Sri Lanka vs http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750, 3rd Test: Sri Lanka, led by Samaraweera, set imposing 1st innings total of 425
The Sri Lankans have gotten off to a positive start in the third and final test against the Indians at the P Sara Oval stadium in Colombo.
After winning the toss, Sri Lanka elected to bat. The hosts lost an early wicket when the centurion from the last two matches, opener Tharanga Paranavitana, feathered a delivery from Ishant Sharma that was comfortably held by wicketkeeper and Captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mahendra-Singh-Dhoni-c73820.
The left-hander was dismissed after making 8 runs off 15 balls, which included two fours. Tillakaratne Dilshan and skipper Kumar Sangakkara added 87 runs for the second wicket to stabilize the Sri Lankan innings before the demise of Dilshan; the opener was run out in bizarre circumstances.
He pushed the ball to mid-off and left the crease for a quick run, but the ball was in the hands of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Murali-Vijay-c78035, who shot the stumps down with Dilshan’s bat in the air.
Dilshan struck 41 off 70 balls; his knock included 4 fours. The Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara was lucky to stay intact till lunch, as a chance of his bat was floored by Suresh Raina in the fourth slip of the luckless fast bowler Mithun.
The southpaw continued on his merry ways after the resumption, laying into the Indian attack as he continued his imperious run in the series.
He was set for his third three-figure score in the series, but his stay at the wicket was cut short with his score at 75.
It was a case of over exuberance taking its toll, as he smashed the ball into the hands of a gleeful http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virender-Sehwag-c95429 placed at long-on, off the bowling of left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha.
Sangakkara’s knock included 5 boundaries and two sixes. Mahela Jayawardene, who was also a star in the last Test, continued the run glut with a fine half century.
The right-hander, who has a penchant for big scores, also seemed set for a three-figure score when he fell lbw to Ojha after making 56 runs.
He scored his runs off 154 balls, striking three fours in the process. The Sri Lankans were wobbling at this stage with the score on 241 for 4; however, Thilan Samaraweera and Angelo Mathews ensured that the there was no more damage in the remainder of the day. At the end of Day One, Samaraweera was unbeaten on 65 while Mathews had scored 26 (not out).
The Sri Lankans were at 293/4 in 86.5 overs at the close of first day’s play, and were hoping that the two batsmen on the crease would extend their stay to at least one more session and take the score in the region of 400 runs, as such a score-line would be tough for India to chase, considering the nature of the wicket which is expected to break and help the slow bowlers on the last two days of the match.
On Day Two, Sri Lanka completed 300 runs in 88.5 overs (with 23 extras.) They did not face a further fall of wickets till the drinks break (where http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ishant-Sharma-c64566. Samaraweera remained unbeaten, contributing an overall score of 137 off 228 balls featuring 12 boundaries and one six, as Sri Lanka were bowled out for the imposing total of 425 runs in 138 overs.
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