Cricket: Double century puts Sri Lanka back in game.... The Basin Reserve faithful had a treat yesterday, but not one the New Zealand team would have relished. Kumar Sangakkaras virtuous demonstration of the batting arts took him within one double century of equalling the legendary Don Bradman as he pulled Sri Lanka right back into the second test. By stumps, New Zealand, 22 without loss in their second innings, still trail by 113 overall and Sri Lanka will start today with their tails up and reflecting on how much the balance of a match can change in a day. They were at 78 for five, in deep trouble when it began. Look at us now, theyll likely be thinking, after being dismissed for 356. Theyll look around the dressing room and no doubt collectively think - not for the first time - thank goodness for Kumar. New Zealand strove hard to get rid of the champion lefthander most of the day - then lined up to shake his hand as he left the field. Sangakkaras 203 over almost seven hours and 306 balls, dominated the Sri Lankan card. He failed twice in the first test at Christchurch, went away, thought about his game, spent hours receiving throw downs and yesterday was the evidence of attention to detail bringing a terrific reward. Sri Lankas captain Angelo Mathews had talked before the test of Sangakkaras determination to put things right after Christchurch. He simply got better and more impregnable as the day wore on. Milestones were ticked off - a fourth hundred against New Zealand, then his 11th double and all done with superb timing, an eye for the gap and an ability to both keep the board ticking along and keep himself on strike as much as New Zealand tried to deny him. The pitch was certainly better to bat on than the first day, and New Zealand worked hard but it was tough going. The key for Sri Lanka was the morning session when Sangakkara and Dinesh Chandimal settled in. New Zealand were disappointed with that periods work. We werent as disciplined as we should have been, wicketkeeper BJ Watling said of those first two hours. We were pretty disappointed not to break that partnership but we knew it wasnt going to be easy and it wasnt just going to happen. And to be fair, Kumar played a hell of a knock. After Chandimal departed, their stand worth 130, Sangakkara bossed the rest of the innings. He recalled last night that in both his previous centuries against New Zealand here - in 2006 - he had marshalled the tail. And so clubbing the ball to the fielder on the boarding and eschewing a single to protect the late order was nothing new. Drives rocketed off his bat, twice he cleared the third man fence with upper cuts for six and one ball from Doug Bracewell was clubbed dismissively over deep mid on. But lest it be thought this was just another in the many wonderful days of batting Sangakkara has enjoyed in a fabulous career, the leap and punch upon bringing up another double century spoke of a man for whom the desire, and the delight at success, remains strong. One catch was dropped, by captain Brendon McCullum, a straightforward call to deep mid off from Dhammika Prasad. That in itself wasnt costly but there were frustrations of balls falling to land, inches from outstretched hands. However, too many easy runs were available before Sangakkara began his shepherding operation. Once he was away, New Zealand were powerless to stop him. True genius doesnt show up that often, and thats why yesterday was special. The guys enjoy watching world class cricketers and how they approach the game - maybe not so much today, Watling said. New Zealand should relish good batting conditions today. The question is whether theyre good enough to make use of them with a series to be won over the next three days. And they got an object lesson yesterday in how to go about their business. Batting star chasing Bradman The Don is in Kumar Sangakkaras sights. His brilliant 203 at the Basin Reserve yesterday means hes got closer to equalling the legendary Don Bradmans record of 12 test double hundreds. Fancy catching Bradman? Too right. I would love to, he said last night. It just depends on how everything pans out after this World Cup. Its really hard to predict what will happen and what my thoughts will be at the end of a World Cup, about my future. And theres the rub for Sri Lankan cricket. With his great friend, and equally superb batsman, Mahela Jayawardene having retired from tests last August, Sangakkara knows the clock is ticking. The expectation is he will play at least one of two home series this year, against Pakistan and India, before quitting. How Sri Lanka will miss that pair. But Sangakkara knows the time is coming. I actually think the desire is always there. Its never the lack of desire or pride you take in playing for your country that makes you take a decision to say thats enough. Its just a case of sometimes just knowing it. Sangakkara said yesterday was about making sure runs kept coming, rather than go into a shell. His advice to his partners? Keep smiling, stay relaxed and keep enjoying what they are doing out there. Worked pretty well too, but what about yesterdays innings. How does the man himself rate it? After all there have been 38 test hundreds off his bat. When you get older (Sangakkara is 37) they seem a bit more important and this is really good, especially when were getting runs away from home. But Ive always said a 100 is a 100, and 200 is a 200, it doesnt matter how or where you get them. As for prospects of pushing for a series-levelling victory today? There was a bit of turn today, though there isnt a huge amount of rough. [Rangana] Heraths very, very good with flight and pace. Its going to be a team effort. - NZ Herald
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 19:35:56 +0000
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