Late City Edition

Wednesday 8th July, 2009

Rex Clementine reporting from Galle

You feel gutted when a prediction goes wrong. But in predictions go wrong more than what you anticipate and that’s why it’s called the sport of glorious uncertainties. And who said is boring? We said yesterday that were all set to wrap up the first Test here at the Galle International Cricket Stadium and in doing so we ignored two important factors, one is the golden uncertainties of the sport and the other being that ’s opponents were the unreliable Pakistanis. After being set a target of 168 and end- ing day three on 71 for two requiring a fur- ther 97 runs with eight in hand and with no , it was expected that Pakistan would take a 1-0 lead in the three match series. But what followed was absolute mayhem as Sri Lanka spiritedly snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with their 50 run win giving them the lead in the series as Pakistan suffered a devastating loss. The hero for the Sri Lankans yesterday was 31-year-old , who was hastily flown in from England to replace the injured Muttiah Muralitharan and he proved effective against a team that plays spin well and became the third Sri Lankan left-arm spinner after Niroshan Bandaratilleke and Jayantha Silva to win his country a Test match. Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath reacts after claiming Pakistan were bowled for their lowest the last Pakistani of Mohammad Aamir dur- total against Sri Lanka with their second ing the fourth day of their first cricket Test match innings total of 117 being the lowest, eclips- in Galle, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, July 7, 2009. (AP ing the 132 all out 23 years ago at the CCC grounds. Photo/Gurinder Osan) This was also Sri Lanka’s first Test win against Pakistan at home after 23 years with the first innings too he had run out Pakistan’s second innings total being the Mohammad Yousuf with a direct hit when fourth overall lowest here in Galle. It was Sri Lankan cricketers react on the third umpire decision for the dismissal of Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq by a run out from he was on 112. also Sri Lanka’s first Test win at this , center jumping, during the fourth day of the first cricket test match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, in Galle. The dramatic first half an hour of the Test match saw the game completely swing ground in seven years with the last one Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 50 runs. (AP) coming in 2002 against Zimbabwe. Since in Sri Lanka’s favour, as the tourists lost five wickets for the addition of 14 runs in the space of 47 deliveries. The game ended 15 minutes before lunch when Abdur Rauf edged one to first slip where took a sharp Pakistan commit ‘hara-kiri’ catch giving Herath four wickets in the Dilshan in the game and despite conceding innings, his best figures in Test cricket. then, Sri Lanka has drawn three games here a few byes, he did an exceptional job for his For his magnificent effort, Herath was and lost two. Herath spins Lanka to victory side filling in for Prasanna Jayawardene. In named Man of the Match. , on his debut Test as came up with a smart move when what would be one of its most cherished ways and after the spinner’s double strike, he decided to introduce spin from the Old Test match victories. claimed the wicket of Shoaib Malik in the SCOREBOARD Dutch Fort end in the second over of the While Herath was creating enough pres- very next over when he produced one that sure from one end, Thilan Tushara Mirando took a thin edge and flew to Dilshan as morning and what a masterstroke it proved Sri Lanka 1st Innings: 292 Extras: (13b,3lb,1w) 17 to be as Herath struck twice in his first over. bowled a probing line, moving the ball both Pakistan lost three wickets for one run. Pakistan 1st Innings: 342 TOTAL: (all out ) 117 Soon it became 80 for six when Mirando had Mohammad Yousuf, the centurion in the Sri Lanka 2nd Innings: 217 Overs: 44.3 wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal trapped leg first innings, failed to read the straight one Pakistan 2nd Innings Fall of wickets: 1-36, 2-39, 3-71, 4-72, 5-72, before wicket. and played on the wrong line expecting the (Overnight 71-2) 6-80, 7-85, 8-95, 9-110, 10-117. Sri Lanka had to see the back of ball to turn and was trapped in front for 12 K. Manzoor c Jayawardene b Mendis 15 : Kulasekera 7-1-25-0, Thushara 12- Misbah-ul-Haq, who was capable of taking runs. But Pakistan suffered the biggest blow S. Butt c Paranavitana b Herath 28 4-21-2 (1w), Mathews 4-0-13-1, Mendis 10- the side through batting with the lower when Salman Butt, who had remained 28 Y. Khan lbw b Mathews 3 0-27-2, Herath 11.3-5-15-4. order and it came in the most unexpected overnight, heaved one to deep square leg M. Yousuf lbw b Herath 12 Man of the Match: Rangana Herath (SL) fashion when the Pakistani vice-captain putting Pakistan under tremendous pres- Umpires: was run out. Trying to glance Tushara, the Misbah-ul-Haq run out 7 D. Harper (Aus); I. Gould (Eng) sure losing two wickets in the second over of S. Malik c Dilshan b Thushara 0 TV Umpire: K. Dharmasena (SL) the day. ball deflected off his pads and while the appeal was going on, Misbah had gone too K. Akmal lbw b Thushara 6 Match Referee: A. Hurst (Aus) There had been serious doubts about A. Rauf c Jayawardene b Herath 13 Toss: won by Pakistan. this inexperienced Sri Lankan bowling far down the pitch and Tillekeratne Dilshan had the presence of mind to pick up the ball U. Gul b Mendis 9 Result: Sri Lanka won by 50 runs. attack, but it rose up to the occasion M. Aamer c Dishan b Herath 6 Series: Sri Lanka leads 3-test series 1-0. remarkably to enable Sri Lanka achieve and run out the batsman with a direct hit. That was the second direct hit by S. Ajmal 1

Kumar thrilled with Sri Lanka’s fighting spirit Rex Clementine showed how tough all the guys are and Rangana particularly basing on the fact during crucial periods when doubts came et, but he felt there were other greater reporting from Galle when the opportunities are presented a lot that he has done well against Pakistan into my mind. During those moments, moments in the longer version of the of people try to grab them,” Sangakkara and the fact that he’s the best Test spinner Mahela stepped up and was of tremen- game. “There have been other games that Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara told journalists at the post match press we have after Murali and Ajantha.” dous help,” he added. have been better than this one. I remem- leading Sri Lanka for the first time in a conference. He also praised the efforts of Despite the win, Sri Lanka’s batting ber coming to bat with Test Match was thrilled with the effort his The new captain made special men- Tillekeratne Dilshan, who kept wickets wasn’t convincing and Sangakkara felt a broken thumb and guiding us through team put up after playing catch up with tion of Rangana Herath, who was flown in for the first time in Test cricket in the the need to get the batting in order ahead in Pakistan in 2000. There have been Pakistan during the first three days of the from England after Muttiah Muralitharan absence of regular wicket keeper of the second Test Match that starts on other wins too that were greater than this opening Test Match here at the Galle was ruled out with a knee injury and the Prasanna Jayawardene. “It’s not an easy Sunday at the P.Sara Stadium in Colombo. one.” International Cricket Stadium. left-arm spinner played a pivotal role end- thing to keep wickets in a Test Match, but “We’ve got a lot of thinking to do on our He was also asked on the rather Pakistan looked set to take a 1-0 lead in ing with his best bowling figures in Test Dilshan showed great enthusiasm. Those batting. It was the first time in a long time bizarre idea that the Sri Lankan manage- the series after they required just 97 runs cricket and won the Man of the Match two run outs also had a great effect on us our batting line up didn’t get the runs that ment was entertaining ahead of the Test with eight wickets in hand and two days to award. winning this Test Match. In this Test, we usually do. We’ve got to figure out Match to split up the wicket keeping role go, but a flurry of wickets on the fourth “All credit should go to Rangana, who while keeping wickets, he also managed to where our off-stumps are and to have a between Tillekeratne Dilshan and him- morning saw his team come from behind has been a magnificent performer in get two run outs with direct hits and that mindset to face the new bowlers that we self. “Sometimes when you try to do and snatch a thrilling 50 run win. domestic cricket and even in Test cricket proved to be crucial,” Sangakkara said. are seeing for the first time. Until today things that don’t look like as nice as it “The bowling attack we played in this whenever he got an opportunity.He’s been Although Mahela Jayawardene man- Pakistan outplayed us, but this morning should be or against traditions of the Test Match is inexperienced, but it’s also a very successful against Pakistan when we aged just 30 and a duck in the Test Match, we managed to turn things around by game, those decisions raise eye-brows. If fresh attack and the lack of experience played in Pakistan and the decision to he came in for high praise by the captain showing lot of heart and character.” it works you get all the credit and if it was made up by enthusiasm and real bring him down was based on the fact that for his tactical input that Sangakkara felt Sangakkara was asked by a journalist doesn’t work you get all the criticism. hunger to do well and stay in the side. It Rangana, Suraj and Malinga Bandara are was vital. “It’s great to have Mahela in the whether that was the greatest win the Sri That’s the reality and that should be our next best spinners. We decided on side; I think he made a huge contribution Lankan team had achieved in Test crick- accepted by the players.”

Published by Upali Newspapers (Private) Limited, 223, Bloemendhal Road, Colombo 13 and Printed at 195/187, High Level Road, Homagama on Wednesday 8th July, 2009