De Silva’s Stylish Century in Test

COLOMBO: Chaminda Vaas and Sajeeva de Silva each claimed two wickets as Sri Lanka had Pakistan struggling at 146 for four at close on the second day of the second and final Test, here, April 27.

Sri Lanka had earlier taken their first innings total to 331 before they were all out shortly before lunch.

Vaas soon had Pakistan in trouble when he hadr Salim Elahi caught at slip for nought by Hashan Tillekeratne off the fourth ball he faced and then had Ijaz Ahmed taken at third slip by Russell Arnold for four.

Captain Ramiz Raja and Salim Malik attempted to repair the damage but both fell to left-arm paceman de Silva in his second spell of five overs which cost 13 runs.

Raja, who cracked six boundaries in a rapid 36 off 33 balls, went for another big hit and was caught at long leg by Arnold.

Malik played a half-hearted square cut and gave a simple catch to Sri Lankan Captain Arjuna Rantaunga at gully. He made 24, which included four fours.

At tea Inzamam-ul-Haq was unbeaten on 23 and Asif Mujtaba on 19 with the score at 113 but when play ended early they were still together at 146.

Earlier Aravinda de Silva, who the previous day held Sri Lanka together with a stylish century, continued where had left off when Sri Lanka resumed at their overnight 281 for seven.

He was left unbeaten on 138 and his 208-ball innings contained 15 boundaries. He and Vaas (17) added 76 runs for the eighth wicket, a record for Sri Lanka.

Pakistan was tied down by some accurate bowling by Sri Lanka, added only 33 runs in the post-tea session before play was called off due to poor light on the second day.

Inzamam, usually known for his flamboyant batting, crawled to an unbeaten 43 in 167 minutes while Mujtaba battled through 138 minutes for his 32.

The two came together when Pakistan were 83 for 4 and they had added 63 runs for the fifth wicket at close of play.

Earlier Pakistani batsmen could not get over the accurate bowling of Sri Lankan spin duo Ruwan Kalpage and Russell Arnold, who were well supported by Chaminda Vaas.

Kalpage, who replaced the injured Muthiah Muralitharan, reeled off 16 overs, giving away only runs. Arnold’s five overs cost just two runs. (Reuter)

Score Board

Sri Lanka 1st innings

 S. Jayasuriya c Mushtaq Saqlain         72

 R. Arnold run out                       37

 M. Atapattu c Elahi b Mushtaq           14

 A. de Silva not out                    138

 A. Ranatunga c Elahi b Saqlain           4

 H. Tillekeratne b Zahid                 10

 R. Kaluwitharana b Mujtaba              22

 R. Kalpage c Elahi b Saqlain             5

 C. Vaas c Elahi b Saqlain               17

 S. de Silva st Moin b Mustaq             0

 J. Silva run out                         0

 Extras (b-6, lb-3, nb-

 Total (all out in 112 overs)            331

    Fall of wickets: 1-95, 2-124, 3-124, 4-129, 5-144, 6-204,

7-224, 8-300, 9-321, 10-331

    Bowling: Zahid nb); Nazir 8-1-50-0; Mushtaq

nb); Saqlain , Mujtaba 15-3-23-1

Pakistan 1st innings:

S.Elahi c Tillekeratne b Vaas 0

R.Raja c Arnold b S.de Silva 36

I.Ahmed c Arnold b Vaas 4

S.Malik c Ranatunga b S.de Silva 24

Inzamam-ul-Haq not out 43

A.Mujtaba not out 31

Extras (lb-3 nb-

Total (for 4 wickets) 146

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-13, 3-59, 4-83

To Bat: Moin Khan, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmed, Mohammed

Zahid, Shahid Nazir

Bowling: Vaas ; S.de Silva ; Silva

9-2-24-0; Kalpage 16-6-19-0; Ranatunga 4.1-1-8-0; Arnold 5-3-2-0

Copyright © 1997 IndiaWeb Post. All rights reserved.