It was callous, cold-blooded, almost cruel cricket

Charlie Austin31-Aug-2001It was callous, cold-blooded, almost cruel cricket. Sri Lanka’sbatsmen just ground on, hour after hour; resisting everything thatIndia’s weary bowlers could throw at them. Four batsmen scoredcenturies and the media scorer at the Sinhalese Sports Club ran out ofcolumns. Whatever harsh words were said during Sri Lanka’s Kandy Testpost mortem clearly had the desired effect.Sri Lanka started the third day of this decisive Test with a 89-runlead and by the time they finally declared, one hour before thescheduled close, they had extended it to 376 having scored 610/6 intheir first innings, the second highest score in Sri Lanka’s Testhistory. India then survived unscathed till the close, finishing theday on 28 without loss.Two men dominated the day: Hashan Tillakaratne, a veteran left-handerwho had spent two years fighting his way back into the side afterbeing unceremoniously dumped, and Thilan Samaraweera, a rookie allrounder playing his first Test. Both scored unbeaten centuries and puttogether a record 194 run stand for the seventh wicket.Tillakaratne, 34, was considered an unlikely starter before the gameafter looking out of sorts in Galle and Kandy. “Two years was too longout the game,” people reasoned. He, though, provided a perfectresponse, just in the nick of time.He started tentatively in the morning, content to partner MahelaJayawardene, who had started the day serenely. The pair added 95 forthe sixth wicket and gradually Tillakaratne grew in confidence. Thenervous shuffle across his stumps soon gave way to more decisivefootwork and the ball started to ping through the covers.One commentator demeaned the innings. “The bowling attack was on itsknees and the pitch was featherbed,” he chuntered dismissively. Bothwere true, but he missed the point. Here was a man who had struggledfor two years for this comeback opportunity against apparentlyinsurmountable odds. Another failure and it would have all been over -a wasted effort and the end of a dream.No, Tillakaratne was under severe pressure when he walked out to baton Thursday evening. Twenty-three hours later, though, he had scored136 not out from 214 balls and displayed all the attributes for whichhe was recalled. A natural accumulator he patiently consolidated SriLanka’s position in the morning before twisting in the knife in theafternoon.When he reached his century by sweeping Harbhajan Singh for three, hisjoy was unconfined. He was a man fulfilled and he raised his arms intriumph. His celebrations were elaborate, but no one could begrudgehim for that. It was his seventh Test century and his first for nearlyfive years.”I was tense beforehand having not had a good series so far,” headmitted. “But I decided to play my natural game and tried to enjoymyself today. I needed to prove a point to myself that I could stillperform at the highest level.”Samaraweera’s situation was entirely different. The 24-year-old wasmaking his first tentative steps in Test cricket and the burden ofexpectation was less. When he came to the wicket after a dubious legbefore decision against Jayawardene, Sri Lanka were already streetsahead on 416 for six.Nevertheless, it was a fine nuggety innings. He is known as anadhesive player and during the early part of his innings he wasworkmanlike, as he played second fiddle to Tillakaratne. Heaccumulated steadily and reached his fifty in the last over before teaafter 113 balls.Sri Lanka could so easily have then declared, with the lead alreadybeing 299. They, though, decided to wear down India even more andSamaraweera took charge, showing that he could more that occupy thecrease, as he hit seven fours and marched to his century off just 62more balls.Sri Lanka coach paid tribute to him afterwards: “Thilan has alwaysbeen a strong-minded cricketer, who gives the impression that he willmake the most of any opportunity given to him. By the sheer weight ofperformance he has forced himself into the side and has yet againgrabbed his chance.”Earlier in the day, Mahela Jayawardene, 24, had also completed hisseventh Test century in his 33rd game, his third against India and hissecond in consecutive Tests. He reached it with a powerful pull-sweepand then climbed into the bowling, especially Harbhajan, who heknocked straight back down the ground.He then faced the relative ignominy of being the only man dismissed inthe day, when umpire David Orchard dubiously adjudged him to be legbefore wicket to a leg spinner from Sairaj Bahutule. He had scored 139from 216 balls.It goes without saying that it was a tough day for India. SouravGanguly was forced to use seven bowlers in all and its safe to assumethat they won’t be pinning their bowling figures to their bedroomwalls when they return home next week (John Wright may do though).Four bowlers conceded more than a hundred runs and Harbhajan Singh wasfar from the threat that he had been cranked to be before the series.In fact, he was predictable and uninspiring and the keenly anticipatedtussle between him and Muralitharan has proved to be a total nonevent, as he has taken just five wickets in his 98 overs in theseries.Thus, Sri Lanka now looks certain winners. It may not be that easy,however, to bowl out India because the pitch could actually be gettingeasier to bat on rather than worse. Muralitharan may not get thebounce that made him so potent in the first innings. Saving the matchis extremely unlikely, but it is not beyond the bounds of possibility.