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Lankans fight out
to live another day |
May 27, 2006 (Scorecard)
England’s hopes of wrapping up the 2nd Test at
Edgbaston in three days was hit back severely by
rain and Sri Lanka’s stiff resistance that came
through the overnight pair of opener Michael
Vandort and Tillakaratne Dilshan. The visitors
are infact in the lead now and they have five
more wickets in hand, including that of Michael
Vandort, who is playing a gritty knock of 89 not
out. The Sri Lankan lead is 40 and they would
hope that their lower order batsmen once again
chip in to the occasion and a lead of about 200
should keep the Sri Lankans interested in
particular Muttiah Muralitharan. There was
plenty of turn for Monty Panesar and Murali who
is a much bigger spinner of a cricket ball than
Monty will have a major role to play if the
Lankans manage to put up something significant
for the target. If weather permits, then the
fourth day could be the last day of this Test
Match.
There was no cricket possible this morning as
steady showers hit Birmingham and that wasted
six hours of the match and in the end just 34
overs had been possible. England tried in vain
to break the 5th wicket partnership between
Vandort and Dilshan and they finally got their
success in the 31st over of the day. Dilshan was
the man who was foxed by an offcutter from
Matthew Hoggard as the batsman’s intention of
playing a backfoot drive was beaten by the
deviation caused by the cutter and got hit in
front of the stumps. Dilshan as usual pounced on
anything that was in his zone and with the help
of 8 fours, he made a valuable score of 59 to
add 125 runs for the 5th wicket. Michael Vandort
at the other end showed dogged defence and he
accumulated 59 runs today. The left hander has
already frustrated the English bowlers by
surviving 246 deliveries. At Stumps on Day 3,
Vandort and Maharoof were at the crease with
Maharoof yet to open his account.
For England, Matthew Hoggard got the ball to
swing in both directions and he is also making
good use of his offcutters, which are gripping
onto the surface. Monty Panesar had a long bowl
and he did get Dilshan nicking behind with the
ball turning sharply away from the right hander
but Geraint Jones and his colleagues did not
seem to pick that nick up and failed to appeal,
so was Monty Panesar. Dilshan was on 46 then and
not much of damage done really as he got out
after making another 13 runs. Sri Lanka has
definitely fought well today adding up 108 runs
losing just the one wicket. They need useful
contributions from their tail enders and if
Vandort can hold the innings till the end,
anything can happen, that is after Sri Lanka put
up a fighting total. Once it is done, then it’s
all over to Muralitharan, who has been holding
the Lankan bowling single handedly.
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