A memorable test at Asgiriya

The Sunday Times

Sangakkara was poetry on that day

Some games of cricket stick in memory forever. The first test match between Sri Lanka and England, played in Asgiriya will be one such game. Over four and a half days the advantage swung from side to side.

The early anticipation was for Muttiah Muralitharan to go past Shane Warne’s test bowling record. It happened on the third day and the wait was well worth. The Sri Lankan batsmen still had not got over the shell shock of Australia, on day one. Winning the toss and batting first was the correct decision taken by Mahela Jayawardena. On most test pitches the ball does seam around. At least for a session because there will be some moisture. Batsmen have to remember that there is a period that must be given to the quick bowlers and during that period risks must be eliminated.

Give full credit to Mathew Hoggard who in a superb first spell of swing bowling reduced Sri Lanka to 42 for 5 wickets. They fought back through Kumar Sangakkara and Prasanna Jayawardena to reach eighty six by lunch. That partnership of 106 runs was the significant factor in a mini comeback. England also lost a wicket before the close. So, the opening day belonged to the bowlers.

Rain curtailed play on day two. The players could not get onto the grounds after half past two. During this time Sri Lanka had picked up six wickets and England had got within two runs of the home team’s total. Meanwhile Muralitharan had equalled the record.

Day three began with all eyes on the spinner. He was made to wait for more than an hour and a half. The second new ball helped, as one delivery did not spin much and went past the outside edge of Paul Collingwood’s bat to knock back the off stump. It was an extra special moment in Sri Lanka’s cricket history – the second time Muttiah Muralitharan had broken this record. This time it will be his for good. There is no bowler within sight who can now even get close to this number of wickets and he still has much left in his spinning fingers.

After all the celebrations were done with, it was time to concentrate on the game and focus on its progress. The English tail offered some resistance and that helped them reach 281 and a valuable lead of 93 runs.

That was as far as they could go in the game. From that point onwards the Sri Lankans took command. It was the 113 run opening stand between Jayasuriya (78) and Vandort (49) that set the pace. The pitch was now east to bat on and England relied on their left arm spinner Monty Panesar to deliver. Clearly short of experience and know how, made it not possible for Panesar to get the needed breakthrough’s and partnerships were established by the Sri Lankan batsmen. Later that evening Sanath Jayasuriya announced his retirement from test cricket. No more to be seen in whites, playing for his country --another incident of significance in this game.

The fourth day was simply a Kumar Sangakkara show. He played with great authority. Glorious stroke play both off the front and back foot and all around the wicket. He was not troubled by any of the English bowlers nor the deteriorating pitch. He conquered them both admirably and went on to make 152 magnificent runs. He became the first player ever to score over 150 runs in four consecutive test matches. His innings also took him to the number one position in test batting rankings. Both memorable and special moments in Sri Lanka’s cricket history.

With the home team declaring at 442 for 8 wickets, the target for the visitors was an uphill 350. They did not get the start they would have liked to, with Alastair Cook being dismissed by Vaas again in the first over.

The last day was a matter of survival in England. The reliable left arm of Chaminda Vaas shattered their hopes. In little more than an hour he dismissed Captain Vaughn and night watchmen Anderson. Then Dilhara Fernando joined the party to dismiss Pieterson and Collingwood, making England totter with half the side out with 90 runs. Then England fought back through Bell (74) Bhopara (36) and Prior (63). Yet it was not sufficient to stop Sri Lanka from winning. As the evening shadows lengthened at Asgiriya Lasith Malinga delivered a deadly ‘Yorker’ to shatter Mathew Hoggard’s stumps and brought to an end a memorable victory for Sri Lanka and indeed a memorable test match.