Sri Lanka complete series win

Sri Lanka completed a series win 2-0 yesterday, in their 2nd Test held at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo, defeating Bangladesh by an innings and 90 runs.

Bangladesh finishing Day 3 on 69/4, the match looked like it would end very soon. But, the Bangladeshi lower order had other ideas. After been bowled out for 62 in their first innings, Bangladesh fought back in their second  with valuable contributions from both young Captain Mohammad Ashraful and 18yr old  Wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim. Ashraful, who started off slowly, was unbeaten on 129, at the end of the game when he ran out of partners. The talented Right-hander, who became the only batman in Bangladesh history to hit 4 test centuries,  made his maiden ton against Sri Lanka on his Test debut in 2001. Rahim(80), who recorded his maiden fifty in only his third Test match was caught by Muralitharan off his own balling, to give Sri Lanka the breakthrough that they desperately wanted. The duo added 191 for the sixth wicket, the highest for any wicket in Test Cricket for Bangladesh, after former skipper Habibul Bashar was clean bowled by Dilhara Fernando to reduce the side to 78/5.  

Yet, the resistance shown by the Bangladeshi batsmen could not prevent the inevitable as Chaminda Vaas picked up two wickets in successive deliveries  to further pressurize the side. Bangladesh were all-out for 299, with two run-outs towards the latter part of the game, paving the way for another Sri Lankan victory.

Sri Lanka wrap the Laqshya Test series 2-0. Despite the defeat, the manner in which the Bangladeshi batsmen handled the Sri Lankan bowling attack on the third day will definitely give them a bag full of confidence. This will  also make them realize the importance of being consistent as a Test Nation.

WicketKeeper-Batsman, Kumar Sangakkara who became only the 7th batsman in Test Cricket history to hit 5 or more Double tons, was adjudjed the Man-of-the-Match.

Test venues will move from Colombo to the up-country as the Third Test is scheduled to  commence on the 11th of July at the Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy. 

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Sri Lanka pile on 451

Sri Lankan team piled on a massive 451/6 – declared, in reply to the 62-all out of the Bangladeshis, at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium in Colombo.

Sri Lankan opener Malinda Warnapura who was unbeaten on 79 the previous day, fell just 18 runs short of a maiden century. Kumar Sangakkara and Captain Mahela Jayawardene then added 98 runs for the third wicket. Jayawardene, who added a valuable 49 was removed by Shahadat Hossain, immediately after lunch. Scoreboard then read 267/3. A patient double-ton from Vice Captain, Sangakkara, the fifth such score of his career, boosted the lead to an excess of 300. His first double century came against Pakistan (232) in 2001, followed by a 270 against Zimbabwe and 232 against South Africa in 2004 and a career best of 287, also against South Africa in a record-breaking match last year. Chamara Silva put on 33 in a 92-run partnership with him. One of the maiden-centurions of the First Test, Chaminda Vaas hit an unbeaten 30, helping Sangakkara to get to his 200.

The Bangladeshis who started on their second innings had a daunting task ahead. The healthy foundation laid down by openers Javed Omar and Shahriar Nafees(48), were all in vain as they lost 4 wickets in successive overs. Vaas picked up 2-13 and Dilhara Fernando 2-28, reducing the Bangladesh team to 69/4 at the end of the Second Day.

Bangladesh now trail behind the Sri Lankans by 320 runs. While the Bangladeshis will be looking to make use of the good batting pitch for the next two days, the Sri Lankan bowlers will try to wrap it up on Day 3 itself.

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Sri Lanka continues to dominate in the First Test

Sri Lanka continued to dominate in the First Test against Bangladesh at the SSC, Colombo yesterday.

First, Michael Vandort who was unbeaten at the end of day 1, walked past the 100 mark to record his third test century in only 7 matches, his second against Bangladesh. Captain Mahela Jayawardene who retired hurt on 93, resumed his innings hitting his 17th test century. Tillekaratne Dilshan who added 117 for the fourth wicket with Vandort, had to depart in an unfortunate run-out on 79, after smashing a classy half century.

The Bangladeshis then picked up two quick wickets, removing Jayawardene as well.(353/6)

But, unbeaten maiden tons from wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene and opening bowler Chaminda Vaas in a 223-run partnership propelled the Sri Lankans to a massive total of 577. Incidentally this was also the highest partnership in the Sri Lankan innings. It also became Sri Lanka’s highest seventh wicket partnership in test cricket, surpassing 194 between Hashan Tillekaratne and Kumar Sangakkara against India in 2001. This was also Sri Lanka’s highest total against the Bangladesh team, going past 555/5-dec in 2001.

Prasanna achieved his first test century in his 10th test match whereas the other century-scorer Vaas, played in his 97th test match. For an all-rounder of his caliber, it was a long overdue one.

A happy Captain Jayawardene declared the innings on 577/6 as soon as Vaas scored his hundred. The Bangladeshis now trail behind the Sri Lankans by 485 having played 3/0 in the three overs bowled in the last session of day 2.

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Vaas pays a tribute to Moody

Sri Lanka’s veteran opening bowler Chaminda Vaas has paid tribute to the outgoing coach, Tom Moody, as a “great motivator”.

Moody was a special coach who had a great vision to bring best out of a talented team, Vaas told BBC Sandeshaya.

The young coach who only finished his career as a player in 1999, Vaas said, was very close with the Sri Lankan team.

Tom Moody who announced his resignation on Monday is currently in Abu Dhabi, the last tour for him as Sri Lanka’s head coach.

The former Australian World Cup winner is highly praised for his role as Sri Lanka became runners up of 2007 Cricket World cup in the Caribbean.

	Vaas highly praised Moody’s planning and motivation skills

Chaminda Vaas played under Moody in Worcestershire County Cricket Club just before he was appointed as the Sri Lanka coach.

Vass, who started summer season with Middlesex on Wednesday, told BBC Sinhala Service that he ‘learnt a lot’ from Moody while playing with Worcestershire.

“What I learnt from Moody helped me a lot for my cricketing career,” Vaas said adding that Moody’s planning skills was another great asset of the former Australian cricketer.

Asked who should replace Moody as Sri Lanka’s coach, Chaminda Vaas was of the opinion that it is up to the Sri Lanka authorities to decide.

“A coach can only do ten percent of the team’s work. Ninety percent depend upon the players. I think the most impotant thing for the coach is to motivate the team which Moody did hundred percent”.

Admitting that security situation in Sri Lanka has played role in Moody’s decision to leave Sri Lanka, Chaminda Vaas said Moody also wanted to be closer to the family.

“He has got an opportunity to serve in his native country. It can be a step back word because he left for a county, but I think his main focus was to stay together with his family”.

Courtesy : BBC Sandeshaya

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