Post Match Review: 3rd Test; Sri Lanka v West Indies at Pallekele, Dec 1-5, 2010
West Indies came to Sri Lanka under new captain with new hopes and appetite for the game. Once rulers of world cricket they were languishing at number 7 in ICC test team rankings. Sri Lanka on the other hand was the number three test team and on home ground they are difficult to beat. First test was drawn owing to the brilliance of Chris Gayle while second test was affected by weather and again no result was possible. Rain continued to play spoil sport and washed away most of the third test match to end the series nil-nil.
Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and asked Darren Sammy to bat first under heavily overcast conditions. Dilhara Fernando replaced Nuwan Kulasekara for Sri Lanka while West Indies made two changes with Devon Smith and Nelon Pascal coming in place of Adrian Barath and Shane Sillingford. Australian umpire Bruce Oxenford also made his test match debut. Start was delayed due to rain with more rain predicted over the next few days too.
Play at last started but in a dramatic fashion when Suranga Lakmal got danger man Gayle out LBW first ball. Darren Bravo the man hailing from Lara’s town came in to join Devon Smith. Both played safely till lunch and then continued till early tea was taken due to rain interruption. Smith was sedate and cautious but Darren Bravo showed some glimpses of his talent. His off-side play specially was awesome and with his high back-lift and demeanor at the crease a certain BCL was distinctly remembered. Both put on 115 runs for the first wicket before Devon Smith was found plumb in front off Mendis after making 55 runs. He was earlier dropped by Samaraweera in slips. Chanderpaul joined Bravo at the crease. Fernando was bowling well but without luck as another chance off his bowling was missed this time by ever reliable Jayawardene at third slip. Darren Bravo who had reached his third successive fifty of the series by now looked all set to cash in on the dropped chance and play a big knock. At 134 for two the first day’s play was called off due to bad light.
Play started on time on the second day. A maiden hundred from Bravo was eagerly awaited by every one. But the dream was shattered by Fernando who got him LBW. His 68 included ten delightful hits to the boundary. Brendon Nash and Chanderpaul continued to frustrate Sri Lanka by some dogged batting display. Nash completed his thousand test runs and hung around with his partner till lunch. Chanderpaul departed soon after his 55th test fifty by giving a smart slip catch to Mahela off a Mendis googly. Dwayne Bravo could not last long as he went for a duck expertly stumped by Prasanna Jayawardene off a Rangana Herath beauty. West Indies ended the day at 244 for 5 with Nash 62 not out.
Sadly third day’s play was completely washed out due to continuous showers. Only twenty more overs were possible on the 4th day as rain continued to intervene. But during this little period of play Herath showed his class by removing three more batsmen. West Indies ended the day at 303 for 8 with Benn playing interesting little innings of 29 runs including two sixes. The final day was also rained out. Rangana Herath was the pick of the bowlers with four for 54.
The drawn series was a big boost for West Indies as it helped them narrow the gap towards 6th place while Sri Lankans were left disappointed as they slipped down two places to be at number five.
Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and asked Darren Sammy to bat first under heavily overcast conditions. Dilhara Fernando replaced Nuwan Kulasekara for Sri Lanka while West Indies made two changes with Devon Smith and Nelon Pascal coming in place of Adrian Barath and Shane Sillingford. Australian umpire Bruce Oxenford also made his test match debut. Start was delayed due to rain with more rain predicted over the next few days too.
Play at last started but in a dramatic fashion when Suranga Lakmal got danger man Gayle out LBW first ball. Darren Bravo the man hailing from Lara’s town came in to join Devon Smith. Both played safely till lunch and then continued till early tea was taken due to rain interruption. Smith was sedate and cautious but Darren Bravo showed some glimpses of his talent. His off-side play specially was awesome and with his high back-lift and demeanor at the crease a certain BCL was distinctly remembered. Both put on 115 runs for the first wicket before Devon Smith was found plumb in front off Mendis after making 55 runs. He was earlier dropped by Samaraweera in slips. Chanderpaul joined Bravo at the crease. Fernando was bowling well but without luck as another chance off his bowling was missed this time by ever reliable Jayawardene at third slip. Darren Bravo who had reached his third successive fifty of the series by now looked all set to cash in on the dropped chance and play a big knock. At 134 for two the first day’s play was called off due to bad light.
Play started on time on the second day. A maiden hundred from Bravo was eagerly awaited by every one. But the dream was shattered by Fernando who got him LBW. His 68 included ten delightful hits to the boundary. Brendon Nash and Chanderpaul continued to frustrate Sri Lanka by some dogged batting display. Nash completed his thousand test runs and hung around with his partner till lunch. Chanderpaul departed soon after his 55th test fifty by giving a smart slip catch to Mahela off a Mendis googly. Dwayne Bravo could not last long as he went for a duck expertly stumped by Prasanna Jayawardene off a Rangana Herath beauty. West Indies ended the day at 244 for 5 with Nash 62 not out.
Sadly third day’s play was completely washed out due to continuous showers. Only twenty more overs were possible on the 4th day as rain continued to intervene. But during this little period of play Herath showed his class by removing three more batsmen. West Indies ended the day at 303 for 8 with Benn playing interesting little innings of 29 runs including two sixes. The final day was also rained out. Rangana Herath was the pick of the bowlers with four for 54.
The drawn series was a big boost for West Indies as it helped them narrow the gap towards 6th place while Sri Lankans were left disappointed as they slipped down two places to be at number five.
Published in SportPuse
ReplyDelete- http://www.sportpulse.net/article/rain-ruins-pallekele%E2%80%99s-debut-test