Sri Lanka rolls on against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 in Colombo
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 1st Innings 369/6
The Sri Lankan batsmen have consolidated their team’s position on day two of the third and final test being played at the P. Sara stadium in Colombo. However, the Indians would be pleased with their progress too in the opening session of the day as they claimed two more wickets to pull the conditions back in their favour.
Resuming from the overnight position of 293/4, Angelo Matthews and Thilan Samaraweera added 37 more runs to the total as they aimed to build towards a first innings total in the region of 500 runs.
The duo was subdued in the first hour of play, scoring a meagre 37 runs as the Indians tightened their screws and did not allow the usually free flowing Matthews the luxury of hitting big boundaries.
His resistance ended when he was trapped in front of the stumps by a straighter one from Praghyan Ojha. The all-rounder made 45 runs in his knock which was studded with six fours.
After his departure, Thilan Samaraweera and wicket-keeper batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Prasanna-Jayawardene-c82537 steadily built another partnership but found scoring a tough ask against some nagging Indian bowling.
Ojha was in outstanding form with the ball as he kept plugging away on and around the middle-stump, making it extremely difficult for the two right-handers to score runs of him. Ojha conceded only 2 runs in his first 7 overs, with the wicket of Angelo Matthews to boot.
On the other end, leg-spinner Amit Mishra also succeeded in tightening the screws, making run scoring a tough proposition form both ends.
Yet, at the same time, the Sri Lankan batting duo was hardly perturbed as they were in no hurry. Both batsmen were keen on occupying the crease and jumped on the scarce scoring opportunities in what was an intriguing session of test cricket.
Ojha’s relentless accuracy provided him his third lbw decision of the innings, as Jayewardene’s patience ran out and the right-hander attempted an adventurous sweep shot to break the shackles.
Jayawardene scored 9 runs off 41 balls, striking one boundary in the process.
Samaraweera on the other end carried his march towards his 12 test hundred. The right-hander battled against the spinners with relative comfort to reach his ton on the stroke of lunch.
It was a dramatic moment as he attempted to sneak a quick single while on 99. The attempted throw at the stumps hit the target and went to the boundary as there was no fielder backing up the throw. As a result, his unbeaten knock of 104 included 10 hits to the fence.
The decision was referred to the third umpire, who declared him not out as the batsman celebrated his outstanding effort. All in all, the hosts added 76 runs in the session as they were placed at lunch on 369/6.
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