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Jayasuriya's
century puts Sri Lanka in command
Galle,
August 15: Sri
Lanka's captain Sanath Jayasuriya cracked a majestic 111 after a
five-wicket haul by Dilhara Fernando to leave India in trouble in
the first Test here on Wednesday.
The Sri Lankans shot India out for a meagre 187 in the first
innings and then piled up 264 for three by stumps on the second
day, a lead of 77 runs. Kumar Sangakkara (54) and Russel Arnold
(19) were at the crease, having put on 53 for the unbroken fourth
wicket before bad light stopped play five overs early.
The star of the day was fast bowler Fernando, who worked up
hostile pace to wreck India's lower order and finish with
career-best figures of five for 42.
The strongly built paceman, who took two wickets with the second
new ball on Tuesday evening, claimed three more off 11 balls as
India crumbled from their overnight 163-5 to be all out just an
hour into play.
The last six batsmen contributed only 19 runs after India were
comfortably placed at 95-1 at tea on the first day. There were no
such hiccups for Sri Lanka as Jayasuriya plundered his eighth Test
century and third against India.
The left-hander, who made 340 and 199 in consecutive Tests against
the Indians four years ago, took 16 boundaries and a six off his
favourite whipping boys. Jayasuriya put on 101 for the first
wicket with Marvan Atapattu and 70 for the second with Sangakkara,
before a lapse in concentration cost him his wicket.
The Indians appeared to be at their wit's end when, five overs
after tea, Zaheer Khan made one lift outside the off-stump and the
resultant edge was gratefully accepted by Rahul Dravid at first
slip.
Most of Jayasuriya's runs came off ferocious cuts, one of which
against seamer Javagal Srinath sailed over the point fence for
six. Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was the lone Indian bowler to
make an impression, sending down 26 consecutive overs in his first
spell for figures of one for 66.
"Jayasuriya played well but we helped him along by bowling
short," Indian captain Sourav Ganguly admitted. Jayasuriya
modestly gave all the credit to his fast bowler. "Fernando
was really superb on Wednesday," he said.
"He used the conditions well and helped us bowl out India
earlier than what I had expected. "I enjoyed my innings but
should have carried on till the end. Anyway we still have some
batting left to build a big score." A double strike by
Fernando early in the day ruined India's hopes of putting a big
total on the board.
In the day's fourth over, he won a controversial decision by Sri
Lankan umpire Asoka De Silva against Ganguly. Later in the over,
he hit Srinath on the left hand with a rising ball, forcing the
Indian pace spearhead to retire hurt.
Luckily for the Indians, the injury was not on Srinath's bowling
hand and he returned to open the attack. Ganguly, who made 15, was
given out caught by wicket-keeper Sangakkara. But television
replays showed the ball come off the batsman's shoulder. Ganguly,
looking to get among the runs again after failing to reach double
figures on the recent tour of Zimbabwe, looked surprised at the
decision before trudging off.
The fiery Fernando then clean bowled Harbhajan and forced Sameer
Dighe to edge a catch to Sangakkara, before Muthiah Muralitharan
polished off the innings by bowling last man Venkatesh Prasad.
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