Saturday 17th December, 2011 15 BY RAVI LADDUWAHETTY able to negotiate the ball better. hands. but he played a typical sub-continental one day. Sri Lankans will have to be very Sangakkara, the typical subcontinent Then, he also got a sudden rush of day shot. He walked up to a Vernon miserly with their bowling from here f the Sri Lankan cricket team now in batsman was dismissed in the most typical blood off Vernon Philander yet again, Philander delivery moved away, and sud- onwards if they are to save this Test South Africa, were expecting a spin- manner, getting out to the typical pace and when he pushed at it. One mistake he denly realized that the ball was pitched a match. Ining track for the First Test, they bounce of the South Africans. That deliv- made was to attempt to force it square on trifle short of a length and moving away, Sri Lanka’s batting looks much better. would have been sadly mistaken. This is ery by which he was dismissed had the off side and the ball had an inside he stretched his bat out. He gave the Granted that we are missing the batting because, when the Springboks tour Sri bounce and that delivery from Vernon edge for skipper Graeme Smith to take Springboks fielders catching practice!! and glove work of Prasanna Jayawardena Lanka reciprocally, they don’t get a green Philander to Sangakkara left the batsman an easy catch at second slip. That was the behind the stumps. Kaushal Silva to, top in Sri Lanka! So, the Sri Lankans, in an uncomfortable zone. Sangakkara vita wicket that the Proteas were target- Vernon Philander joins elite band many in the commentary box, is not Test while expecting the green top was all sent the ball straight down to Jaques ing. Vernon Philander continued his prolif- material. May be he was great at S. right, but they would not have bargained Kallis at second slip. Sri Lanka 12 for 2. Samaraweera and Angelo Mathews ic emergence with his third five-wicket Thomas’ College and at Club level, but as for the grass that was left on the track by the Curator!! Both skippers Thillekeratne Dilshan and Graeme Smith made statements on Sri Lanka-South Africa first Test the morning of the mach that had they won the toss, that they would have put the opposition into bat. Of course, Dilshan was unlucky with the toss and he was put in to bat. The only aspect that was encouraging was that sanity had prevailed among the Selectors regarding Thilan Samaraweera. Dilshan should Chairman of National Cricket Selectors Duleep Mendis told this newspaper earli- er in an interview that Thilan Samaraweera was not in their plans in their quest to groom young blood and the mere suggestion by this writer of his inclusion was brushed aside nonchalant- take responsibility ly.However, the Selectors, like all society ladies, changed their minds!! They were proved wrong with their earlier “quest for young blood” with the inclusion of Thilan in the middle even for the first Test against South Africa. Samaraweera’s with bat and team inclusion helped Sri Lanka to get out of a very embarrassing situation. More of that later. All credit must go to Tharanga also batted with sterling confidence and haul in three matches - making him just Paravavithana and Mahela Jayawardene with absolute composure and at this stage, the fifth bowler in Test history to achieve Dilshan surprised all who settled in and they played the bowl- the South Africans may have been contem- the feat - as Sri Lanka crumbled to 180. However, what did Dilshan do at the ing. It was also good to see Mahela plating whether they did the right thing The others in this elite band include: end of the day? There was extra bounce on Jayawardene leaving the deliveries out- by putting the Sri Lankans to bat after Sir Richard Hadlee- versus Australia- that track and one did not need an side the off stump, letting the ball go winning the toss. Sri Lanka 160/4. 9/52 and 6/71 both at Brisbane on Einstein, or a Socrates to tell you that! through to the wicket keeper and not pok- Thilan unlucky November 8, 1985 in the 1029th Test and That delivery from Dale Steyn to Dilshan, ing at it as he has been found to have been But sadly, the Sri Lankans are not hav- 5/65 at Sydney on November 22, 1985 in pitched back of a length and hit the doing it in subcontinental wickets. ing any luck at this point of time. That the 1030th test at Sydney, Aussie Ashley splice of the bat and Dishan was trying Tharanga Paranavithana was also bat- was because a caught behind decision Mallett versus India – 5/91 and 5/53 both to play across the line or trying to work it ting well and positively, but the delivery against Thilan Samaraweera, which was at Chennai on December 24, 1969 in the on the on side which prompted Vernon that he was dismissed by probably left him given by umpire Rod Tucker was referred 669th test and 5/126 versus South Africa Philander, fielding at mid on, to take a guilty of not covering the line or getting to “upstairs”. This test, not only had the at Cape Town on January 22, 1970 in the simple catch off the edge of the bat! That the pitch of the ball, instead of playing it Umpire Decision Review System, but also 670th Test, South African Peter Pollock- was the first disaster for Sri Lanka. half cocked which went through his bat the hot spot!! There was an indication of a 5/53 and 5/34 versus England at Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews takes eva- and pad. faint touch or the inside edge. With the Nottingham on August 5, 1965 in the 595th Dilshan’s appalling stroke puzzled com- sive action against a bouncer from mentators who were in the box. They also With Paranavithana’s dismissal, there departure of Thilan Samarawera who Test and 5/43 also versus England at the South Africa’s bowler Dale Steyn, said that this was not the manner in was picking up of the pieces with Mahela made a well compiled thirty plus runs, Sri Oval on August 26, 1965 in the 596th Test, which a skipper should be setting an Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera, Lankans opened their gates. and Australian Geoff Lawson versus unseen, on the first day of the first Test example to the rest of the batsmen!! whose re-entry was a breath of fresh air The lower order batting starting with England – 5/108 at Perth in the 938th Test at the Centurion Park in Pretoria, South Dilshan, back in the hut and that was from a Sri Lankan batting perspective and Kaushal Silva onwards, were simply inef- on November 12, 1982 and 6/47 and 5/87 at Africa, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011. the start of big time trouble. Kumar who fortified the middle order. The pair fective in facing the South African pace Brisbane Test on November 26, 1982 (AP Photo/ Themba Hadebe) Sangakkara, who is used to and accom- was batting extremely well. Mahela cer- attack. There was a little resistance from which was the 939th Test. plished on slower tracks, where he is used tainly looked good for a century in the Rangana Herath who was unbeaten on 14, far as this level goes, he is not right there!! to facing the new ball, came in very early manner that he was batting, the way he but the rest of the lower order made only Dilhara – Sri Lanka should be a much composed side against the South African pacemen off was middling the ball and clipping any- the numbers. They do not deserve to be pick of the Lankan bowlers with the return of Prasanna Jayawardena. that green top. It would have been incum- thing that was pitched on his pads and there with a bat against such quality bowl- Dilhara Fernando was the pick of the Sri Lanka’s batting looks brittle as bent on the part of Dilshan to see the new covered the line on any delivery that was ing. Sri Lankan bowlers who had Graeme anticipated, but things should change pro- ball off and for Sangakkara to face the pitching outside the off stump pushed the However, the heart of the matter was Smith leg before for 61 and with the home vided Dilshan takes the responsibility new ball when the shine was off and be deliveries and played them with soft that Angelo Mathews was batting so well, side at 90/1 at the close of play on the first and performs better with the bat as well. Premier L/O Former national coach Premier L/O Tier Tier ‘B’ Final ‘A’ Tournament Dinusha and takes badminton SSC and Ranesh steal grievances to President NCC final Games and ANA Championships in and added, “There have been queries in the show BY RAVI NAGAHAWATTE Chiba, Japan. the past about these tours and the SLBF Dinusha Fernando and Ranesh Fernando told ‘The Island’ that he had has provided all necessary answers. We today Renowned badminton coach Chinthaka Perera with a match winning 120-run received a response to his letter from the are ready to answer any queries regarding Fernando has sent a letter to the highest partnership, helped Sri Lanka Ports President’s Secretariat which promises a past tours”. authority of the country complaining Authority win this year’s Premier follow-up to his grievances.