Oh! What a shocking day it has been!
It was late night here in Canada, but a bright morning in Lahore, Pakistan. As usual, I had my dinner and was eagerly waiting to see SL knock down Pakistan wickets after a splendid batting performance that amassed a total of 606 in the previous two days. Third day’s play was due to commence and I was tuning to several channels on the net, to catch a glimpse of the action. But, somehow none of them were working for me, and I decided to follow the match on Cricinfo. Instead of what I anticipated, what I was destined to read on Cricinfo was a headline that said: ” Sri Lankan cricketers injured in terror attack.” I was shocked. Even though, SL as a nation has experienced terror for the past three decades, no one in their wildest dream would have ever imagined that cricket, a sport loved by both friends and foes in South Asia would be its next target. But, sadly, it happened on this day March 03, 2009 in front of the Liberty Market and just a few steps away from the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore, and also totally shattered the popularly held conception that cricket was immune from terrorism.
The team was traveling, from the tour hotel to the stadium, when armed masked gunmen opened fire on the team bus. Five Sri Lankan players and Assistant Coach, Paul Farbrace have escaped with somewhat minor but substantial injuries. Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana were the ones most seriously injured; Samaraweera received shrapnel in the leg and Paranavitana in the chest. Ajantha Mendis received shrapnel in the neck and scalp. It was a great relief that no one had life threatening wounds.
The tour has been immediately called off and the team will return to SL on the earliest flight. Pakistan has been plagued with security problems for sometime now, with the Champions Trophy taken off and several other tours canceled, the most recent by India. Despite all such concerns, Sri Lanka Cricket was willing to send the team there, in solidarity with Pakistan. Given such a context, numerous questions would be asked of Pakistan’s security arrangements and Sri Lankan authorities’ agreements with them. But, none can match the shock, that, in a moment, our team could have been finished forever, if not for the brave Pakistani driver (Khalil) who drove them towards the stadium in spite of the heavy gun fire.
It was a very very dark day for cricket in general and unfortunately it will be remembered in the years to come, not for the right reason but for the wrong one. Let us hope that the SL players would have the courage and mental strength to overcome this moment between life and death, to represent our country in the global stage for many more years to come.
2nd Test – In reply to Australia’s 542/5 in the first innings, Sri Lanka got only 246, with the larger roles played by Mahela Jayawardene who hit his 19th test century and Kumar Sangakkara who made 57. Having to make a huge 507 to win the test match in the fourth innings, yet Sri Lanka didn’t give up hope. Marvan Atapattu made a sound 80, in what was to be his last test innings, Sanath Jayasuriya, a somewhat 45 and Sangakkara, an extremely beautiful 192, before being bowled out for 410. Sangakkara, who was in a mission to single handedly win the test, took to the strong Australian bowling attack to hit a strokeful 192, his 3rd consecutive 150+score. At 364/9, a ball that hit his shoulder was caught by Ricky Ponting off Stuart Clark. Following the player appeals, Umpire Rudy Koertzen most wrongly ruled him out. Although he had apologized to Sangakkara soon afterwards, by such an unacceptable decision, he not only ended any hopes Sri Lanka had of an outstanding series levelling victory, but also cut short a double century, Sangakkara really deserved.
Post Match : Marvan Atapattu announced his retirement from International Cricket.
Thereafter, the match was all Sri Lanka’s, as Murali took a further three wickets to not only complete a 3-0 sweep of the Laqshya Test Series, but, also to get to a wonderful milestone. By picking up his 700th Test Wicket at his home town in Kandy, among his dear parents Mother, Mrs. Lakshmi, Father, Mr. Muttiah; loving wife, Mrs. Madhimalar, relatives, team-mates and hundreds of fans, Murali became only the Second Bowler in Test Cricket History to reach this landmark. He is now only 8 wickets behind a memorable milestone, which is currently held by retired Shane Warne.
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. 
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.
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.
against Sri Lanka in 2005.
It really was all over for the Bangladeshis when Murali was introduced in to the attack. Sri Lanka’s most successful spinner, took his 100th four-wicket hall as he ended up with figures of 4-14. The renowned Murali is now only 21 short of equaling the World Record currently held by retired Australian spinner, Shane Warne.
41. Then, Malinda Warnapura and Kumar Sangakkara continued piling on runs. Warnapura, who was dismissed for a golden duck in the first ball of his debut at the SSC, in the first test last week, kept up to the faith, the selectors had bestowed upon him by making his maiden fifty in only the second Test Match of his career. The elegant left hander, who went on to make an unbeaten 79 at the end of Day 1, is the nephew of Sri Lanka’s first Test Captain, Bandula Warnapura.
== Sri Lanka Cricket == 