http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 – 2nd Test match: flat pitch causing concerns to bowlers
Hosts’ Sri Lanka has gained the ascendancy on Day 2 of the second cricket test with India which is being played at the Singhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo.
After a positive start to the second test match, the hosts consolidated their position further courtesy of a record breaking partnership by the seasoned duo of Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara and former captain Mahela Jayawardene. Both these batsmen already hold the world record for the highest partnership for any wicket in first-class cricket.
The left-handed Sangakkara and former captain Jayawardene added 193 runs in their third wicket partnership against a bewildered Indian bowling attack that knocked the wind out of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028 and his men. This partnership came in after a huge second-wicket stand between opening batsmen Tharanga Paranavitana and captain Sangakkara on the first day.
It was a similar story on Day 2 as the Sri Lankan captain continued to pulverise the opposition with some stunning stroke play in what can easily be termed as ideal batting conditions as the wicket eased into a batting paradise with the Indian bowlers going to all parts of the ground.
Sangakkara reached his third double hundred as he renewed his stake of being called as one of the greatest batsmen to emerge from the island. He was dismissed when he reached a personal total of 219 runs when he was snapped by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virender-Sehwag-c95429 after smashing 29 boundaries in a truly dominating knock.
His departure did not ease the pain for India one bit as Jayawardene was joined by Thilan Samaraweera in another fruitful association that lasted for another 176 runs as the tourists wondered if they would ever get a cheap wicket on the benign SSC surface.
Jayawardene took the scoring mantle after the departure of Sangakkara, as he eased to his 28th test hundred, establishing a world record of most test hundreds on a venue by a single batsman. It was Mahela’s 10th hundred at the venue, surpassing the tally of 9 by arguably the greatest batsman of all time, Sir Don Bradman’s record at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Jayawardene opened his shoulders after reaching the three figures mark as he struck 20 fours and one six in his 244 ball knock. The stylish right-hander was eventually dismissed for a personal score of 174 runs when he was cleaned up by Harbhajan Singh.
The off-spinner that was the trump card for Indian captain MS Dhoni gave away 147 runs in 42 overs for his lone success of the innings.
Middle order batsmen Thilan Samaraweera remained unbeaten on 76 as Sangakkara called off the innings with the hosts placed at 642/4 dec. The Indian bowlers had to endure two miserable days on the field and all four frontline bowlers conceded more than 100 runs each.
Faced with a gigantic task of wiping off 443 runs to avoid follow-on the Indian openers led by the swashbuckling Virender Sehwag who scored a typically aggressive half-century.
The Daredevil from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Gautam-Gambhir-c58623 in the match, remained defiant on the other end on 22 runs.
The Sri Lankan attack looked as benign as the Indians, as they had inducted three new bowlers in the absence of Muralitharan, Malinga and Rangana Herath. Fast bowler Dammika Prasad bore the brunt of the Sehwag’s assault, conceding 27 runs of only 3 balls.
However, criticism should definitely fall on the pitch curator for the second test match. With absolutely no assistance to the bowlers – both spin and fast – the match is expected to end in a dull draw. On Day 3, India has amassed a score of 383 for the loss of 4 wickets with Sachin Tendulkar playing at 108 runs while Suresh Raina ably supporting the maestro with 66 runs to his name.
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