Tuesday, Dec 02, 2003
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Cricket
By G. Viswanath
India A's Rohan Gavaskar sends Sri Lanka A's Kaushalya Weeraratne to the fence during his century knock on the third day of the second `Test' at Pune on Monday. — Photo: Vivek Bendre
Unlike his father, the junior Gavaskar was raised as a left-handed batsman, and today he undertook a job of occupying the crease with the intention of accumulating runs with the kind of resolve and purpose his father was famous for. Gavaskar's 14th century in first class competition cost a clueless Sri Lanka `A' 173 runs, a substantial contribution that saw India `A' make 556 for the loss of seven wickets on the third day for a lead of 216. Just ten boundary shots, all hit along the ground and between the gaps, embellished his long and watchful innings. It marked out the essential difference from the firm and telling blows for maximum rewards and the nudges and flicks for lesser gains which he made capital of. He worked the ball around his pads, placed his shots to split fielders and his fellow colleagues too rallied around him to sustain partnerships that saw India `A' prosper at the rate of nearly four runs an over. The home team added 353 runs in 90 overs to its overnight 203 for three. Clearly Gavaskar was keen and eager to make amends for his poor shot selection in the first Test at Motera. He was determined to come up with a big effort, but so were the three other batsmen in Ambati Rayudu, Ajay Ratra and Ramesh Powar. Together they made 172 runs which was chiefly responsible for the home team sitting pretty at stumps on the third day. Rayudu batted with supreme confidence and treated the crowd to some scintillating shots coming down the pitch to punish the Lanka `A' spinners Rangana Herath and Chamakira Mudalige. He looked to be in good nick but was caught on the shuffle after the visitor claimed the second new ball. Discarded time and again by the national selectors, Ajay Ratra (68, 143m, 127b, 10x4s) has put on a wonderful act behind and in front of the stumps. He provided the thrust in the sixth wicket partnership that produced 143 runs. So was Powar, who for the second time in as many Tests, took a heavy toll of the Sri Lankan bowlers and is still batting on 64 with four 4s and two mighty sixes. A declaration on Tuesday morning is on the cards and another opportunity awaits the home team to press for victory before the third and final Test in Mumbai. The scores: Sri Lanka `A' - 1st innings: 340 India `A' - 1st innings: S.S. Das c Lanka de Silva b Wijesiriwardane 16, G. Gambhir c Lanka de Silva b Weeraratne 131, M. Kaif st. Jayawardane b Herath 28, S. Sriram (run out) 3, R. Gavaskar c Daniel b Malinga 173, A. Rayudu lbw b Weeraratne 40, A. Ratra st. Jayawardane b Herath 68, R. Powar (batting) 64, M. Kartik (batting) 10, Extras (b-4, lb-8, nb-10, w-1) 23, Total (for seven wkts. in 150 overs) 556. Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-130, 3-138, 4-235, 5-297, 6-440, 7-530 Sri Lanka `A' bowling: Malinga 15-1-77-1, Wijesiriwardane 14-3-53-1, Weeraratne 31-5-117-2, Herath 47-7-140-2, Mudalige 34-1-117-0, Pollonowita 7-1-26-0, Mubarak 2-0-14-0.
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