Gary Kirsten optimistic over revival – Cricket News Update
South African coach, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758, despite the visitors taking full command of the second Test at Durban with a lead in excess of 400.
On a gloomy Day 3, the tourists piled the pressure on the hosts as a defiant century from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KC-Sangakkara-c1779 helped the Lankans to 256 for 7 at stumps.
The play was delayed by an hour due to wet field but the early session proved promising for the home side after the bowling attack picked up two important wickets, one which accounted for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397.
Sangakkara, who had been dropped in the first over of the day, showed his class to reach to his 28th tonas the visiting team collected 142 runs alone in post tea session. He was ably supported by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/LD-Chandimal-c1831,
who went on to score his second half-century of the match.
Despite good start from the Proteas bowling attack, their emphasis on taking wickets backfired in terms of giving away needless runs, a notion backed by their head coach.
"We probably had a poor second session where we didn't really http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Adrian-Roger-Kirshaw-Pierson-c42135 to our plans," he said. "We got a bit both sides of the wicket and we didn't do a good holding job. You'd like one of your seamers to be able to bowl one side of the wicket. They are all
talented and skilled enough to do that."
The bowlers than fought back well in the shortened final session, where they claimed the prized wickets of Sangakkara and Chandimal but with lead of 426, the chances of the hosts making a comeback remains highly unlikely given their first innings performance,
where they were bowled out on 168.
Their head coach however, has a different take on the current situation where he believes that his side can still make ground on their opponents, provided one of the batsmen takes the game by the scruff of the neck.
"It's a great opportunity for someone to be a hero. These are the reasons why we play the game," he said. "I am still quite excited by what can come out of this Test match."
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