|
Gibbs and Murali
keep the Test Match interestingly poised |
August 06, 2006
 The
2nd Test Match at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium
is heading towards an exciting climax with the
homeside required to chase a target of 300 plus
to save the 2-Tests Series from being drawn. The
first innings lead of 40 has proved to be
crucial for South Africa as they took their lead
to 297 with three more wickets in hand and most
importantly they have two all rounders at the
crease. Sri Lanka could have easily lost their
hopes in this Test Match as Herschelle Gibbs and
Andrew Hall put on a magnificent opening
partnership. It was once again Muralitharan
putting a halt to South Africa's progress by
taking four wickets after bowling 39 out of the
92 overs bowled in this innings. For South
Africa, it was Herschelle Gibbs coming good at
the right time to score a brilliant 92. The rest
of the batsmen could not get even fifties.
It was a tense day with both sides fighting an
intense battle to gain the upper hand in this
Test Match. The Proteas got off to a wonderful
start to leave the Sri Lankans worried. It was
Farveez Maharoof, who gave the breakthrough
after the first hour by inducing a false
backfoot drive from Andrew Hall who made 32.
Another good partnership had followed between
Herschelle Gibbs, who had reached his 22nd fifty
and left handed Jacques Rudolph. The pair was
separated only after the lunch break with
Rudolph done in by a direct throw from Chamara
Kapugedera all the way from the thirdman
boundary. It was indeed brilliant work by
Kapugedera, but the TV Replays had shown that
the ball which had come off the pads of Gibbs
had touched the ropes, so this wicket of Rudolph
could be one of the turning points in this
match. For the record, Rudolph made 15, putting
up 43 for the second wicket. Another run out
followed from the same fielder, this time it was
a smart pick up and throw from behind square on
the legside to end Hashim Amla's stay in the
middle after he had a terrible mix up with his
partner. South Africa almost lost the plot when
Herschelle Gibbs, playing the sweep shot was
taken by a diving Sanath Jayasuriya at short
fine leg off Murali's bowling. Gibbs made a
190-ball 92 with the help of 11 fours and a six
and with his wicket South Africa were reduced to
161 for 4, a lead of just 201.
Skipper Ashwell Prince and AB de Villiers
decided to stay at the wicket at any cost and
that ensured that Murali and Sri Lanka could not
run through the batting line up. Muralitharan
once again gave the knock out punch by removing
both these batsmen in the same over to get South
Africa down to 206 for 6. Prince laboured for
just 17 runs and AB de Villiers made a useful
33. South Africa were then rescued by the
experienced Mark Boucher and Shaun Pollock until
the latter had pulled a long hop from Murali
into the hands of the square leg fielder.
Boucher and Boje then batted for about 7 overs
to see the Proteas home at 257 for 7 in 92 overs
at stumps on the third day's play. Mark Boucher
is batting well on 28 and South Africa would
love to see that score turn into a half century.
It is definitely going to be yet another action
packed day tomorrow with both sides desperately
searching for the victory. South Africa should
be setting up a target of 300 plus which should
be tough to chase in a fourth innings but that
score is hardly anything as one Sri Lankan
batsman by the name of Mahela Jayawardene had
hammered this same South African team for 376
runs in the previous Test Match. This time
around it could be a different story batting
against the likes of the charged up Makhaya
Ntini and Dale Steyn, the dreaded fast bowling
pair on this sporting wicket.
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