Offspinner Jeetan Patel bounced back from an ordinary first day to nip out four quick wickets either side of lunch and curtail Sri Lanka to 416. When Thilan Samaraweera and Chamara Kapugedera were cruising, it seemed the home side was set for a total in the region of 500, but they lost the opportunity to bat New Zealand out of the game when their final four wickets went down for 27 runs.
Iain O'Brien denied Mahela Jayawardene a tenth Test century at the SSC, but Thilan Samaraweera continued Sri Lanka's domination - and New Zealand's frustration - on day two. Samaraweera overcame a bout of the nervous nineties to score his fifth century at the venue, and seventh at home, after which he pulled out all the stops. Samaraweera led the way in a breezy 72-run stand with comeback kid Chamara Kapugedera as a total of 500 loomed large.
Sri Lanka Sports News
Samaraweera steers Sri Lanka to 416
- 27 August 2009
- Thushara
- Hits: 322
Offspinner Jeetan Patel bounced back from an ordinary first day to nip out four quick wickets either side of lunch and curtail Sri Lanka to 416. When Thilan Samaraweera and Chamara Kapugedera were cruising, it seemed the home side was set for a total in the region of 500, but they lost the opportunity to bat New Zealand out of the game when their final four wickets went down for 27 runs.
Iain O'Brien denied Mahela Jayawardene a tenth Test century at the SSC, but Thilan Samaraweera continued Sri Lanka's domination - and New Zealand's frustration - on day two. Samaraweera overcame a bout of the nervous nineties to score his fifth century at the venue, and seventh at home, after which he pulled out all the stops. Samaraweera led the way in a breezy 72-run stand with comeback kid Chamara Kapugedera as a total of 500 loomed large.
Sri Lanka only squad yet to be named for Champions Trophy
- 24 August 2009
- Thushara
- Hits: 313
Sri Lanka now the only country still to name Champions Trophy squad
All other seven countries taking part in the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy tournament except Sri Lanka have now named their final squads by today’s International Cricket Council (ICC) deadline.
Sri Lanka tighten their grip
- 20 August 2009
- Dileep Premachandran
- Hits: 356
Heavy morning rain again cut into playing time, but when action resumed under overcast skies, New Zealand fought doggedly to stave off Sri Lanka's bowlers. Tim McIntosh, troubled periodically by the short ball, gritted his way to a half-century, and with Jeetan Patel providing stout resistance in the nightwatchman's role, New Zealand made it through a 90-minute session losing just one wicket.
Sri Lanka's pace bowlers toiled hard without reward, and it was left to Muttiah Muralitharan to get the breakthrough, trapping Patel in front for 26, a steady innings which lasted 57 deliveries.
The session took a while to warm up. Murali bowled one over and was then taken off, and it was Thilan Thushara who asked all the initial questions. Patel was sound and confident in defence, nudging the odd single, while McIntosh left the ball alone more often than not. Against the short ball though, he was in all sorts of strife, getting hit first on the shoulder and then flush on the helmet.
Last Updated on Thursday, 20 August 2009 11:21
Sri Lanka pile on runs
- 19 August 2009
- Thushara
- Hits: 329
Sri Lanka's batsmen continued to put New Zealand's attack to the sword in a rain-shortened morning session on day two of the first Test in Galle.
Black Caps bowler Iain O'Brien struck with the last ball in his first over to send back Mahela Jayawardene, the former captain adding only six to his overnight total of 108, but his replacement Angelo Mathews and Thilan Samaraweera continued to offer stiff resistance.
The duo helped the home side reach 328 for four at lunch with Mathews batting on 12 and Samaraweera on 96.
Last Updated on Thursday, 20 August 2009 10:32