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SL-Eng: Murali keeps it open

Thursday, December 4 2003

The first Test at Galle remained in the balance at the End of Day 2 as Muttiah Muralitharan's efforts with bat and ball frustrated England, who had looked to be taking the initiative earlier in the day.

Nevertheless, the Sri Lankans had started the stronger this morning, as Kumar Sangakkara continued in the form he had shown yesterday, as he took Ashley Giles and Gareth Batty's bowling on a range of imperious aerial routes, breaking the shackles the two spinners had cast over the Sri Lankan batting yesterday evening, as the total progressed past 200, with Sangakkara the main player as his partner Thilan Samaraweera preferred to play the anchor role.

It was the new ball that finally broke through Sangakkara's defences, the wicketkeeper being trapped LBW by Richard Johnson's first delivery with it for 71. Once the highly-impressive Andrew Flintoff had enticed Samaraweera to chase, and edge, a slightly wider one to Chris Read on 45, and in his very next over had Upul Chandana (21) caught leg before, Sri Lanka were 239/7 and under threat of crumbling.

Kumar Dharmasena and Chaminda Vaas applied themselves well, however, and added 40 for the eighth wicket when Gareth Batty gained reward for his tireless effort, recording the third LBW of the morning as Dharmasena (27) missed a sweep shot. Dinusha Fernando didn't last much longer, as the debutant could only prod a sharp catch to fellow new boy Collingwood - his third catch of the game - at short leg on 4.

At 291/9, England looked set to keep their hosts to under 300, but Muralitharan stole the show. Throwing caution to the wind, and the bat to most things coming near him, he bludgeoned 38 off 37 balls including a big straight six off Batty (2/98). Flintoff (3/42) was edged over the slips' heads twice in two balls, and it was Giles (4/69) who finished the job, with Read taking the catch behind the stumps to dismiss the Sri Lankans for 331. Chaminda Vaas' part in the resistance with a defiant 80-ball, 132-minute 22 not out cannot be underestimated, either.

Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan started confidently against the Sri Lankan quicks, with both men hitting early boundaries - including three in one over by Trescothick off Fernando - as they added 56 for the first wicket - but the introduction of the slow bowlers stemmed the flow. First Dharmasena, and then Muralitharan and Chandana, they cut off the supply of boundaries and it was only strong running from England that kept their run rate above 2.5 come stumps.

Muralitharan was the only one to strike, with Trescothick (24) adjudged by umpire Daryl Harper to have nicked a quicker ball to Sangakkara for 23 - despite not appearing to have got within 5-6 cm of the ball, and the wicketkeeper not offering more than a token appeal. Vaughan's dismissal was less controversial but equally frustrating for England as the captain (23) shouldered arms to the off-spinner, only to be bowled through his legs.

At 67/2, England looked in trouble, but Mark Butcher (15*) and Graham Thorpe (20*) saw the danger off for the evening with a watchful 13-over stand of 30 to leave the visitors 97/2, 234 behind with three days to play in a Test Match that could still easily go either way.

With the pitch showing more signs of turn by the session, Sri Lanka will feel confident with five spinners in the side - the three who bowled today, plus Samaraweera and Sanath Jayasuriya - as opposed to England's three (and that includes reluctant bowler Vaughan). England need to record a first-innings lead to be in with a real shout of winning the test, and with competent batsman all the way down the order, it needs someone to put their hands up and make a big score tomorrow. It promises to be a belter.


Sri Lanka 331 (KC Sangakkara 71, AF Giles 4/69, A Flintoff 3/42)

England 97/2 (M Muralitharan 2/15)

Sri Lanka lead by 234 runs

Close of Play, Day 2

Posted by Neil