Sri Lanka v. England - 1st. Test

[Donny]

Muralitharan takes the shine off England's day

The Wisden Bulletin by Freddie Auld

An inspired allround display from Muttiah Muralitharan took the gloss off what was otherwise a hard-working and productive display from England on the second day at Galle. Murali scored a whirlwind 38 from 37 balls to help Sri Lanka recover from 239 for 7 to reach a useful 331 all out. Then he removed Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick late in the day, and England closed on 97 for 2.

Vaughan will be disappointed that England surrendered their strong position after a fruitful morning session, in which they took charge with three wickets. But after losing the toss yesterday, they could still take satisfaction from their efforts after a long and tiring day – and this time one with no breaks for rain.

At the start, all Sri Lankan eyes and hopes were on Kumar Sangakkara, their one remaining specialist batsman. He was in sublime touch on Tuesday evening, and soon brought up his fifty with some extravagant shots off Ashley Giles, in particular. Vaughan turned early to his spin pairing of Giles and Gareth Batty, but the Sri Lankans remained keen to impose themselves, as Thilan Samaraweera showed when he danced down the track and slammed Batty over midwicket for four.

It was the new ball that did the trick for England. With his very first delivery, Richard Johnson found the perfect line and length to trap Sangakkara lbw for 71 (202 for 5), as he played back and across. And when Samaraweera chased and edged a wide one from Andrew Flintoff, England were well on top (238 for 6).

Upul Chandana battled hard for his 21, but with Flintoff on a roll, Chandana was adjudged lbw by Daryl Harper, although the ball appeared to be skimming over the top of middle stump. Sri Lanka, who had packed their middle order with spinning allrounders with a view to a quick victory, were beginning to regret their shortage of specialist batsmen.

But Kumar Dharmasena and Chaminda Vaas held up England's progress with a handy partnership worth 40 stubborn runs, which was ended by Batty's first wicket of the match. Dharmasena tried to sweep but missed the ball, which pitched outside off and hit him in line, and he was adjudged lbw by Venkat (279 for .

It was a deserved wicket for Batty, who, like Matthew Hoggard, had bowled tirelessly but without any luck while Sri Lanka pushed towards 300. And Batty got more reward when Dinusha Fernando, on his Test debut, prodded forward and edged a low chance to Paul Collingwood at short leg, who took his third catch on his debut (291 for 9).

England were thrilled at the prospect of restricting Sri Lanka to less than 300, but they didn't bank on Murali. Before this series, they probably didn't spend much time fretting over his batting talents, but a last-wicket stand of 40 between Murali and Chaminda Vaas kept a frustrated England waiting in the field.

Murali immediately enlivened the crowd by slapping his first ball over mid-off for four, and then he signalled the 300 with a huge straight six off Batty. He flicked Batty over mid-on for another four, and Vaughan was beginning to get a little edgy. He brought back Flintoff to finish the job off, but he couldn't. Murali top-edged him over the slips for two fours in consecutive balls, and continued to frustrate the bowling with his unconventional style. He finally fell when he edged Giles to Chris Read, but he was smiling all the way to the pavilion, knowing England would have an uncomfortable final session.

Trescothick and Vaughan made a confident start, though, as they cruised to a fifty partnership with little fuss. Vaughan started off with a bang, creaming Fernando through midwicket and then straight past him in successive balls. Trescothick started more sedately, but then stamped his authority. He twice punched Fernando through the covers for four, and followed that up with a sumptuous straight-drive for four more.

But it wasn't long before Hashan Tillakaratne turned to that man Murali, and immediately things started to happen. Vaughan was lucky to survive an lbw shout on 18 when he miscued a sweep shot and was hit in front of middle, but Trescothick wasn't quite so fortunate - in fact he copped a rotten decision from Daryl Harper.

Murali fizzed down a quicker one which turned sharply and beat Trescothick's forward prod. Sangakkara collected the ball cleanly, and made a token shriek as an appeal for caught-behind, and to some astonishment, Harper gave him out (56 for 1). And worse was to come when Vaughan padded up to a vicious offcutter and was bowled through his legs. The ball pitched way outside off, then spun back underneath Vaughan's front leg, and clipped the top of off stump (67 for 2).

Mark Butcher and Graham Thorpe averted any collapse, as they held firm and made sure England stayed well and truly in the game with a watchful 30-run partnership. Butcher and Thorpe accepted the offer of bad light with a few overs remaining, with all to play for tomorrow in this close contest.

[Donny]

And continues to do so.

England are 8/183. Murali has 5/33 from 27 overs. Jayasuriya has 1/18 from 12 overs.

From 2/142, they've lost 6/41. Butcher made 51 and Thorpe, 43.

[Donny]

Jayawardene gives Sri Lanka the ascendancy

The Wisden Bulletin by Freddie Auld

Mahela Jayawardene guided Sri Lanka into a dominant position on the rain-affected fourth day at Galle with a patient 86 not out, including a last-wicket stand of 46 with Muttiah Muralitharan. England were set 323 to win, and with Murali all ready to flex his rubbery wrist on a wearing pitch, the rain which brought an early finish was a welcome sight for England - but a frustrating one for Sri Lanka.

After a heartening final session last night, the onus was on England to take quick wickets in the morning and limit the lead to manageable proportions. But that didn't happen. Their first breakthrough eventually came after the morning drinks break, and even that was in controversial circumstances.

Chaminda Vaas, who had batted with typical resolve for his 19, was caught at short-leg by Paul Collingwood to give Ashley Giles his seventh wicket of the match. There was some doubt, however, as to whether Vaas had actually touched the ball, as it ballooned off his pads into Collingwood's hands. And though umpire Venkat had no hesitation, Vaas's reaction spoke volumes as he stalked off the pitch. He flung his gloves and helmet to one side as he reached the boundary rope, much as Sanath Jayasuriya had done in similar circumstances at Kandy in 2000-01.

For most of the morning, England laboured for little reward, as Vaas and Jayawardene fended off the best efforts of Andrew Flintoff and the spinners, Giles and Gareth Batty. With a lead of 195 in the bag already, there was no need for risks, and the batsmen limited themselves to singles and the odd extravagance, such as the lofted four that Vaas smacked back over Batty's head.

It was slow going, and even after a two-hour rain break, Sri Lanka continued to show little urgency and crawled along at two runs-an-over. Chandana soon paid the price for his negativity when he padded up to a straight one from Giles, and was given lbw by Venkat (163 for 7). Jayawardene then eventually reached his half-century off 192 balls - and just under four hours - but still they were in no hurry to extend the lead, which was trickling towards 300.

Matthew Hoggard took the new ball and immediately grabbed his first wicket of the match – and the tour – when he trapped Kumar Dharmasena lbw stone dead in front of middle (179 for . Flintoff was then rewarded for his tireless efforts when Dinusha Fernando edged him to Marcus Trescothick, who again showed off his party trick of juggling the ball a few times before clasping it (180 for 9).



Lucky break: Ashley Giles celebrates the wicket of Chaminda Vaas
© Getty Images 2003


But whether it be with bat or ball, Murali always livens things up, and today was no exception. He strode out with his ever-present grin, and then smeared Flintoff over cover and slashed Hoggard past point, both for four. Jayawardene suddenly came to life as well. He thumped Johnson for two successive boundaries over midwicket to take the lead past 300, and smacked Giles back over his head for another four.

Again the bowlers could not finish off the job quickly. For a No. 11, Murali was surprisingly comfortable, and his partnership with Jayawardene sapped England's morale even further. After Murali eventually edged Batty to Collingwood at short leg for a handy 13, England were left pondering their almost impossible bid to save this game.

If only rain can rescue England now, then it came to their aid after just one over in to their second innings. Trescothick and Michael Vaughan walked out in spitting rain, and then hurried off five minutes later as the downpour started. Play was inevitably called off at 5.30pm local time, and England will need more bad weather tomorrow if they are going to escape with a draw.

[Donny]

England, chasing 323 to win, are in trouble at 7/171.

Vaas has taken 2/21 and Muralitharan, 2/43.

Butcher made 54 and Collingwood, 36.

[HAL]

What's your favorite part of England?

[Donny]

England battle out for a tense draw

The Wisden Bulletin by Freddie Auld


England held on for a fighting draw in a tense finish to a closely fought opening Test against Sri Lanka at Galle. After fighting efforts from Mark Butcher, Paul Collingwood and the lower order, the umpires offered England the light with four overs to go and nine wickets down. They didn't need a second invitation, and a timely downpour put paid to any chances of a resumption.

The light certainly came to their rescue, but England's draw represented an impressive display of tough concentration and commitment to the cause, especially against Muttiah Muralitharan on a wearing pitch. And as always in these situations, England will feel like champions and take plenty of heart with them to the next Test, at Kandy. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will be ruing their inability to finish the job off, and may wonder about their slow batting on the fourth day.

England had started the final day needing an improbable 319 runs for victory, or more likely, needing to survive for the best part of six hours, or until any rain came to their rescue later on. But it didn't, and from the moment Dinusha Fernando resumed with the new ball, England realised they were up against it.

Michael Vaughan was never allowed to settle as Fernando worked him over outside off stump. He squirted an attempted leave through third man for four, then, after one sweet pull through midwicket, he propped forward to an immaculate full-length outswinger, and Hashan Tillakaratne at first slip grabbed the edge at the second attempt (16 for 1).

Marcus Trescothick was in no mood to be dominated. He cracked a half-volley from Chaminda Vaas through the covers, and helped put a dent in Fernando's figures with a bullet of a cut shot. But his positive intent proved his downfall, when he danced down the track to Sanath Jayasuriya, failed to make contact and was bowled through the gate for 24 (62 for 2).

Murali by this stage had barely bothered to warm up, but he was never going to be kept out of the limelight for long. Sure enough, he popped up with the prize scalp of the morning. Graham Thorpe was easing into his stride when he badly misread Murali's doosra, and top-edged a simple chance to Vaas, who nonetheless made a meal of it as he ran in from mid-off (73 for 3).

Butcher and Collingwood provided stern resistance and ate up valuable time. Both batsmen showed good concentration and discipline against accurate bowling, led by Murali and Jayasuriya. But it wasn't all just blocking. Butcher launched Kumar Dharmasena for six over mid-on, and then stroked an elegant straight drive off Murali to bring up a well-deserved half-century. Collingwood provided good support at the other end, playing with a calm concentration, as the pair put together a valuable fifty partnership.

England's bid for survival was slowly starting to take shape, but back came Vaas to put a double dent in their progress. Vaas landed one on a perfect length outside off and Butcher nibbled at the ball as it went through to Kumar Sangakkara (125 for 4). In his next over, Andrew Flintoff drove Vaas loosely to Tillakaratne at point for a duck, and suddenly England were hanging on at 125 for 5.

Chris Read refused to lie down, and swept his way to 14, including a six over midwicket. Collingwood continued to stand firm, putting away anything short or wide to the boundary. The clouds began to roll over the ground, but if England had any thoughts of scrambling to safety, that man Murali made them think again. Read propped forward to defend another big offspinner, but only gloved the ball via the pad to Mahela Jayawardene at short-leg (148 for 6).

Gareth Batty knuckled down to give Collingwood good support, and found time to clip Dharmasena effortlessly over midwicket for six and thwack Murali past midwicket. The rain started to trickle down, but the umpires decided to stay on. It was a big call, as just before tea England lost their anchor in Collingwood. He pressed forward to Dharmasena and was superbly caught by Tillakaratne low to his left at silly point (170 for 7) for a gutsy 36. It was a big blow, as shown by the Sri Lankans' shrieks of delight.

Batty and Ashley Giles made sure the floodgates didn't open, though. They scrapped it out together for 50 minutes after tea, before Batty threw all his hard work away in a moment of madness. He gifted Murali another wicket when he played a vile heave across the line and was bowled middle stump (204 for . Batty stayed on his knees for a few seconds, realising the foolishness of the shot at such a crucial time.

The light slowly deteriorated, and the umpires continually checked their lightmeters, but the show went on. Richard Johnson put away his attacking instincts and admirably played one big block for 35 balls. But with seven overs remaining, he tried to leave one from Murali but under-edged it into his leg stump, and it was left to Giles and Matthew Hoggard to save the day as the tension mounted.

Giles refused to buckle under the pressure, and took the brunt of the strike. The umpires continued to deliberate on the state of the light at the end of each over, and after what felt like an age for England, they offered the light - and the batsmen were off like a shot. Giles finished with an invaluable 17 not out to add to his eight wickets in the match, and as he looked up to the darkening skies, he knew England had done just enough to escape with a hard-earned and exciting draw.