Sangakkara and Paranavitana steer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750
Sri Lanka was successful in seizing the initiative on the opening day of the first Test against India at the Galle International Stadium on Sunday. The Indians could only manage a mediocre bowling performance as the Sri Lankan batsmen punished the complacent Indians throughout the first day of the first test match. Both skipper Kumar Sangakkara and Tharanga Paranavitana scored centuries to put Sri Lanka in a commanding position. The only frustration thing for the Sri Lankans was early rain which halted play and stopped them from piling up some additional misery on the visitors.
The Sri Lankan performance was also notable because they dominated the side which is ranked as the number one team in ICC Test rankings. India, who came into this match with some depleted bowling resources, were further handicapped as Harbhajan Singh sustained an injury during the match. He limped out of the field during the second session after protracting his thigh injury. Though he returned to bowl later in the day, Harbhajan was still suffering from the after effects of the injury as he was not perfectly comfortable while bowling.
After losing Harbhajan, India’s bowling attack lacked the incisiveness as they were slashed by the Lankan batsmen to all parts of the park. The hosts fully capitalized on thisi weakness as they piled a mammoth 256 runs for the loss of just 2 wickets. With Harbhajan struggling for form, India's attack lacked inspiration and skill, which was obvious from the line and length of the Indian bowlers. Pragyan Ojha often slipped the ball outside the leg stump as Paranavitana and Sangakkara swept and worked him behind the square leg region. Harbhajan bowled outside off on a regular basis and hardly troubled the Sri Lankan batsmen. Both left-handers used the width to full affect. Ironically, it was the part timers who were better in the bowling department for India. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028 however failed to capitalize on the chance as he dropped a straight forward catch. Similarly, Paranavitana edged an attempted cut against Ojha’s bowling, but Yuvraj Singh couldn't reach it despite a dive at backward point.
During a majority of Day 1, the batsmen dominated the proceedings with some master class strokes. Sangakkara's best shot was an on-the-up punch down the ground off http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ishant-Sharma-c64566, who was poor in his initial spells. Sangakkara repeatedly punished Ishant whenever the lanky bowler bowled some loose balls to the Sri Lankan wicketkeeper. Meanwhile, his partner Paranavitana started his innings with two edged boundaries in Ishant's first over but quickly regained his composure to tighten his innings. He rarely chased the ball or played an expansive shot as the opener was comfortable with the bowling attack that India had on display. Paranavitana played with confidence and remained calm during his stay at the pitch which saw him complete his century in style.
Earlier in the day, Sangakkara chose to bat first after overnight rain had dampened the conditions at Galle. Though Sri Lanka lost Tillakaratne Dilshan at the beginning of the innings but they regained their footing once Sangakkara and Paranavitana built a sound foundation. Paranavitana was the fortunate of the two batsmen as it was his maiden Test century which now provides a solid case for his selection in the team. Commenting on his performance after the match, Paranavitana said, “I have been scoring big hundreds in domestic cricket but have been unable to do so at international level. I am extremely happy to score my maiden Test century because I have made four Test fifties but was unable to convert them into hundreds." Paranavitana was quite modest as he credited his coach and team mates for his success. He said, “From the time I came into the Sri Lankan side, I have been receiving lot of advice from the team and I have benefited immensely from it. We are playing well together as a team and that is also rubbing off on the rest of the players."
After gaining the early advantage at Galle, it will be up to the Lankan tigers how they will take this match from here. The Indians will need to come with a plan if they want to survive in this Test or else it will be too late for them.
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