Sangakkara holds key to the series

This was a throwback to the attritional days of Test cricket, a time before men like Jayasuriya, Hayden and Sehwag came along to make a mockery of old scoring rates. The early years of the India-Pakistan rivalry  [before ties were suspended in 1961] saw some of the most wretched Test cricket ever played, with both teams motivated more by the fear of defeat than a desire to win. That certainly wasn't the case at the P Saravanamuttu on Saturday, but instead of a no-holds-barred tussle for supremacy, it was subtle cat-and-mouse.

By day's end, Sri Lanka had accumulated 237 runs in 84 overs, with Kumar Sangakkara's magnificent century the focal point of their hopes. His 95-run partnership with the unflappable Chaminda Vaas put Sri Lanka in command, but India fought back superbly over the course of the afternoon, even though three key players were back in the pavilion nursing injuries.

VVS Laxman turned his ankle during the morning warm-up and Sachin Tendulkar did some damage to his left elbow while going for a catch at backward short leg off Anil Kumble. But the most severe blow was the loss of Ishant Sharma to a suspected upper-thigh strain. His absence meant that India couldn't make use of the second new ball, as well as Zaheer Khan and the spinners bowled with the old one.

Sangakkara got going in streaky fashion, with a cut that just eluded the diving Rohit Sharma at backward point, and he enjoyed a reprieve on 34 when Rahul Dravid put down a very sharp chance to his left off the luckless Kumble. He drove and pulled with assurance early in his innings, reaching 50 off 79 balls, but a change in Indian tactics then forced him to play the patience game.

Harbhajan Singh repeatedly bowled his off breaks well wide of Sangakkara's off stump, and he eschewed the flamboyant strokes with all the awareness of a man who knew that he was playing a potentially series-winning innings. The second 50 took all of 133 deliveries but strike-rates were of little importance on an afternoon when Sri Lanka inched their way towards a precious first-innings lead.

Vaas, who now needs just two runs to become only the seventh man to complete the 3000 runs-300 wickets double, batted with commendable composure and authority after Zaheer's perseverance had removed the shaky Michael Vandort. A half-century was his for the taking when he stepped out to Harbhajan and slammed one straight to cover.

With Harbhajan then claiming Mahela Jayawardene cheaply, the game was tantalisingly poised, but Sri Lanka got a lucky break when Kumble's request for an umpiring review against Thilan Samaraweera wasn't upheld by Billy Doctrove. Once replays established that the ball had struck pad rather than bat first, it appeared to be a straightforward decision, but with Mark Benson acting on the TV umpire's advice, the Indian dressing room was left fuming.

Samaraweera was on five, and Sri Lanka 153, at the time and he added a further 48 with Sangakkara before the indefatigable Zaheer produced a peach of a delivery that lifted perceptibly and slanted away to take the edge. But an important cameo from Tillakaratne Dilshan pushed Sri Lanka towards parity, and Sangakkara will still be around on day three to ensure that the lead swells to much more than two runs.

The crocked Indians will probably settle for a 30 or 40-run deficit. Anything more, and the wiles of Mendis and Murali may prove too much to handle.

Comments

[saurabh]

Hi Dileep,

You have a solid grip on the game of cricket, I am amazed by the level of insight you provide in these articles. After every day's play when I am done with reading cricinfo's article I come over to the Doosra Blog and read it and never leave dissapointed. Thanks a ton for your articles. I hope that you continue in the same vein.

Kudos,
Saurabh

[neilsrini]

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/india/content/story/364138.html

if we can cause a collapse quickly in morning we can win this one. one of the middle order will score big