CricketArchive

Sangakkara century gives Lanka control
by CricketArchive Staff Reporter


Ground:Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo
Scorecard:Sri Lanka v New Zealand
Player:KC Sangakkara, DPMD Jayawardene
Event:New Zealand in Sri Lanka 2009

DateLine: 29th August 2009

 

Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene continued their utter domination over the weary Kiwi bowlers as they carried Sri Lanka's lead to mammoth proportions. Their 173-run partnership for the third wicket was enough to put the Kiwi bowlers under a lot if strain as they looked in complete control. After setting an impossible target of 494 with over four-and-a-half sessions to bat out a draw, the Lankan bowlers managed to wink out six quick wickets as Sri Lanka moved a step closer to win as well as retaining the number two spot. At the close of the day New Zealand were 182 for the loss of six wickets with Jacob Oram and Daniel Vettori at the crease.

 

Sangakkara during the course of his inning never looked in any sort of trouble as he was in a murderous mood. First he grinded the Kiwi bowlers down and then accelerated as the overs passed by. He played some authoritative pull-shots, crunching cover-drives accompanied with his usual nudges off his hips. Jayawardene on the other hand looked completely settled as he started off aggressively with a huge six off Patel and then went about in his usual pace. Sangakkara finally edged Patel to slip for 109 with Sri Lanka leading by 444. New Zealand's bowling was at the best could be described as toothless. For the second innings running, Mahela Jayawardene was dismissed by Iain O'Brien in the nineties and that prompted the Lankan skipper to declare the innings. New Zealand needed 494 to win or, more realistically, over four-and-a-half sessions to bat out a draw.

 

Dammika Prasad got the wicket of McIntosh, who once again shouldered his arms to one that came back into him. Herath got the second wicket, that of Guptill who edged one which spun away from him. Taylor and Flynn counter-attacked briefly, sweeping, cutting and slogging spin for fours, but that was short-lived. Next to go was Taylor, as he was lured forward by a flighted delivery on the middle and the leg from Herath, but the ball spun across, took the edge of his bat and landed in Jayawardene’s palms at slip. Flynn meanwhile continued to mix aggression with caution as he raced to his fifty run mark. Soon after acknowledging the cheers from the crowd he was trapped right in front by a straighter one from Herath.

 

Jesse Ryder looked quite comfortable in the middle as he struck a beautiful boundary and a huge six to show his team-mates that application is all that they lacked on a pitch that was not too difficult to bat on. McCullum looked extremely scratchy in the middle and his stay was finally ended when he dragged a fuller length delivery from Muralitharan onto his stumps. Ryder looked quite good in the middle before his urge to sweep Herath undid him. New Zealand at the close of Day four were placed at 182 for the loss of six wickets.

LATEST SCORES

| Privacy Policy | FAQs | Contact |
Copyright © 2003-2024 CricketArchive