The Hindu : Sport : Jayawardene leads Lankan fightback

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 15, 2006

Sport

Sport

Jayawardene leads Lankan fightback

Ted Corbett

Dropped catches and a sleepy pitch spoil English plans

LONDON: Sri Lankan batsmen, led by captain Mahela Jayawardene, staged a fightback of epic proportions as they attempted to save the first Test at Lord's on Sunday. Jaywardene's 14th Test century was the basis of their effort but Farveez Maharoof refused to budge for three hours as they put on 113 for the fourth wicket.

England dropped two important catches and discovered that its attack — lacking three of the Ashes stars — didn't have enough firepower to overcome the sleepy qualities in this batsman's pitch.

It also has to be admitted that Andrew Flintoff, the comparatively raw captain, could not find a way to overcome his problems. I suspect Michael Vaughan would have tried more tricks, taken a couple of overs himself, moved the field into more unorthodox formations and found a way to cut off the supply of runs that came from dabs into the offside.

But, even though England has not killed off Sri Lanka's hopes as soon as it expected, there has never been any doubt which side was on top. England has been in the driving seat throughout and if it had not been for Jayawardene — 61 in the first innings and an undefeated 103 when bad light stopped play at 339 for five at tea in its second — the match might have been over in three days.

Earning praise

Sri Lanka had done enough to earn praise for its own version of the Dunkirk spirit and those who remember the team's bold victory at the Oval in 1998 will wonder if it can pull off another audacious win after following on in this match.

Jayawardene and his young night watchman batted throughout the two hours to lunch but both had lucky escapes from edged shots. Maharoof was 30 when he was put down by Paul Collingwood, and the captain was on 58 when he was dropped by Andrew Strauss off Hoggard. Those two streaky shots apart, the pair survived without too much discomfort on a pitch without vice so that although the ball bounced, it did so uniformly and there was no sign of one keeping low.

Maharoof displayed all the straight-bat technique of an accomplished batsman. England lacked a back-up bowler capable of making a breakthrough and at times like this, the absence of Simon Jones, Ashley Giles and Steve Harmison is most acutely felt. There has been much talk that Mahmood may be the bowler to fill in if Jones is injured but that day is still a couple of years away.

Aggressive approach

After lunch, the pair became more aggressive as if the dressing room chat had decided victory was an option. Maharoof threaded the ball through the offside and went to his fifty with a six but once again Mahmood snared a couple of wickets. Maharoof punched another four past cover off Mahmood but then rather timidly lobbed a simple catch to cover.

Thilan Samaraweera lasted only a quarter of an hour before he edged a catch to the wicketkeeper.

Dilshan played his shots but Sri Lanka held its nerve as first Jayawardene reached his century — from four overthrows — but not before Flintoff had seriously disturbed his concentration.

England was not bowling badly — in fact, it appeared to be about to take a wicket at any moment — but for whatever reason the breakthrough would not come. Just as the forecasters had suggested, light closed in and, against all forecasts and expectations, a fifth day became inevitable.

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