The Hindu : Sport : Sanath Jayasuriya at his majestic best

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Thursday, Mar 22, 2007
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Sanath Jayasuriya at his majestic best

S. Ram Mahesh

Sangakkara, Silva score half-centuries against an inconsistent Bangladesh attack

— Photo: AFP

BLAZING AWAY: Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya notched up a quickfire century against Bangladesh.

Port of Spain: Sanath Jayasuriya made a century in an innings of two parts, reaching three figures with a steepling six, as Sri Lanka scored 318 for four in 50 overs at the Queen's Park Oval here on Wednesday.

Jayasuriya, who retired hurt on 83, returned to make 109 off 87 balls with seven fours and seven sixes. Bangladesh's bowlers, let down completely by the fielders, struggled as Kumar Sangakkara and Chamara Silva completed fortifying half-centuries.

Habibul Bashar won the toss and had little hesitation in miming his decision. But, his opening bowlers couldn't summon the consistency they had shown against India. Both Mashrafe Mortaza and Syed Rasel produced unplayable deliveries — Mortaza from the strength of his action, Rasel from dragging his fingers across the ball. In between, however, there were far too many gift-wrapped scoring opportunities.

Replay

Jayasuriya flipped Rasel high over square-leg. He had been standing out of his crease to counter Rasel's swing. Mushfiqur Rahim, the wicketkeeper, spotted it and crept up to the stumps. It didn't prevent Jayasuriya replaying the shot though. The Sri Lankan openers filched singles as well. Not for nothing is the 37-year-old Jayasuriya, from the evidence of the physio's tests, among the three fittest men in the squad. This eagerness to bunt and run almost cost Upul Tharanga his wicket. Rasel, with a full view of the stumps and time enough to hum his favourite song, missed after gathering the ball on his follow-through.

Bashar used left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak to switch Mortaza around. The introduction of Razzak in Power Play 2 was a brave move. The Indian batsmen had treated him with undue caution. Jayasuriya smote him for two sixes in the 13th over, forcing Bashar to bring on the experienced Mohammad Rafique.

Tharanga failed to keep to ground a delivery that didn't turn. Aftab Ahmed at backward point sprung, fumbled, and fell to the ground having taken the catch one-handed on the second attempt. His hang-time was incredible: rarely are so many actions completed in the air.

Rafique, meanwhile, hurried through his overs. The run-rate dropped perceptibly. Jayasuriya and Tharanga had put on 98 in 14.2 overs; Jayasuriya and Jayawardene added a less vigorous 39 in 9.4 overs before rain suspended play.

On resumption, Jayasuriya pulled up with what the manager later confirmed was cramp, and went off the field. Jayawardene, dropped by Bashar on 24, chose the sweep as his boundary-clearing stroke. But, Saqibul Hasan conned him in flight.

Sangakkara hustled twos off wonderfully orthodox punches, hitting just a four and a six in his first 40 runs. Chamara Silva struggled initially, but a late cut freed him. The lofted six that followed was the most beautiful stroke of the innings. The pair added 59 runs in 9.1 overs before Jayasuriya returned.

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka: U. Tharanga c Aftab b Rafique 26, S. Jayasuriya c Bashar b Razzak 109, M. Jayawardene c Aftab b Hasan 46, K. Sangakkara c Tamim b Rasel 56, C. Silva (not out) 52, R. Arnold (not out) 5; Extras (lb-11, w-10, nb-3) 24; Total (for four wkts. in 50 overs) 318.

Fall of wickets: 1-98, 2-202, 3-261, 4-300.

Bangladesh bowling: Mortaza 10-0-66-0, Rasel 10-0-58-1, Razzak 10-0-86-1, Rafique 10-0-48-1, Hasan 10-0-49-1.

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