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England shines on opening day

Ted Corbett

Kumar Sangakkara resists with a brilliant 92

KANDY: Kumar Sangakkara added to his reputation as the best batsman in the world at this moment with another magnificent rescue act after Sri Lanka lost half its first innings wickets for 42 against England on the opening day of the first Test on Saturday. Sangakkara’s rescue act came after Hoggard and the other English bowlers made good use of the early conditions to trouble the Sri Lankan batsmen in the morning session.

You may debate Sangakkara’s place among the modern elite — Ponting, Kallis, Pietersen, Mohammad Yousuf — but the figures support his place at the head of the queue. He averages 160 since he handed over his place behind the stumps, he made 100 out of 174 against New Zealand earlier this year and almost a double hundred chasing an unlikely victory against Australia. Today he was at his lawyerly best as he guided Sri Lanka to 188 with 92, ninth out to a fine catch by Paul Collingwood, England’s outstanding fielder.

For most of the day it looked as if Sri Lanka would be lucky to reach 135.

Apprentice

Appropriately, Sangakkara’s greatest support came from Prasanna Jayawardene, the new man with the gloves; the apprentice to Sangakkara’s sorcery. It is possible to imagine that when young Jayawardene arrived at the crease he was given a brief expressed in succinct terms.

Happily for Prasanna Jayawardene, the pitch which had allowed some movement and the ball which had nipped around grew quieter so that by lunch, with Hoggard resting after a spell of 10-3-21-4, Sri Lanka was 86 for five. But, as the ungainly Michael Vandort, the out-of-sorts Mahela Jayawardene, the emerging Chamara Silva and the work in progress Jehan Mubarak fell to Hoggard’s brisk, purposeful fast medium, it seemed we had a three-day game in prospect in which Murali might face another wait for his 709th wicket.

Sangakkara simply rose above everyone else, adding 106 with the man who has made his second batting life possible and beginning to play his shots with greater freedom as Monty Panesar grabbed three successive wickets.

Hoggard’s day

Of course it was Hoggard’s day, as he enters a new stage in his career after six months injury leave.

Today’s wickets bring his Test aggregate to 244, tempting comparisons with the best who have bowled at his pace, players such as S.F. Barnes, Maurice Tate, Alec Bedser and Angus Fraser. Now that Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison are not always first choices, Hoggard has a more attacking role, leads on reputation alone and promises wickets aplenty since he is just 30 along with being leaner and fitter.

The end of the Sri Lanka innings only six overs after tea brought more shocks. Alastair Cook went for 0 after three balls, Michael Vaughan was lucky to escape an lbw appeal, and only 30 runs came in the first 12 overs as we waited for darkness to mock the 10.30 start. The next two Tests in Colombo and Galle will begin at 10 a.m.; horses and stable doors come to mind for only 76 overs were bowled before darkness descended on the background hills.

As the shadows completed their ambush and Lasith Malinga’s blond curls provided their own Christmas lights, Murali approached the wicket, arms akimbo, fingers snapping, eyes ablaze. His second ball almost had Vaughan stumped, his fourth brought a shout for lbw; the real battle, accompanied by a trumpet played in triumph had begun. Tomorrow Murali has the fate of the series in his palms and, although there is no sign of turn yet, his hopes of his new record are still high and England’s fear of his magic blatant.

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka — 1st innings: M. Vandort c Vaughan b Hoggard 8, S. Jayasuriya c Pietersen b Sidebottom 10, K. Sangakkara c Collingwood b Anderson 92, M. Jayawardene c Prior b Hoggard 1, C. Silva c Prior b Hoggard 2, J. Mubarak c Prior b Hoggard 0, P. Jayawardene c Cook b Panesar 51, C. Vaas b Panesar 12, D. Fernando c Vaughan b Panesar 0, L. Malinga (not out) 1, M. Muralitharan (run out) 1, Extras (lb-8, nb-2): 10; Total (59.4 overs): 188.

Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-29, 3-40, 4-42, 5-42, 6-148, 7-180, 8-182, 9-186.

England bowling: Sidebottom 15-1-58-1, Hoggard 14-3-29-4, Anderson 15.4-3-39-1, Bopara 1-0-8-0, Panesar 14-4-46-3.

England — 1st innings: A. Cook lbw b Vaas 0, M. Vaughan (batting) 13, I. Bell (batting) 36; Total (one wkt., 17 overs): 49.

Fall of wicket: 1-0.

Sri Lanka bowling: Vaas 7-3-18-1, Malinga 5-1-20-0, Muralitharan 3-2-2-0, Jayasuriya 2-0-9-0.

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