Jayawardene ton keeps Sri Lanka in control
published:
Monday | March 24, 2008
West Indies fast bowler Jerome Taylor successfully appeals for lbw against Sri Lanka batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan during action on the second day of the first Test match at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence yesterday. - photo by Digicel
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):
Mahela Jayawar-dene crafted a polished century and Chaminda Vaas grabbed an early wicket to leave West Indies on the back foot after the second day of the first Digicel Test against Sri Lanka at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence yesterday.
The Sri Lanka captain carried the weight of his team's batting with a fine 120 that helped the visitors build their solid overnight position before declaring at 476 for eight in the middle of the evening session.
Vaas, who also played a crucial role with the bat by hitting an unbeaten 54, seized the initiative for Sri Lanka by removing West Indies captain Chris Gayle for a duck in an unconvincing response of 29 for one. Sri Lanka purposefully extended their overnight 269 for four despite steady bowling from West Indies in the morning session. After adding 61 in the pre-lunch period in which they lost one wicket, they accelerated after the break to post 88 in the second session in which they also lost just a solitary wicket.
Jayawardene, who started the day on 25, batted solidly throughout the 369 minutes he spent at the crease during which time he faced 233 balls and struck 13 fours. It was his 22nd Test century and his first against West Indies.
The Sri Lanka captain was dropped on 26 by a diving Dwayne Bravo at short fine-leg after he attempted to sweep off-spinner Gayle, who would later remove his opposite number after winning an lbw appeal when Jayawardene attempted a reserve sweep. The ball, however, seemed to come from his glove.
Partnerships
Jayawardene was associated in two important partnerships that helped Sri Lanka's effort. After West Indies had early success with the dismissal of Tillakeratne Dilshan, who was lbw for 20 to a ball from pacer Jerome Taylor that cut in and hit the batsman as he tried to push forward, Jayawardene got together with wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene to add 54 for the sixth wicket.
Prasanna Jayawardene made 21 before he was bowled by fast bowler Daren Powell from a loose drive with the second new ball in the first over after lunch. Vaas joined Mahela Jayawardene and the pair proceeded to put on 126 for the seventh wicket before the captain fell half-hour after tea. West Indies had an opportunity to remove Vaas on four, but Devon Smith at third slip missed a chance off Taylor, who once again admirably led West Indies' attack to finish with four for 110 off 33 overs.
When the Windies batted in the third over, they lost Gayle who was lbw to Vaas without scoring. It was Gayle's fifth duck against Sri Lanka and the seventh time he fell to the outstanding left-arm pacer.
Gayle's opening partner Devon Smith survived a testing time in which he nearly fended a catch to third slip, but Sarwan was much more comfortable in reaching an unbeaten 21 at the close. The hosts, however, were without Ryan Hinds, who suffered a right hamstring strain on the opening day that kept him off the field yesterday.
SRI LANKA 1st Innings
(overnight 269 for 4)
M. Vandort lbw b Taylor
52
M. Warnapura c wk Ramdin b Bravo 120
K. Sangakkara c Smith
b Taylor
50
M. Jayawardene lbw
b Gayle
136
T. Samaraweera c sub
(Dowlin) b Taylor
0
T. Dilshan lbw b Taylor
20
+P. Jayawardene b Powell
21
C. Vaas not out 54
T. Thushara c sub (Dowlin)
b Gayle
0
R. Herath not out
13
Extras (lb7, w1, nb2)
10
TOTAL (8 wkts dec'd -
162 overs)
476
Fall of wickets: 1-130, 2-205, 3-243, 4-243, 5-277, 6-331, 7-457, 8-459.
