http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760, 2nd Test: Kumar Sangakkara slams brilliant hundred
The Sri Lankans have batted themselves in a relatively strong position on a tricky wicket in the second Test of the three-match series against a rejuvenated West Indian team.
The match has been adversely affected by rain on the first two days and a draw looks imminent unless the next three days are played without any further interruption.
The match is being played at one of the flattest tracks in international cricket, the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, yet the overhead conditions and the moisture in the air have added juice to the wicket giving the pacers some carry and uneven bounce which has made batting a tough task.
The wicket is in sharp contrast to ones encountered at the venue which holds the world record of the highest team score of 952 amassed by the Sri Lankans against the Indians in 1997.
The Sri Lankans, who batted first, have had to battle hard as they posted 294/5 courtesy a fighting hundred by skipper Kumar Sangakkara.
The lefthander is batting on 135 and would be aiming to score some quick runs before asking the tourists to bat.
The challenge is going to be a big one for the West Indians once they come out to bat, and pacer Kemar Roach, who has thus far claimed three out of the five wickets that have fallen, acknowledged the handy contribution made by the Sri Lankan captain.
"Sangakkara batted pretty well on a very difficult wicket, kudos to him," Roach said at the end of another rain-hit day. "The batters and bowlers stuck to their plans, but today was a day for them [Sri Lanka]. It [the pitch] has more bounce that we had at Galle. The extra bounce is good for fast bowlers like myself. The pitch here was slow on the first day and a bit slow today as well, but it was good to get some bounce and carry.
"I would say the game is evenly poised at the moment. We would like to dismiss them as soon as we can and not let them get too many over the 300-mark, so we know we have work to do when play resumes."
Roach, who bowled a hostile spell on day one carried with the venom on day two; he added that his coaches have worked hard with him and he is happy with the rewards he has reaped.
"The pitches are good for batting and I still have some work to do on my lines and lengths," Roach said. "I have been working closely with the coach and the captain and they have been giving me good advice."
Besides Sangakkara, the ever reliable workhorse Thilan Samaraweera scored 80 runs to help his captain in an important stand for the fourth wicket that brought along 170 runs for the hosts.
Samaraweera was sent packing by Dwayne Bravo, while the Lankans also lost all-rounder Angelo Mathews for 23 runs. He was dismissed by Roach four overs before the rain interruption.
Sangakkara has wicket-keeper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Prasanna-Jayawardene-c82537 for company tomorrow; the obdurate right-hander, who shares his name with the more illustrious Mahela Jayawardene, scored a crucial fifty in the first Test match.
He would be hoping to give his captain good support on day three and get his team past the 400 mark.
Any score in that region would put enormous pressure on the West Indians given the variety in the Lankan attack coupled with the fragility in the Calypso batting ranks.
For that to happen, the two teams have to first pray for uninterrupted action on day three, otherwise the Test is as good as over as early as the second day.
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