Dilshan compiled his first century (95 balls) in a world cup game here. Much later, Tharanga joined him in that club, making a well-deserved century in 122 balls.
Saeed Anwar and Wajahatullah Wasti shared a 194 run partnership in the 1999 world cup semi-final at Manchester. That record held for two full world cups before falling apart in Pallekele on a hot, sunny day.
Contrasting hundreds
In the 1999 match, Saeed Anwar made a century (113), but Wasti was out six runs short. No such problems here. Both batsmen went past the three-figure mark in contrasting styles: Angry Dilshan pulling, cutting, clearing infield repeatedly and heaving; while Sober Tharanga, waited for the bad balls. Otherwise, he tapped the ball around and was happy to give the strike to Dilshan.
But after the century, Tharanga took over the mantle, and Dilshan slowed down a bit. In the next 11 balls, Tharanga scored 26, despite some of his excellent textbook strokes going straight to fielders. No ugly strokes making room on the leg side to pacemen, the left-hander stood motionless till the ball was delivered and then decided where to place it. He was 129 and Dilshan, who had taken a nap at 131, suddenly woke up and re-joined the party.
When proceedings began, Zimbabwe paceman Chris Mpofu trapped Upul Tharanga in front in the first ball, but the umpire did not think so. Television replays showed the ball was pitched in line and was hitting stumps, but it was an on-field call. In any case, Zimbabwe did not ask for a review. There was no looking back after that.
Dilshan believes every ball has to be hit. Tinashe Panyangara discovered this at his expense, conceding 19 in his first over. Sharing the new ball from the other end, with a fine-leg and a deep point and two slips, his medium pace coming on to the bat was just what Dilshan had ordered. The first two balls went for 10. Then, one of the two slips was moved out and the deep fine leg moved to deep square leg. After the next two fours, the remaining slip was also removed. The next two balls were eventless. Dilshan crossed over and waited for Mpofu. This time, the crafty Mpofu varied pace and length. Still nine runs came off the over.
After 5 overs Sri Lanka were 41 for no loss. The 50, the fastest in any match in the tournament in Sri Lanka in this edition, came in 6.3 overs. Ray Price’s left arm spin, introduced in the fifth over, helped reduce the run rate a wee bit. He even bowled a maiden as the famed Zimbabwean fielding lifted the team. Dilshan too opted for the safe route against Ray Price and repeatedly tapped 5 balls back – when on 49 – before running the elusive single off the last ball. The 100 runs – the best partnership for Sri Lanka for the first wicket in the tournament – came in 16.1 overs.
From then on, the pair kept on going as the even bounce in the pitch held no threat. Nor did the Zimbabwean bowlers, who did not manage to take a single wicket in their encounter with New Zealand. Both Tharanga and Dilshan fell to tired-looking shots, balls ballooning into simple catches. When Tharanga fell, he and Dilshan fell four shot of equalling the Sri Lankan record for partnerships for any wicket – Tharanga and Sanath Jayasurya had scored 286 for the first wicket at Leeds (vs England) in 2006.
After the openers departed the runs came in a trickle and the Sri Lankan 300 came at the end of over 47. A flurry of wickets at the death left Sri Lanka at a much lower total that what the initial explosive partnership promised. Mpofu benefitted form the acceleration quest and picked up three wickets in the 48th over.
Earlier, Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field considering the grip problems that the dew factor brings in for the team fielding second.
No comments:
Post a Comment