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| Lankans bring Kiwis down to earth
Elmo RODRIGOPULLE reporting from New Zealand CRICKET: The Sri Lankan cricketers gave an awesome display to bring Kiwi cricket down to earth with a bang when they bundled them out for their second lowest score in one-day cricket at the famous Eden Park on Saturday, under lights. It was one of the best team efforts seen by the Lankans for a long time and they richly deserved their success. It has now become a habit that if the dashing left handed Sanath Jayasuriya fires Sri Lanka would win. It was so and his marvellous stroke play where he toyed with and humiliated the Kiwi bowlers would long be remembered. At 37 and the manner in which he is batting, seeing the ball like a football, and launching out with Jessopian like hitting, amazes everyone and the question they ask is why was he forced into retirement and if he stayed that way what a loss it would have been to Sri Lanka cricket? Jayasuriya I am sure must be aiming the shots he played at the selectors who forced him out and the critics who supported the poor thinking of the selectors. More muscle, strength and success to the great Jayasuriya. Kumar Sangakkara is batting at his peak. Blessed with good eye and twinkle toed footwork, Sangakkara is eye-catching when in full flow. He plays the game not only with his bat, but above all, uses his head and knows how to adapt to situations and play for team and country. When his team lost three quick wickets after the blazing opening stand, he together with Marvan Atapattu, did not panic, but milked the bowling intelligently and paved the way for the big score, which was also swelled by some lusty hitting by Farveez Maharoof. Sangakkara also held on to a brilliant catch and no one would have faulted the adjudicators had they given the man of the match award to him. Then when the Blackcaps batted they were made to look Blackcats, as the master of bowling wicket to wicket and moving the ball in, Chaminda Vaas got to work. He made the batsmen look silly by having them stranded in front and left those watching wondering why they ever had a bat in their hands. After Vaas wrecked the Blackcaps early batting, Lasith Malinga came back to strike like a typhoon to leave the batting in shame and shambles. His yorkers and bouncers come screaming at the batsmen and with such speed that makes one wonder and ask from where he gets the strength and energy to keep firing constant pace at the batsmen. He never allows a batsman to relax for one moment. Mahela Jayawardena said: 'After our two losses in Queenstown and Christchurch, we planned to go hard at the Kiwis in this game. We achieved that and there would be no letting up in Hamilton, although his poor form must be worrying him. But that would not matter as his team keeps winning. But Jayawardena promised to come good in Hamilton and show the Kiwis what he is capable of. The Lankans drew the Test series and the comical 20 Twenty games and a 3-2 win in the limited overs game should be the icing on the cake. EDENPARK, Aukland, Sunday. |
Sri Lanka out for series clinching win today Elmo Rodrigopulle from New Zealand CRICKET: The Sri Lankan who heaped humilation on the Blackcaps in Auckland by dismissing them for their second lowest score in one day cricket and beating them by 189 runs, are determined to slap further embarrassment on them when they meet in the final game at Seddon Park, Hamilton tomorrow. According to skipper Mahela Jayawardena, it is likely that they will go in with the same team. 'But depending on the conditions, we may make a change or two', said Jayawardena after a practice session. Complacency is what the Lankans must guard against. Complacency has gone to undo many a champion team, and if the Lankans guard against it and perform imagining that this a new game then they can bounce the blackcaps and carry away the National Bank Trophy. The wicket looks a good one. The Blackcaps are not likely to prepare a wicket favourable to their style of play. At the back of their minds there would be the uncertainty that it could boo-merang. The conditions are a bit uncertain and there is the possibility that there could be a bit of rains. However it is hoped that the game would go the 50 over each side and that the Duckworth/ Lewis system would not come into play. Once again the Lankans would be looking for Sanath Jayasuriya to maul the Kiwi bowlers. He did it in Napier and again in Auckland and the |
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| Final one-dayer abandoned
Elmo Rodrigopulle from New Zealand CRICKET: The last rites were performed when Blackcaps skipper Stephen Fleming won the toss and asked Sri Lanka in and with it came the rains to bury the 5th and final day-nighter in a watery grave at Seddon Park, here today. The game was abandoned without a ball being bowled and this trophy was also shared. Earlier the two teams shared the Test and Twenty/20 series. There was overnight rain and early this morning. But the weather improved before the start, but as the captains tossed the coin and were walking back a drizzle started and that was the first sign that the game was destined to a watery grave. At times it stopped raining and when the curators were getting ready to remove the covers, the rains started falling and after a three and a half hour wait, the umpires decided to call off the game. It was a frustrating wait. Spectators kept arriving on the ground, the majority of them Sri Lankan supporters and finally everyone had to trek their way back, disappointed and dejected that not a ball was going to be bowled. The rules of this tournament has no provisions for a extra day. The Lankans take wing back to Colombo tomorrow. After the first four games were shared 2-all, everything was set for a fantastic shootout. In this 'cowboy game', the Lankans had proved quick on the draw and were undoubtedly the better shooters. Had it not been for the poor thinking on the part of the selectors where they kept out Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga for the third game, the Lankans would have wrapped up the series and this final encounter would not have been of any significance. |
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| Sri Lankan Captain Mahela Jayawardena (L) and New Zealand Captain Stephen Fleming (R) hold the shared ODI series trophy after the 5th One Day International match between the New Zealand Black Caps and Sri Lanka at Seddon Park in Hamilton, 09 January 2007. Constant rain prevented a start in the final match which was abandoned leaving the series level at 2-2. |
| Lankans were at the victory podium.
Tharangas, Sangakkara and Atapattu are in good batting form and the only worry factors are Jayawardena and Kapugedera's poor form. But this being the crunch game, they can be expected to contribute. Farfeez Maharoof certainly deserves a promotion in the batting. He has the flair to go over the top and he must be told that it is his job. Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga have had the Kiwi batsmen in the land of uncertainty and rolled them over. While the Kiwi batsmen have to guard against the ball hitting their legs and being ruled LBW to Vaas, they have to weave and duck against the vicious pace of Malinga and save their heads from being blown off. The Kiwi batsmen are also struggling against Muttiah Muralitharan's doosra. They simply don't know which way he is going. The Kiwis are reviewing their rotation policy, which has been described here as 'Operation Screwloose'. Had the Lankans not kept out Vaas and Malinga in third game, the Lankans could have wrapped up the series by now. All said and done the stage is set for a game that is likely to go to the wire. The Lankans hold the advantage going into this is that the Lankans would hold aloft the trophy and wave it for all in Sri Lanka watching the action live on TV and their large following of supporters who would flock Seddon Park to cheer them on. The cricketers are not lacking for want of support. The Lankans resident here are in their numbers with papara bande shouting their throats hoarse cheering the Lankans. Seddon Park, Hamilton, Monday |
However the Lankans can pat themselves and fly back with their heads held high. They arrived here as underdogs. The knowledgeable here reckon that this is not the right time to tour. They say this because it was the tail end of spring and the weather was going to be icy cold and not the proper climate for cricket. But that the Lankans settled down and held the Kiwis in cold conditions and on wickets that favoured the home team speaks volumes for their determination and courage to come good when the odds are stacked against them. Sharing trophies is not in the best interests of the game and the players. No purpose whatsoever is served when that happens. In short it means that each team will have the trophy for six months. Absurd is the best way to describe it. While there was sense in playing a five match one-day series, it was meaningless playing two Test and Two Twenty/20 games. Countries and the International Cricket Council must insist that this style is done away with and that at least three Tests and three Twenty/20 games are contested. The Lankans were a great draw everywhere they played. It was the consensus that they played the better and more attractive cricket, and they showed the Kiwis how to play, how to win fairly and quarely and above all maintaining the spirit of the game which is very important. The Lankans next fling will be a one/day series in India, before flying out to the Caribbean to contest the World Cup in which they are one of the favourites. Every endeavour was made to play this game under lights from the first ball, but the weather gods had deemed otherwise and it was sad the way the tour ended. Seddon Park, Hamilton, Tuesday |
| Vaas is still our potential pace bowler
PACE BOWLER: Chaminda Vaas proved during the recently concluded cricket tour of New Zealand, that he is still Sri Lanka's only seasoned paceman to stand out in a class of his own. Despite advancing in years and perhaps slowing down a bit at 34 - he did make amends for whatever he lacks now, by his accustomed ability to serve the ball right up with much swing and variations, which was backed by equally superb line and direction. This did put him in the mould and form of a Wasim Akram or a Richard Hadlee and, as well in line or above current international pace bowlers of repute in Pollock, McGrath, Nitini and Brett Lee. To all of whom relentless incessant, accurate penetrative bowling, comes foremost in order to succeed. Vaas, undoubtedly has turned out to be the willing horse that is flogged and, has never belied the faith reposed in him. Essentially a team man he has more often than not, successfully wrested the initiative for his side by making the all important vital breakthroughs, which has become so characteristic of his bowling. It's sad but true, that those medium pace bowlers, who play alongside Vaas do suffer by comparison. For though having played at this level for a considerable length of time, they have yet to sufficiently mature to adequately support Vaas by tying up their respective ends to keep things tight. As a result of which Vaas too at times has become ineffective to be seen off by opposing batsmen. However, it was heartening to see the bowler with the sling arm action, Lasith Malinga, making quite an impact on the Kiwi batsmen. He has progressed considerably, having the knack of being hostile to be intimidatory with the odd bouncer or two. This did take them by surprise and awe to indeed jolt them. And whilst recovering having taken evasive action from a bouncer, the batsmen were immediately confronted with a yorker which left them stranded to be flat footed. His customary well aimed yorkers, are virtually wicket takers. That which we fail to understand is, his meaningless short pitched deliveries, which batsmen easily prey upon with relish and, as well those that keep flying over the slip area or way off the leg stump, to be signalled as wides. Be that as it may, he is now a vastly improved pacie and comes as close to be playing the supportive role for Vaas. How true pacemen do hunt in pairs. Then the other tall lanky bowler, Dilhara, though not consistently, was of and on amongst the wickets. It's pity that after so much of cricket he still keeps over stepping, and is also wayward. As a result of which the overs become extended due to no balls and wides, which is a bonus to the opposing side. The all rounder, Farvez Maharoof, a medium pacer who cuts the ball as well - has a very ungainly crouched run up and instead of having a view of the batsman's wicket, keeps looking down at the bowling crease, whilst delivering the ball. To the credit of Maharoof it must be said, that against the Kiwis he did chip in to take a crucial wicket or two and also made some runs when most needed, with a few sixes to boot, that gives much promise of better things to come from him in the future. These three aforesaid bowlers will do well to reflect on the way in which Pollock and McGarth bowls. It's a pity that they weren't around to observe Brian Statham, Alan Davidson and Wesley Hall, three fine exponents of bowling wicket to wicket with much accuracy and variations, where every delivery was as good as the other. As for our batting, we have certainly outdone and replaced the former cavalier batting of the West Indies, with our wide array of enterprising batsmen, who have proved attractive to draw crowds. Leading them all is the mercurial Sanath Jayasuriya, followed by the entertaining batsmanship of Upul Tharanga, Chamara Silva and of course Sri Lanka's rock, Kumar Sangakkara, who with his bold no nonsense approach, loses no time to get into his stride to keep things moving for Sri Lanka, with his polished batting that has a stamp of class. Marvan Atapattu batted as though his feet were chained to some post or other. Hampered probably by a strained back, he yet got into the thirties in style an elegance all his own. Pitiable it was to see Mahela Struggling to make runs. Significantly his slicing the ball into the hands of the second slip, bespoke of a man woefully lacking form. Mahela's Predicament is that when he experiences a lean spell with the bat, it is fairly protracted. He gets into a rut and cannot easily snap out of the groove, he finds himself in. He did make amends for this by being a well composed captain, on par with only the best. As for his batting, he is bound to surely strike back with a vengeance. Sri Lanka undoubtedly was the better side, but both sides played to the best of their ability and strength, and neither side deserved to lose, and the series being tied was a fair result. |
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| Lanka bounce back to take control of SSC Test
Sa'adi Thawfeeq Sri Lanka bounced back into the first cricket Test against Pakistan and took control of it when they grabbed an unlikely first innings lead of nine runs and by the close on the third day had built on it to be 242 for two wickets at the SSC grounds yesterday. Pakistan were dismissed in their first innings for 176 in reply to Sri Lanka's 185. Sri Lanka's top order which has been found wanting for the lack of runs they put on the board came good on this occasion with Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara and skipper Mahela Jayawardene all stroking contrasting half-centuries on a pitch that was ideal for batting. Pakistan was left to rue at missing out on a good opportunity to bat Sri Lanka out of the match after their bowlers had dismissed the home country for 185. Upul Tharanga who seored 72 driving a ball to the off (R) Kumar Sangakkara who was unbeaten on 77 pulling a ball to leg. -pix-Saman Mendis They were undone by some casual batting coupled with some excellent bowling from Farveez Maharoof who returned career best figures of four for 52 and Muttiah Muralitharan whose three wickets for 41 runs gave hint that there are more wickets for him on this strip later in the match. One of the pleasing aspects from Sri Lanka's point of view are the leading roles played in the Test so far by youngsters Maharoof and Tharanga, both aged 21. Maharoof has shown his hand as turning out into a fine all-rounder capable of filling the no. 7 slot, which has been long overdue. He not only displayed qualities as a batsman when Sri Lanka were in trouble but came back to bring his team right on track by grabbing four top order wickets. Tharanga may have a limited range of shots but he makes up for that inadequacy with a temperament and mental strength that will see him play bigger innings in the future than the 72 he scored in nearly three hours yesterday. He had a century starring at him in the face but blew it when impetuosity got the better of him. After Tharanga and Jayasuriya had provided a reasonable start with an opening partnership of 53, Sangakkara played the sheet anchor role to figure in stands of 72 with Tharanga and 115 (unbroken) with Jayawardene to turn the screws on Pakistan. Sangakkara was unbeaten on 77 scored in four hours with eight fours and Jayawardene was on 69, which had taken him 126 minutes (10 fours, 1 six). Sangakkara became the seventh Sri Lankan batsman to pass 4000 runs in Test cricket during his knock. At the end of the third day Sri Lanka lead by 251 runs with eight second innings wickets in hand. Pakistan missed Jayasuriya at seven and Jayawardene at 54 with leg-spinner Danish Kaneria being the unfortunate bowler on both occasions. Pakistan resuming at 124-4 and hoping to build on a big first innings had their hopes shattered by Maharoof who within the space of 13 balls sent back both overnight batsmen as they were dismissed for 176 within a matter of 103 minutes conceding a nine-run first innings lead to Sri Lanka. Skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq gave a catch behind to be dismissed for 31. A ball that cut back off the seam to castle him for eight bowled Razzaq. It was Maharoof's inspired morning spell that brought Sri Lanka back into the Test after their disappointing first innings performance. So far Maharoof has been the dominant figure scoring a fighting 46 to help his side recover from a shaky 32-5 to 185 and then come back to send the Pakistani batsmen packing for 176. Muralitharan kept the pressure on the Pakistani batsmen by getting the wickets of Afridi (14) and Gul (2). He eventually finished the innings off when Akmal was dismissed in an unusual fashion. His powerful sweep saw the ball lodged in between short leg fielder Tharanga's helmet and left shoulder as the fielder took evasive action. Malinga also picked up three when he bowled Asif with a swinging yorker. |
| SRI LANKA - 1ST INNINGS 185
PAKISTAN 1ST - INNINGS (Overnight 124-4) Shoaib Malik c Bandara b Maharoof 13 Imran Farhat c Bandara b Malinga 69 Younis Khan c Sangakkara b Maharoof 00 Faisal Iqbal c Maharoof b Malinga 02 Inzamam-ul-Haq c Sangakkara b Maharoof . 31 Abdul Razzaq b Maharoof 08 Shahid Afridi b Muralitharan 14 Kamran Akmal c Tharanga b Muralitharan 27 Umar Gul lbw b Muralitharan 02 Mohammed Asif b Malinga 00 Danish Kaneria not out 00 Extras (b-1, nb-8, w-1) 10 TOTAL (al out, 54.4 overs, 252 mins) 176 FALL OF WICKETS: 1-25 (Malik), 2-25 (Younis), 3-28 (Faisal), 4-122 (Farhat), 5-127 (Inzmam), 6-138 (Razzaq), 7-154 (Afridi), 8-160 (Gul), 9-172 (Asif), 10-176 (Akmal). BOWLING: Malinga 12-3-30-3 (1w, 2nb), Maharoof 15-2-52-4(3nb), Fernando 3-0-20-0(3nb), Bandara 7-1-32-0,Muralitharan 17.4-4-41-3. SRI LANKA - 2ND INNINGS W. U. Tharanga c Farhat b Kaneria 72 S.T. Jayasuriya c Akmal b Asif 13 K.C. Sangakkara not out 77 D.P.M.D. Jayawardene not out 69 Extras (b-10, lb-1) 11 TOTAL (2 wkts at close, 73 overs, 302 mins) 242 FALL OF WICKETS: 1-53 (Jayasuriya), 2-127 (Tharanga). BOWLING: Asif 14-2-37-1, Gul 15-1-60-0, Kaneria 21-4-78-1, Malik 10-2-24-0, Afridi 6-0-15-0, Razzaq 6-1-15-0, |
| Lanka wrap up first Test by eight wickets
CRICKET: Sri Lanka notched up their sixth successive victory against Bangladesh as they pulled off a comprehensive eight wicket victory on the fourth day of the first test match concluded at the Divisional Stadium in Chittagong here Friday. Sri Lanka needing just 163 runs to win and resuming from their overnight score of 25 for no loss reached 166 for 2 in their second innings at the stroke of lunch to go one up in the two match series. The Lankans of course suffered an early setback losing opener Upul Tharanga without adding a run to his overnight score. But Kumar Sangakkara joined Michael Van Dort and the pair steered Sri Lanka to safety while adding 90 runs for the second wicket. Wicket keeper batsman Sangakkara was the more aggressive hoisting one six and stroking five fours during his knock of 46 which came in 69 balls. The pressure was certainly on Sangakkara because the Bangladeshi bowlers were exploiting the conditions to good effect with a fare amount of swing and pace. But with Van Dort showing a great amount of temperament and Sangakkara picking up the odd boundary Sri Lanka were able to reach their target quite easily. In fact Van Dort batted to his true potential and went on to complete only his second half century in test cricket. Van Dort realy made amends for his first innings failure and stroked the ball with a great amount of confidence which would certainly guarantee him a place in the second test which begins next week in Bogra. The left-hander remained unbeaten on 64 having stroked ten boundaries. But quite appropriately it was skipper Mahela Jayawardena who hit the winning runs and was unbeaten on 26 from 25 balls with five fours. This has been a tough opening match for Mahela Jayawardena in his first full series as the official captain of the team. He admitted that "Bangladesh really pushed us during the first two days where the exchanges were almost even. We made a lot of mistakes and conceded too many runs to the opposition. Bangladesh took the early advantage and we had to always chase behind them and fight hard to get back into the game" said Jayawardena. Jayawardena was full of praise for the young brigade and the manner they turned things around was quite outstanding. "Players like Thilan Samaraweera, Farveez Maharoof bowled really well and showed a lot of character. In the second innings, the bowlers took control to turn the game in our favour. The experienced players like Muralitharan, Malinga Bandara really bowled well and even Dilhara Fernando came back and bowled a decent spell to pick up the first two wickets. After that the team played good cricket that they are capable of playing," said Jayawardena. After the first two innings it was pretty even and Sri Lanka just had only a 19 run lead. But in the second innings the manner the team bowled and fielded and the attitude they showed on the field was the turning point", said Jayawardena. He also paid tribute to his champion off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan who finished with a matchbag of nine wickets and in the process completed one thousand wickets in international cricket. But the man of the match award went to Mohamed Asharaful who made a magnificent 136 in Bangladesh's first innings total of 319 all out. Jayawardena said that "Asharaful batted really well on the first day and played positive cricket to stretch the game into the fourth day. None of the other players scored many runs and Asharaful deserved the man of the match award." "People would have a different opinion on Muralitharan but he has taken so many man of the match awards and will not mind that," he said. A dejected Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar said that the team continued to do the same mistakes after having batted well in the first innings. But still he felt that this was an improved performance from the side having lost the earlier matches by an innings. He said that Mohamed Asharaful's century was a fantastic effort and was disappointed that the rest of the batsmen could not match his talent. Habibul Bashar however vowed to bounce back and to put up a better display in the second test match which commences in Bogra next week. BANGLADESH - 1ST INNINGS (319 - Mohammad Ashraful 136, Nafees Iqbal 34, Malinga 4-57, Muralitharan 3-87) SRI LANKA - 1ST INNINGS (338 - Farveez Maharoof 72, K. Sangakkara 69, Hossain 4-83) BANGLADESH - 2ND INNINGS (181 - Mohammad Rafique 40, Shahriar Nafees 38, Muralitharan 6-54) SRI LANKA 2ND INNINGS (overnight 25-0) M. Vandort not out 64 U. Tharanga c Shahriar Nafees b Rasel 19 K. Sangakkara c and b Haque 46 M. Jayawardene not out 26 Extras (b-5, lb-4, nb-2) 11 TOTAL: (for two wkts, 37 overs) 166 FALL OF WICKETS: 1-25, 2-115 BOWLING: Rasel 8-4-18-1, Hossain 8-1-39-0, Haque 9-1-50-1, Rafique 8-0-28-0, Kapali 2-0-6-0, Ashraful 2-0-16-0. Man of the match: Mohammad Ashraful (BAN). Umpires: Asad Rauf (PAK) and Steve Bucknor (WIS) TV umpire: A.F.M. Akhtaruddin (BAN). Match referee: Clive Lloyd (WIS) |