricket Test.
Sangakkara hit 219, his seventh double-century, and Jayawardene made 174 as Sri Lanka declared at 642 for four on the second day at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC).
India, who trail 1-0 in the three-match series, replied confidently with 95 for no loss by stumps, but still face a long haul to reach 443 and avoid the embarrassment of following on for the second game in a row.
Virender Sehwag was unbeaten with a typically aggressive 64 off 63 balls, while Murali Vijay was on 22.
Earlier Sangakkara and former captain Jayawardene continued the run-spree after opener Tharanga Paranavitana’s century on the first day on a lifeless wicket that has offered little for the bowlers. The senior duo, who compiled Test cricket’s highest partnership of 624 runs at the same venue against South Africa four years ago, put on 193 runs for the third wicket.
Sangakkara’s seventh double-century brought him level with Wally Hammond of England. Only Australian legend Don Bradman (12) and West Indian Brian Lara (nine) have more scores of 200 or more.
Jayawardene’s 10th three-figure knock at the SSC is the most by a batsman at a single ground, surpassing Bradman’s tally of nine at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
“There is no comparison,” said Jayawardene. “Bradman did it in only nine Tests, I took 23, so you can’t compare me with him.
“But it is great to be in this good position. The wicket is typical of SSC, good for strokeplay. I think we have a very good total on the board.
“Now we need to chip at the Indian batting. There is still some bounce in the wicket, which should help our spinners. It is important to get early wickets.”
Starting the day at 312 for two, Sangakkara and Jayawardene added 65 runs from 14 overs in the first hour, easily seeing off the second new ball claimed late on Monday evening.
Sangakkara moved to 199 with four boundaries in one over from left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, and then reached 200 with an edged four to third man off Harbhajan Singh.
The captain fell in the fourth over after the lunch break when he edged a lazy drive off part-time spinner Virender Sehwag to lone slip Rahul Dravid. The left-hander hit 29 boundaries during his seven-hour stay at the crease.
Jayawardene smashed 20 boundaries and a six in his 28th Test century before holing out to mid-wicket to give off-spinner Harbhajan his first success in the series. Thilan Samaraweera remained unbeaten on 76, having put on 176 for the fourth wicket with Jayawardene.
India’s four main bowlers conceded over 100 runs each as Sri Lanka took advantage of a toothless attack on a lifeless pitch.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 28th, 2010.