Kandamby gives a timely reminder to selectors with a fluent 84
Chris DHAMBARAGE
Left hander Thilina Kandamby boosted his chances of playing in the up
coming test series with a fighting half century for the Sri Lanka Board
XI on the opening day of their three day warm up match against the
touring Indian team which began at the NCC grounds, Maitland Place
yesterday.
Kandamby and Chamara Silva who also scored a fluent half century
helped the Board XI to make 224 runs in their first innings before
Dilhara Fernando struck in his very first over to leave the visitors at
four runs for one wicket before bad light ended play early.
Kandamby provided some real food for thought to the national
selectors by stroking an impressive 84 which contained all the
ingredients of a test batsman. He battled against a full strength Indian
pace spin attack for three hours while collecting his runs from 138
deliveries.
Kandamby who produced a similar effort against England in a three day
warm up match at the CCC grounds in Maitland Crescent last year batted
with a great amount of confidence after the Board XI had slumped to 82
for 4 at one stage.
The home side made a disastrous start to their innings after skipper
Jehan Mubarak had won the toss and elected to bat first in this only
warm up match for the Indians ahead of the three test series against Sri
Lanka which begins at the SSC grounds on July 23.
The openers Upul Tharanga and Mahela Udawatte who came into this game
under pressure could not last long with both failing to enter double
figures. The pair came up against some excellent hostile bowling from
Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma who exploited the conditions to good
effect.
Both gave India a flying start to the game by capturing a wicket each
during the first 30 minutes of play. Zaheer Khan also went on to beat
the defence of Chamara Kapugedera and the Board XI went in for lunch at
81 for 3 from 27 overs.
India continued with their all spin attack and they succeeded in
ending the stubborn resistance of skipper Jehan Mubarak who fell in the
second delivery after the lunch interval. The more established Chamara
Silva joined Kandamby and the pair brightened up things for the home
side with a century partnership for the fifth wicket.
Kandamby brought up his half century shortly after lunch by gliding
Munaf Patel to the third man boundary after his powerful stroke had
earlier struck the boot of umpire Maurice Zilva. Kandamby continued with
the good work and was well set to complete a century before he miscued a
pull shot from the bowling of Munaf Patel that brought his ultimate
downfall having struck eleven boundaries.
Meanwhile Chamara Silva cruised to another half century in style
after the game was halted for 15 minutes due to a slight drizzle.
The elegant right hander reached his milestone from 79 deliveries
with the help of one six and five boundaries.
SRI LANKA BOARD XI 1st innings
W.U. Tharanga lbw b Khan 6
M.L. Udawatte c Karthik b Sharma 7
J. Mubarak lbw b Harbhajan Singh 25
C.K. Kapugedera c Karthik b Khan 1
S.H.T. Kandamby c Karthik b Patel 84
L.P.C. Silva c Kumble b Harbhajan Singh 68
J.K. Silva lbw b Kumble 12
K.T.G.D. Prasad lbw b Kumble 0
H.M.R.K.B. Herath run out 1
S. Prasanna b Kumble 5
W.R.S. Silva not out 0
EXTRAS (b6, lb6, nb3) 15
TOTAL all out 224
Fall of wickets: 1-10-, 2-20, 3-22, 4-82, 5-182, 6-212, 7-212, 8-214, 9-223
Bowling: Z. Khan 12-2-35-2, I. Sharma 11-2-36-1, M.M. Patel 12-3-49-1,
S.C. Ganguly 6-1-10-0, Harbajan Singh 17.5-3-52-2, A. Kumble 13-4-30-3.
INDIA 1st innings
G. Gambhir c Mubarak b Fernando 4
V. Sehwag not out 0
EXTRAS 0
TOTAL for 1 wicket 4
To Bat: S.R. Tendulkar, R. Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman, K.D. Karthik, Z. Khan, A. Kumble, Harbajan Singh, M.M. Patel and I. Sharma
Fall of wickets: 1-4
Bowling: Fernando 0.4-0-4-1. |
