Lankans have a lot to prove

The Tsunami – aborted tour of the "land of the long white cloud" was rescheduled with the test matches being played in April 2005 and the balance one dayers in December 2005.

Jayawardena’s men have taken wing once again for two tests in New Zealand with a lot to prove and many questions unanswered. The ICC performance, initially so emphatic and crushing, let the Sri Lankan supporters down with a thud. I cannot help but quote J.S Eliot’s apposite remark: "This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang but with a whimper”.

Harking back to that 2005 tour for the tests Sri Lanka started off on the wrong foot as it were as Muralitharan, who is probably 60% of our attack, stayed home to recover from injury. The first test at Mclean Park, Napier gave no hint of the disaster to come in the second.

Sri Lanka capped Nuwan Kulasekara, a 100th test player, but he hardly made an impression as the Kiwis won the toss and batted their way to a staggering 561. Hamish Marshall (160) and Nathan Astle (114) took centre stage while stumper Brendon McCullum joined the ninety nine club. James Marshall and the other James, seamer Franklin, also struck half-centuries. Malinga disconcerted one and all within his pace and unusual delivery to take 4-131, while Vaas and Herath picked up two each. Sri Lanka paid the Kiwis back in the same coin, more or less, as they amassed 498 - a deficit of 63, skipper Atapattu led from the front with 127 while Jayawardena topped that with 141. The now forgotten Samaraweera made a resolute 88, while Jayasuriya (48) and Dilshan (28) chipped in. The rangy, bouncy Chris Martin accounted for four victims while Franklin shared a like number.

The New Zealanders were cut down to size (238) by Lasith Malinga 5-80. Vincent (52) Fleming (41) James Marshall (39) were the foremost contributions. The target was 302 but the match ended with the visitors on 7 for no loss in 1.3 overs.

Lasith Malinga 9-211 earned him the man of the match award.

Two days later, the teams met in the second test at the Basin Reserve, Wellington. Put into bat, the Sri Lankans were sent packing for 211. Samaraweera fought grittily for his 73, while Chandana’s 41 was the next best. Chris Martin (6-54) was irresistible, while Astle (3-39) was a welcome surprise for the Kiwis.

A stupendous 224 by Lou Vincent made certain that the home team produced something big. Fleming (88) Cumming (47) and Marshall (James), Mills and Wiseman saw to it that Vincent’s effort was not in vain. Vaas (40-12-108-6) did well to impose some curbs and Malinga had 2 for plenty.

The Sri Lankans reached 273 second time round, Dilshan (73) Sangakkara (45) and Maharoof (36) strove valiantly to keep their team in the game. The seemingly guileless Franklin (4-71) took the hours, while lightening struck twice in the case of Astle (3-27). The end result, a loss by an innings and 38 runs.

The omens are slightly more propitious for the Sri Lankans this time as Maralitharan prepares to dog Warne’s footsteps. The Kiwi batting could collapse once at least in the face of the threat from Murali, Vass and Malinga. If that happens, it’s up to the Sri Lankan to grasp the opportunity.