Sangakkara leads Sri Lanka's charge
Thursday, 26 June 2008
Mohammad Ashraful was left to rue his decision at the toss - on the sort of pitch where they had piled 300-plus the previous day, Bangladesh decided to field first and paid a heavy price as Sri Lanka, fired by some superb top-order batting by Kumar Sangakkara and Sanath Jayasuriya, piled a massive 357 for 9, according to website cricinfo.
Such was the dominance of the Sri Lankans that rarely did their run rate drop below seven. Much of the credit must go to opening pair of Jayasuriya and Sangakkara, who quickly got into the groove once they had gauged that they had nothing fear from the bowling or the pitch. What unfolded over the next hour was a spectacular batting display that resulted in a 116-run opening partnership, which was the perfect platform for the other batsman to build on.
Jayasuriya was opening with Sangakkara for the first time in over two years, but that was hardly an issue for either batsman. Sangakkara was the first to get off the blocks fluently with some delicate, wristy strokes off Shahadat Hossain, who sprayed the ball wide on both sides of the stumps. Sangakkara took advantage and started off with a couple of boundaries on the on side and behind the wicket.
Jayasuriya followed in similar fashion, getting on his toes and hitting two consecutive fours past backward point. He then unleashed himself on the inexperienced Dolar Mahmud, who was completely out of his depth. Three fours and a single in an over gave Jayasuriya a well-deserved half-century, which vindicated the decision to recall him after he was made to sit out of the Caribbean series.
Jayasuriaya's departure, after he failed to read Abdul Razzaq'a spin and was bowled trying to cut, allowed Sangakkara to take command. One of the highlights of the innings came in the 20th over, as Sangakkara clobbered five fours off Mahmud. Mahmud had already gone for 28 off his first two overs, and returning for a second spell, he showed he'd learnt nothing from his earlier experience.
The first ball was a wide, while the next one was smacked low by Sangakkara past mid off. The next, a slower one, was swept to long leg for another boundary, after which he smacked one over the bowler's head for the third four. Mahmud had a chance to make amends, but made a mess of a caught-and-bowled chance next ball. Sangakkara celebrated by sending the last two balls - both of which drifted down leg side - for fours as well to speed towards his eighth ODI hundred.
He accomplished that feat by pushing for a single off legspinner Alok Kapali, whose first two balls were pulled for consecutive fours by Sangakkara. He fell soon after, though: getting increasingly tired in the energy sapping heat, he miscued a pull to give Mahmudullah his only wicket.
But Chamara Kapugadera made sure the momentum was never lost, as he piled an intelligent 74, stitching important partnerships with Chamara Silva and Tillakaratne Dilshan. He was especially severe on Kapali, stepping down the pitch to hit his legspinners.
Sri Lanka innings:
ST Jayasuriya b
Abdur Razzak 72
KC Sangakkara c Tamim Iqbal b Mahmudullah 101
DPMD Jayawardene
b Abdur Razzak 6
CK Kapugedera c Mashrafe Mortaza b Abdur Razzak 74
LPC Silva c Mushfiqur Rahim b Alok Kapali 19
TM Dilshan c Tamim Iqbal
b Mashrafe Mortaza 29
WPUJC Vaas c Tamim Iqbal
b Mashrafe Mortaza 13
KMDN Kulasekara c M Ashraful b Shahadat Hossain 1
BAW Mendis not out 15
M Muralitharan c M Ashraful
b Shahadat Hossain 5
CRD Fernando not out 0
Extras :(lb 4, w 18) 22
Total : (9 wckts; 50 overs) 357
Such was the dominance of the Sri Lankans that rarely did their run rate drop below seven. Much of the credit must go to opening pair of Jayasuriya and Sangakkara, who quickly got into the groove once they had gauged that they had nothing fear from the bowling or the pitch. What unfolded over the next hour was a spectacular batting display that resulted in a 116-run opening partnership, which was the perfect platform for the other batsman to build on.
Jayasuriya was opening with Sangakkara for the first time in over two years, but that was hardly an issue for either batsman. Sangakkara was the first to get off the blocks fluently with some delicate, wristy strokes off Shahadat Hossain, who sprayed the ball wide on both sides of the stumps. Sangakkara took advantage and started off with a couple of boundaries on the on side and behind the wicket.
Jayasuriya followed in similar fashion, getting on his toes and hitting two consecutive fours past backward point. He then unleashed himself on the inexperienced Dolar Mahmud, who was completely out of his depth. Three fours and a single in an over gave Jayasuriya a well-deserved half-century, which vindicated the decision to recall him after he was made to sit out of the Caribbean series.
Jayasuriaya's departure, after he failed to read Abdul Razzaq'a spin and was bowled trying to cut, allowed Sangakkara to take command. One of the highlights of the innings came in the 20th over, as Sangakkara clobbered five fours off Mahmud. Mahmud had already gone for 28 off his first two overs, and returning for a second spell, he showed he'd learnt nothing from his earlier experience.
The first ball was a wide, while the next one was smacked low by Sangakkara past mid off. The next, a slower one, was swept to long leg for another boundary, after which he smacked one over the bowler's head for the third four. Mahmud had a chance to make amends, but made a mess of a caught-and-bowled chance next ball. Sangakkara celebrated by sending the last two balls - both of which drifted down leg side - for fours as well to speed towards his eighth ODI hundred.
He accomplished that feat by pushing for a single off legspinner Alok Kapali, whose first two balls were pulled for consecutive fours by Sangakkara. He fell soon after, though: getting increasingly tired in the energy sapping heat, he miscued a pull to give Mahmudullah his only wicket.
But Chamara Kapugadera made sure the momentum was never lost, as he piled an intelligent 74, stitching important partnerships with Chamara Silva and Tillakaratne Dilshan. He was especially severe on Kapali, stepping down the pitch to hit his legspinners.
Sri Lanka innings:
ST Jayasuriya b
Abdur Razzak 72
KC Sangakkara c Tamim Iqbal b Mahmudullah 101
DPMD Jayawardene
b Abdur Razzak 6
CK Kapugedera c Mashrafe Mortaza b Abdur Razzak 74
LPC Silva c Mushfiqur Rahim b Alok Kapali 19
TM Dilshan c Tamim Iqbal
b Mashrafe Mortaza 29
WPUJC Vaas c Tamim Iqbal
b Mashrafe Mortaza 13
KMDN Kulasekara c M Ashraful b Shahadat Hossain 1
BAW Mendis not out 15
M Muralitharan c M Ashraful
b Shahadat Hossain 5
CRD Fernando not out 0
Extras :(lb 4, w 18) 22
Total : (9 wckts; 50 overs) 357