The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Jayawardene hauls Sri Lanka out of the woods

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 05, 2004

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Jayawardene hauls Sri Lanka out of the woods

Sri Lanka 279 for 7

GALLE AUG. 4. Mahela Jayawardene notched up his 12th Test century on Wednesday to help Sri Lanka overcome an early collapse and reach a first innings score of 279 for seven wickets at the close of the first day of the first Test against South Africa.

Jayawardene mixed caution with aggression on a difficult pitch to reach the three-figure mark off 196 balls with 17 boundaries and a six. He was involved in an important sixth-wicket partnership of 85 with Romesh Kaluwitharana, who scored 33 before the tourist struck late in the day with the new ball to take two quick wickets.

At the close, the Sri Lanka vice-captain had reached 116 not out off 249 balls in a stay of 300 minutes, with Upul Chandana bowled off the last ball of the day by Makhaya Ntini for five.

Shaun Pollock picked up four wickets for 24 in 15 overs with a mix of subtle pace, swing and off cutters that caused the most trouble for the Sri Lanka batsmen.

Happy hunting ground

Jaywardene's century was his second in Tests against South Africa at the Galle venue, after previously making a century in 2000, and his third over all against the tourist. ``My plan is to bat for as long as I can and hope that I can match or better the innings I scored against South Africa here four years ago,'' Jayawardene said referring to his innings of 167 runs.

``If we can go one up here, it will give our players a lot of confidence considering it is a two-match series,'' he added.

Pollock, South Africa's leading wicket-taker, had earlier helped reduce Sri Lanka to 189 for five wickets after Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu won the toss and elected to bat. The opening bowler picked up his four wickets in three impressive bowling spells, three wickets coming with the new ball.

Jayawardene's sound temperament created the platform Sri Lanka needed to build a competitive first innings total and was involved in a partnership of 86 with Kumara Sangakkara for the third wicket on a pitch aiding turn.

When a shower halted play for 12 minutes before lunch, the host had reached 81 for two wickets.

Atapattu (9) and Sanath Jayasuriya (12) both fell to Pollock during the South African opening bowler's first spell.

Jayasuriya went first, caught by Lance Klusener after the left-handed batsman flicked uppishly to the fielder next to the square leg umpire, Daryl Harper. Atapattu was drawn into playing a defensively at a ball that swung and brushed the outside edge of the bat for wicketkeeper Mark Boucher to take an easy catch.

Good partnership

Sangakkara's partnership with Jayawardene prospered after Pollock's initial burst ripped through the top order, leaving Sri Lanka struggling at 22 for two. Sangakkara, who has been relieved of wicketkeeping duties so he can concentrate on his batting, scored briskly with 11 boundaries in 65 balls. The introduction of left-arm spinner Nicky Boje from the Fort end, however, induced Sangakkara to edge behind for 58.

Thilan Samaraweera became Pollock's third wicket, trapped in front for 13, but Jayawardene kept the scoreboard moving with a mixture of fluent drives and tight defence.

Pollock said he was happy with his side's performance. ``What we have to do is knock the bottom end out of their innings as soon as possible and capitalise on the conditions,'' he said.

Sri Lanka, which considered playing a solitary paceman, settled for a balanced bowling attack with two seamers, Chaminda Vaas and Farveez Maharoof, plus two spinners.

Spinner Muttiah Muralitharan returned to Test cricket after his self-imposed exile for two Tests in Australia, level with leg-spinner Shane Warne on a world record 527 wickets.

South Africa called up Boeta Dippenaar to replace Herschelle Gibbs, who injured an ankle during a training camp.

Fast bowler Nantie Haywardreturned to Test cricket for the first time since the second Test against Pakistan at Newlands in January 2003. Lance Klusener also made a Test comeback after two years. — AP

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport