Sanga symphony spurs Lanka
The fourth day’s play in the first Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was woven round the Sangakkara symphony. The thirty-six-year-
old Lankan batting genius completed a masterful 221 to make his tenth double century and go past West Indian legend Brian Lara and see the Lankans to a score of 533 for 9 before the declaration at the Galle International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
The declaration came with the departure of Dhammika Prasad who batted well to make a brave 31 with two sixes and two fours in 35 balls.
With a lead of 82 runs, the Lankan skipper gave the visitors the task of surviving batting for around twenty minutes, thus making the fifth day’s play an interesting one to watch.
“We need to get nine wickets. Tomorrow we’ll come and possibly our seamers will start at both ends. Our responsibility is to put the ball in the right places and to make the batsman play”, Sangakkara told media at conclusion of the fourth day’s play.
On his overnight score of 102, Sangakkara drove into the hands of Abdur Rehman at point but the fielder was not prepared to accept a catch off the very first delivery of the day. Junaid Khan had to walk back to his mark with disappointment. Thereafter, the southpaw never looked back until he reached the magical mark of 200 runs.
The living legend scored 221 in 698 minutes, driving Sri Lanka into a box seat in this game. However, given the conditions of the wicket in Galle this time, a result seems to be far away unless a dramatic collapse in Pakistan second innings.
“Maybe there is a bit less turn. Maybe it broke up a bit less and there was more grass cover on the wicket”
Sangakkara who could have emulated or even go pass the great Sir Donald Bradman, provided the lady luck was with him in three previous times.
Sangakkara and Mathews savouring their 150 run stand. Pix by Shantha Ratnayake
Seven years ago, he walked back to the Hobart pavilion on 192 as the umpire made a mistake. There were no DRS at the time and only the disappointment and sulk was the only way out.
Two years ago, in Galle itself, Sangakkara ran short of partners and came back to the pavilion, with unbeaten 199 against Pakistan. Eight days later, at the SSC, he scored yet another brilliant 192 against the same opposition before being caught by Taufeeq Umar off the bowling of Abdur Rehman. However, he has no regrets over spilt milk in the three previous occasions.
“Not really disappointed. At the end of the day it’s up to you to convert. The responsibility is yours. If you’ve had the opportunity and didn’t convert, you’ve got no one else to blame but yourself.
“I always think 1 run is better than 0, 10 is better than 5. However many runs you get for the side and if that helps the side, that’s fine. It doesn’t have to be a 100 or a 200. If you do get the chance to go big, you try and do that. I’ll always have certain regrets, but nothing that I can’t deal with” Sangakkara, told media in a flamboyant way as he bats in the middle.
The 181 runs partnership for the fourth wicket by Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews was crucial. As Mahela Jayawardane was trapped LBW for 59 in the first over of the day, left arm seamer Junaid Khan had the second new ball in his hand. It’s no secret that Sri Lankan batsmen are not very comfortable against the lefties and the visitors had 194 runs in their favour but the skipper had some other ideas.
As soon as he walked into the middle, Angelo Mathews took control of the situation and let Sangakkara to play his natural game.Mathews, who is in a purple patch since being appointed as captain, dominated the 181 runs partnership with 91 runs while Sangakkara scoring only 84. Mathew’s 91 included 10 hits to the rope and one flying over it.
Before offering a thick edge to Younis Khan at slip, off a doosra from Saeed Ajmal, Mathews and Sangakkara closed the gap between the two teams and it was the fifth time that Sri Lankan skipper conceded his wicket in the nervous nineties in a test match. Out of those five times, he was dismissed on 91 for three occasions and all three times by Pakistan and within a span of eight months.
“It was a bit difficult to score singles, especially with a spinner like Ajmal, because he’s got variation. Being a leftie, I rarely come out of the crease to him. Other than that, if you spend enough time out there, there’re runs on offer”
“I thought they bowled pretty decent areas. It would have been brilliant if Mahela and Angelo got hundreds, because they both looked well set and looked comfortable. It was a bit disappointing that they couldn’t make it over the line” Sangakkara added.
| Scoreboard
Pakistan 1st innings 451 all out |