3rd Test: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at Galle, 12-16 Jan 2002 CricInfo Live Report

3rd Test: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe at Galle, 12-16 Jan 2002
Charlie Austin

Sri Lanka 1st innings: Day one: Morning drinks, Day one: Lunch, Day one: Afternoon break, Day one:Tea, Day one: Close,
Pre-game: Pre-Match,

ZIMBABWE PULL THEMSELVES BACK IN FINAL HOUR

Zimbabwe ended the first day of the final Janashakthi National Test series with their self-respect intact after a battling performance in testing conditions.

Sri Lanka still finished the day with a slight advantage but by plucking out three wickets in the final hour Zimbabwe took the gloss of the home teams performance.

Mahela Jaywardene had been batting supremely, adding 97 for the fourth wicket with Russel Arnold. But, with the score on 222 for three and umpire David Sheperd hopping uncomfortably in the enervating heat, Jawardene mistimed a drive and was caught and bowled for 74.

Hashan Tillakaratne (3) then gloved a catch to Andy Flower as he tried to sweep an off-break from Douglas Marillier.

The run scoring then slowed as Arnold and new batsman Thilan Samaraweera tried to survive till the close.

But Zimbabwe took the new ball in the 85th over and Arnold feathered a catch behind off Heath Streak to leave the hosts on 236 for six.

Arnold had scored 40 from 112 balls and Sri Lanka had lost three runs for 14 runs.

Samaraweera and Chaminda Vaas survived till the close to leave Sri Lanka on 243 for six.

JAYAWARDENE CONSOLIDATES AFTER DOUBLE STRIKE

Mahela Jaywardene and Russel Arnold successfully consolidated after the loss of two wickets in the first hour of the afternoon to leave Sri Lanka back in the driving seat at the tea interval.

During the afternoon Sri Lanka scored 101 runs, leaving them on 175 for three at the break, with Jayawardene on 43 and Arnold on 18.

Jaywardene did enjoy one more moment of good fortune, when he skewed a drive just short of Grant Flower standing in the gully. But thereafter the right-hander played imperiously, smashing Heath Streak for three fours in one other.

Arnold was industrious during his 48-minute stay, looking more confident after his 71 in Kandy.

ZIMBABWE'S SPINNERS MAKE DOUBLE STRIKE AFTER LUNCH

Zimbabwe’s part-time spinners struck back after lunch as they claimed two important wickets and forced the hosts into a period of consolidation.

Midway through the afternoon session Sri Lanka were 125 for three having lost both opener Marvan Atapattu and number three Kumar Sangakkara in the hour.

It could have been even worse for Sri Lanka had Stuart Carlisle hung onto to a difficult one-handed chance at mid on as Mahela Jayawardene got off the mark with a lofted boundary.

Atapattu was the first to go in the session, straight after reaching his tenth half-century. The right-hander went back and pulled a short ball fro Grant Flower straight into the midriff of birthday boy Gavin Rennie at short leg.

Rennie somehow clung onto the ball whilst taking evasive action and Sri Lanka were 107 for two. Atapattu had scored 50 from 116 balls.

Then, Sangakkara, who had been playing stylishly, tried to sweep a delivery from Marillier and was bowled as he missed a non-turning off-break. Sangakkara had scored 29.

Ay the fall of the third wicket Jayawardene, who was joined by Russel Arnold, was 14 not out.

SRI LANKA ON TOP DESPITE JAYASURIYA DISMISSAL

Zimbabwe dismissed Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya during the second hour of the first morning but the hosts were still left in a strong position at the luncheon interval.

At the break, Sri Lanka were 74 for one with vice-captain Marvan Atapattu batting solidly on 29 and Kumar Sangakkara on 14.

Jayasuriya had just started to look ominous for Zimbabwe when he played away from his body and chopped a delivery from Travis Friend onto his stumps.

The left-hander had scored 28 from 57 balls and added 50 runs with Atapattu for the first wicket.

Following the loss of Jayasuriya, the Sri Lankan pair continued the cautious tempo of the first hour, until the introduction of spin ten minutes before the break.

Sangakkara immediately switched to attack, square cutting Douglas Marrilier first ball and then heaving a full toss over mid-wicket.

But Sangakkara then had a close escape when, straight after sweeping Grant Flower to the boundary, he top edged a pull. Fortunately for the left-hander, the ball landed safely 20 yards behind the wicket-keeper.

SRI LANKAN OPENERS START CAUTIOUSLY IN GALLE

Sri Lanka’s opening pair, Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya, started cautiously on the first hour of the final Janashakthi National Test Match at Galle.

The omens don't look good for Zimbabwe, who have picked three fast bowlers (they don’t have a specialist spinner after Brian Murphy returned home)on a pitch that couldn’t be flatter, with none of the bowlers moving the ball in the air or off the pitch.

With morning drinks being taken, Sri Lanka were 38 without loss off 14 overs with Atapattu on 13 and Jayasuriya, just starting move up the gears, on 24.

Heath Streak bowled six overs from the City End without threatening a great deal, whilst Henry Olonga, who replaced Travis Friend after a four over burst, came the closest to claiming a wicket when Atapattu edged just short of second slip.

SRI LANKA WIN THE TOSS AND BAT FIRST ON DRY PITCH

Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya won the toss and elected to bat first in the final Test against Zimbabwe at Galle International Stadium on Saturday.

The decision was an easy one on a dry, cracked surface that will offer the spinners plenty of assistance, probably from day one but certainly later in the game.

Sri Lanka named two specialist spinners in their side with leg-spinner Upul Chandana playing his first Test since South Africa toured Sri Lanka in August 2000.

But all eyes will be on Muttiah Muralitharan who is on the verge of becoming the youngest and quickest bowler to claim 400 Test scalps. He currently has 395 wickets in 71 games.

Zimbabwe, having sent Hamilton Masakadza and Tatendra Taibu to the Under-19 World Cup, were only picking their side from a squad of 12.

Opening batsman Dion Ebrahim will play his first Test of the series and medium pacer Gary Brent is 12th man.

Sri Lanka:

Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Kumar Sangakkara, Hashan Tillakaratne, Thilan Samaraweera, Upul Chandana, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Charitha Fernando

Zimbabwe:

Stuart Carlisle (Capt), Heath Streak, Grant Flower, Andy Flower, Dion Ebrahim, Trevor Gripper, Craig Wishart, Gavin Rennie, Douglas Marillier, Travis Friend, Henry Olonga