Sports

Sri Lanka’s victory over England at Nottingham was achieved totally against the run of form. Very little pointed towards a possible victory at the start of the game. Having been beaten convincingly in the previous test and the indifferent form of the top order did not provide much hope. Nor did the early season conditions help – being quite cold, damp and the ball seaming around.

The one comforting factor was Muttiah Muralitharan’s ten wickets in that Edgbaston Game. It brought back past memories and English minds began to start worrying. It was then a God-send to find the pitch for the final test being dry and void of much grass. There was spin on it from day one and as the game progressed the bounce became variable too. In addition the rough created by the bowlers stared at the left hand batsman.

Enough to light up Muralitharan. He knew the ingredients were available for him to weave a spell round the opposition. His focus on the task at hand was a hundred percent. In both innings he rarely bowled anything loose. The line, length, the variations, were all spot on. The pitch played its parts with assistance and one by one the Englishmen succumbed to their tormentor.

Not only did Muralitharan excel with the ball but his first innings contribution with the bat was also of tremendous value. From a score of 138 for 8 wickets Sri Lanka clawed their way to 231. Those 93 runs added for the last two wickets stole the game away from the opposition. Little would they have realized it when it was happening. The four English pacemen could not remove the tail, having earlier decimented the top order. The man who stood rock solid in that situation was Chaminda Vaas. The lion hearted performer would not have been over the moon with his bowling in the series, but amply compensated with the bat. Scores of 38 and 34, undefeated in both innings, were priceless contributions. Unsung, yet a definite hero in this famous Sri Lankan win.

Flintoff’s team continued to err on day two of the game. On a pitch that required the batsmen to work hard for runs and apply themselves to grafting an innings, they were more keen on going hammer and tongs, at the bowling. Sanity prevailed only in Paul Collingwood and the lower order batsmen who took the home team within two runs of Sri Lanka’s score. But then, the Sri Lankans had sensed something big was on the cards. Although no player made a big score, the contributions were adequate and they occupied the crease for long enough, to get themselves into a commanding position.Finally, the innings that made it daunting for the opposition was the half century scored by young Chamara Kapugedara. He was solid under pressure and his uncomplicated technique went a long way on that pitch which was not too easy to bat. Then his stubborn partnership with Vaas frustrated and wore down the Englishmen.

Like Vaas, Sanath Jayasuriya could not impress in his chosen trade but played his part with the ball. He leant the support of tight, accurate bowling that was required from the opposite end, easing Muralitharan’s task. Kumar Sangakkara was excellent behind the stumps. He read every delivery sent down by the spinners with precision and was a tower of strength behind the stumps. The close in fielders and the outfielders all accomplished their tasks.

Well done Mahela Jayawardena, well done the Sri Lankan team, it was an exemplary team effort, a bold display of character.