Friday, August 21, 2009

Sri Lanka gets the edge


Sri Lanka has gained advantage over New Zealand in the first test match. At the end of Day 2 of the first test, New Zealand lost their 8 wickets for a mere 281 in reply to Sri Lanka’s 452.

Sri Lanka, earlier scored 452 in their first innings, thanks to a massive innings by Thilan Samarweera & Ex Captain Mahela Jayawardene. Samarweera scored 159 with 24 fours & 1 massive six, whereas Jayawardene scored 114 with 15 fours. New Zealand, though, managed to pull things back as they grabbed last 5 wickets for just 44 runs. Sri Lanka were 408-5 at one stage and were set for a total of 500+. But then Kiwi Skipper Daniel Vettori & pacer Chris Martin claimed 2 wickets each to dismiss the last five batsmen. They, eventually managed to take 4 wickets each. Sri Lankan innings also saw a record breaking innings from returning batsman Tilakratne Dilshan who scored 92 off just 72 balls with 12 fours & 1 sixes. Dilshan, when got dismissed become the fastest to score a fifty who has been dismissed in the Nineties (in Test Cricket).

New Zealand started their innings very well with the opening batsmen Macintosh & Martin Guptill added 45 runs for the first wicket. Guptill was the first to got out when he was bowled by left arm Sri Lankan pacer Thilan Thushara. Daniel Flynn also didn’t last long when he was dismissed for a mere 14 when he was bowled by mystery off spinner Ajantha Mendis. Daniel Vettori’s decision of sending Jeetan Patel as a night watchman gave good results & he scored 26 useful runs with Macintosh. Both of them added 49 runs for the third wicket. There was again a useful partnership between the new batsman Ross Taylor & Macintosh for the fourth wicket as another 41 runs were added between the two. Taylor got out at individual score of 35 (3 fours, 1 six). He was caught by wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawerdene off the bowling of Thilan Thushara. Macintosh was batting very slow & he finally got out after scoring a patient 69 with 6 fours & 1 six. He was trapped plumb LBW by champion off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. This started the down slope of the Kiwi innings as another as wicket keeper Brendon Mccullum & all-rounder Jacob Oram went cheaply. Jesse Ryder scored a useful 42 & Daniel Vettori took the charge once Ryder got out. Vettori was unbeaten on 33 & Ian O’ Brien was giving him company when the day’s play ended.

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