http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 – 2nd Test – Match Update
The Proteas have struck early, courtesy of debutant Marchant de Lange, to halt the Sri Lankans, who opted to bat first in the 2nd Test match, currently being played at Kingsmead Durban.
Self belief was the term mooted by veteran batsman, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KC-Sangakkara-c1779 before the start of the Boxing Day clash, after a turbulent year or so where the tourists have failed to win a Test in their last 15 Test matches.
The early signs looked good as the opening pairing of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DW-Steyn-c1409
was partnered by his familiar folk, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/M-Morkel-c1863 in leading the attack.
Both pacers showed aggression and hit the deck hard but the Sri Lankan openers managed to minimize their threat with Dilshan collecting a few crisply timed boundaries. His partner however, looked at unease and perished soon after to de Lange.
The pacer, who replaced Philander struck in just his second over, removing the left-hander who failed to execute an off-drive and was holed out behind the stumps by wicket-keeper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MV-Boucher-c2048.
In his next over, de Lange and Boucher combined again to remove danger man, Sangakkara, who failed to add to his tally. The left-hander received a peach of a delivery which pitched and held the line nicely, taking a feather of an edge behind the stumps.
With 47 for 2, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397 entered the frame and scored his 10000th run of his Test career, and becoming just the 9th player in history to achieve this memorable mark.
The 50-run mark was past as Dilshan creamed Steyn’s delivery to the square leg boundary before Jayawardene got in the groove with an effortless flat six off leg-spinner, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Imran-c64193 Tahir to move into double figures.
The tourists currently stand at 69 for 2, still looking to build up from the early dismissals. The http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Jayan-Kaushal-Silva-c66641
as the wicket-keeper batsman in the team.
Tags: