Charlie Austin
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2nd ODI: Sri Lanka v England at Colombo (RPS), 25 Mar 2001 Charlie Austin |
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Sri Lanka innings:
Pre-game: England innings: |
England could have been in even greater trouble if Sri Lanka had not dropped three chances: Marcus Trescothick at second slip in the second over, Andrew Flintoff at mid off in the seventh over, and Alec Stewart by Kaluwitharana behind the stumps in the ninth over.
The first two dropped catches – neither of which were easy – did not prove expensive. Marcus Trescothick only added five more runs before he charged Nuwan Zoysa and top edged a simple catch to Romesh Kaluwitharana. Andrew Flintoff added only eight runs before he was brilliantly caught by Muttiah Muralitharan for 10, who failed to grasp the ball on the first attempt, but then swiveled around and plucked the ball out of the air, inches above the ground.
Sri Lanka were 35 for two off 10.3 overs and the partisan launched into a well coordinated ‘Mexican wave.’ Had Stewart and Flintoff not smashed 15 off Zoysa’s fifth over then they good have been well behind the required rate.
Since then the fast bowlers have been replaced. Chaminda Vaas was the pick of the two left arm fast bowlers, conceding just 12 runs from his seven overs. Dharmasena bowled one over, before being replaced by the captain, Sanath Jayasuriya, and Muttiah Muralitharan started his spell from the Khettarama End.
It was the captain though, bowling with a heavily strapped knee, whom dismissed Graeme Hick to end a 28 run partnership for the third wicket. Hick tried to use his feet and was stumped by Kaluwitharana for 11.
Since then Alec Stewart and Graham Thorpe have added 18 runs. Alec Stewart is unbeaten on 38. Sri Lanka, at the same point in their innings, were 88 for two.
England’s bowlers performed admirably as a unit, restricting the normally free flowing Sri Lankan batsmen. Only in the last five overs, when Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Dharmasena added 46 runs, did the Sri Lankan’s get on top.
The Sri Lankan innings was built around an exhausting undefeated century from Mahela Jaywardene. The talented right hander kept his composure throughout the innings and refused to panic when the runs flowed slowly. In the later part of the innings, which included only seven boundaries on a sluggish outfield, he required a runner as he suffered from cramps and a possible groin strain. He reached his century off the last ball of the innings, finishing on 101 from 115 balls.
Jayawardene and Marvan Atapattu steadied the innings after the loss of both openers, adding 86 runs for the third wicket in 127 balls. Atapattu was finally dismissed for 57 in the 32nd over as he top edged a sweep off Robert Croft. The Glamorgan off spinner justified his selection with two wickets for 40 runs.
Croft’s second wicket was that of Kumar Sangakkara, who struggled to find the gaps in his 17-minute innings and offered Croft a return catch off a leading edge in the 36th over of the innings. Indika de Saram was the promoted up the order and clearly given instructions to raise the tempo. He scored an ugly looking 14 before heaved wildly at a straight delivery from Caddick to be bowled.
When Russel Arnold was caught behind second ball, Sri Lanka were 174 for six and in jeopardy of falling short of a reasonable score. Kumar Dharmasena, however, gave Jayawardene excellent support in a potential match winning seventh wicket partnership, which leaves England a tricky target on a two paced pitch.
Most of the spectators, both English and Sri Lankan, who came to the game in festive mood this morning, would have hoped to have seen a blazing innings from Sanath Jayasuriya. Darren Gough, however, dashed their hopes as he forced Jayasuriya to play onto to his stumps for a second ball duck.
Romesh Kaluwitharana and Marvan Atapattu played steadily after the loss of the Sri Lankan captain and the home side had scored just 31 runs after the first 10 overs as they were given few loose balls by Andrew Caddick and Darren Gough.
Just when Kaluwitharana had seen of the major threat of Darren Gough (5-0-20-1) and looked to be adjusting to the slow pace of the wicket, he played a loose clip off his legs and was easily caught by Graeme Hick in Alan Mullally’s first over for 18.
Mullally went to bowl the straightest of the English fast bowlers in his first six over spell (6-1-16-0) and the Sri Lankan run rate hovered around three runs per over for much of the first 25 overs. The Sri Lankan batsmen then raised the tempo as Andrew Caddick returned for a second spell and Robert Croft bowled from the Khettarama End.
The decision to make only one change is a surprise as Premadasa International Stadium usually favours the slower bowlers and England’s four pronged pace attack could face a difficult afternoon. The fact that Michael Vaughan bowls off spin undoubtedly swung his selection ahead of Nick Knight.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, named an unchanged side with seven batsmen and four specialist bowlers. Russel Arnold and Sanath Jayasuriya will combine as the fifth bowler.
Traditionally the Premadasa pitch provides for a high scoring game. Sri Lanka will be conscious of the fact that run scoring is easiest in the first 15 overs. Sanath Jayasuriya won the toss, for the fifth time in the tour, and had no hesitation in batting first.
© CricInfo
Date-stamped : 25 Mar2001 - 22:25