Sri Lankan bowlers flatten Bangladesh

Sri Lankan seamers Lasith Malinga and Dilhara Fernando as well as the ace spinner Muttiah Muralitharan flattened the Bangladeshi lineup as they recorded their lowest ever test score(62), since being granted Test status in 2000. The previous lowest was 86, also against Sri Lanka in 2005.

Malinga lead the attack with a superb spell very early in the game, trapping Shahriar Nafees for leg before in his very first over. Midway between the 8th over, he had opener Javed Omar caught off Wicketkeeper, Prasanna Jayawardene. Soon after, former skipper, Habibul Bashar was caught off Mahela Jayawardene at slip. Two balls later, current skipper Mohamed Ashraful was removed for a duck, when the scoreboard read 22/4.

Dilhara joined the fun, picking up the wickets of both, debutant Mehrab Hossain jnr. and Mashrafe Mortaza.

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.

Sri Lanka, in reply got off to a good start with their first wicket, Michael Vandort falling at 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.

Sangakkara got back in to form, by hitting his 23rd half century, just a couple of minutes before the end of the day.

Bad light and rain forced an early finish to Day 1, with Sri Lanka on a healthy total of 154/1.

Read Full Post »

Malinda Warnapura set to make Test debut

According to selection committee sources, elegant opening Batsman Malinda Warnapura, is set to make his test debut during the forthcoming series against Bangladesh.

Warnapura made his ODI debut against Pakistan at the recently concluded Warid Series in Abu Dhabi just six days before his twenty eighth birthday. His colours with the ‘A’ team prompted the selecting committee to give him a chance in the national squad. This talented cricketer, who smashed a century against Bangladesh ‘A’ two months ago, is most likely to be selected for the Test-series against the Bangladesh national team scheduled to be held at the end of this month.

The selectors are also hoping to rest veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya and middle-order batsman Tillekaratne Dilshan in an attempt to give more opportunities for the upcoming players.

The stylish left hander emerged as the highest run getter during the recent tour of India and he followed it up with a career best 242 in the first four day unofficial test match against the Bangladesh ‘A’ team at the Colts CC grounds, Havelock Park.

Warnapura has been a consistent run getter for his club, Colts Cricket Club in the domestic tournaments and has accumulated over five thousand runs from 107 first class matches at an average of 37.20.

In addition fast bowler Sujeewa de Silva is also set to be recalled into the national team. De Silva however has played two test matches both against Bangladesh in July 2002. The opening bowler returned excellent figures of four wickets for 35 in the second innings in his last test match at the SSC grounds which helped Sri Lanka cruise to a massive 288 run victory and wrap up the series by two matches to nil.

The Test squad of 14 is expected to be announced on June 11 after the return of captain Mahela Jayawardene who is currently in India leading the Asian XI against the Africa XI in a series of one-day matches.

The Bangladesh team will arrive on June 17 and will play their first test match from June 25 to 29 at the SSC grounds, second test from July 3 to 7 at the R. Premadasa Stadium and the third and final test from July 11 to 15 at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy. In addition they will play three one day internationals on July 20, 22 and 24.

Courtesy : Daily Mirror

Read Full Post »