Sri Lanka v India, 1st Test at Galle, Days One and Two: Plays of the days
Rain, rain go away, little Murali wants to play
It was not only about Muthiah Muralitharan, but the entire Sri Lankan side who would have wanted the Test match to be untouched by the inclement weather that is usually found in this part of the world at this time of the year. For Muralitharan, this was the last Test match to get to his 800-wicket mark, whereas for the Sri Lankan team, it was a good chance to put one across the Indians.
This was because the Indians were going in with three inexperienced and one ill, experienced bowler, and that was definitely advantage http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 even before the first ball was bowled.
Unfortunately, the start was delayed on the first day due to overnight rains. Not only that, only 68 overs were possible in the entire day’s play instead of the stipulated quota of 90 as the play had to be called off earlier than allotted due to the bad light.
More rain, more rain, more rain – Day II
And if one thought that things could improve on the second day, they were in for a bigger surprise. There were enough rains to prevent a start on time, and within the first 30 minutes it was known that no play would be possible in the first session.
Rain kept pouring down in fits and starts, but it was enough to keep the players indoors and that meant that the entire day was wasted away without a ball bowled. On a pitch that looked good enough for batting, and against an opposition that possesses a batting line-up which is arguably the best in the world, it will take all of the ‘King’s Horses and the Men’ to get the better of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 in this Test match.
Worst Fears come True...
And they do with a vengeance. India was always going into the Test match with a bowling attack that would be tested. This was thanks to the injuries to Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth. However, when Harbhajan Singh was declared unfit for the tour game due to a viral infection, the Indians knew that they needed some form of a divine intervention to get the better of Sri Lanka.
Winning the toss would have helped. After all, there is a huge difference between batting first and second on Sri Lankan tracks, and when one possesses a bowling attack as India has, it was always going to be difficult. Harbhajan’s viral infection could have settled down a tad more had the Indians batted first, but the help was not forthcoming.
Sri Lanka won the toss and promptly decided to bat first and the rest of the day went miserably for the Indians. As was expected!
Paravitana scores his first, Sangakkara his 22nd
It was a surprise that Tharanga Paravitana was selected to open in this game over his namesake, Upul Tharanga. After all the latter Tharanga is one of the better Sri Lankan openers since the time of Sanath Jayasuriya and not having him in the squad is a bizarre decision.
Paravitana, though, had the answer. He opened the innings with Tillakaratne Dilshan, matched him shot for shot. After Dilshan’s dismissal, he was joined by his captain, but the shots that he played were delectable, and delightful. There were no sign of nerves as he went on to score his maiden century.
Sangakkara, however, was the first to get to the century, as he slammed a 145-ball 103. This was his 22nd in Test cricket, and had it not been for that momentary lapse in concentration against a part-time bowler, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virender-Sehwag-c95429, he could have well have been unbeaten so far.
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