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South Africa
Tour Sri Lanka - 2004 |
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icricketer.com > Series >
South Africa Tour Sri
Lanka - 2004 > News
Sangakkara ton puts Sri
Lanka on way to big score
COLOMBO: Kumar Sangakkara slammed an unbeaten century as Sri Lanka
looked set to post a huge first innings total in the second Test
against South Africa on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka were 303-3 at close on the first day with left-handed
Sangakkara (157) coming up with a well-grafted knock on a good
batting strip at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground.
Chaminda Vaas was the other not out batsman on four.
Sangakkara hit 20 boundaries off 210 deliveries during his sixth
century in 42 Test matches and the fourth at home.
He was associated in a record third-wicket partnership with Mahela
Jayawardene (82), who was out a little before close after the second
new ball was taken.
Sangakkara, who pierced the packed off-side field time and again,
gave Jayawardene enough time to bat himself in and the vice captain
responded well by continuing his fine form after compiling 237 in
the first Test in Galle.
The two added 192, improving the previous mark of 168 for Sri Lanka
against South Africa, also involving these two batsmen, at Durban in
2000-2001.
Jayawardene batted for well over four hours and hit 10 fours off 210
deliveries before he was bowled from between bat and pad by paceman
Makhaya Ntini.
"I thought Mahela batted very well. I felt a lot confident with him
in the middle and really enjoyed my batting on a pitch which is a
batsman's dream," said Sangakkara.
Sangakkara and Jayawardene milked the hapless bowling for close to
two sessions but were both lucky to escape with a chance each.
Sangakkara was let off by Jacques Kallis at slip off seamer Shaun
Pollock when on 57, while wicketkeeper Mark Boucher failed to latch
on to a difficult catch from Jayawardene off left-arm spinner Nicky
Boje when the batsman was on 16.
"You always want to get a big knock after escaping with a chance. I
may not have done this on very many occasions in the past but was
determined to get a big score today," he said.
Sri Lanka, going into the match without ace off-spinner Muttiah
Muralitharan because of an injury to his right shoulder,
consolidated their position after losing both their openers in the
first session.
Boje trapped opener Sanath Jayasuriya (43) lbw with a ball that
turned in sharply, after he had put on 95 runs for the second wicket
with Sangakkara.
Sri Lanka, electing to bat, lost the early wicket of captain Marvan
Atapattu (four) as he was caught behind in the first over of the
innings by Pollock.
Sri Lanka brought in left-arm spinner Rangan Herath for Muralitharan.
There has been an accumulation of fluid on Muralitharan's bowling
shoulder and the team management is in consultation with doctors
regarding the extent of injury and the treatment required.
In the other change for the home side, paceman Lasith Malinga came
in for Farveez Maharoof.
South Africa made just one change from the side that played in the
drawn Test at Galle, bringing in Herschelle Gibbs for all-rounder
Lance Klusener. Gibbs had missed the first Test because of an ankle
injury. The Test series will be followed by five one-dayers.
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