• Welcome to the Cricket Web forums, one of the biggest forums in the world dedicated to cricket.

    You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join the Cricket Web community today!

    If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

Sri Lanka's Rise to the Top (ICC 2005 story)

Robertinho

Cricketer Of The Year
(considering I now have ICC 2005 and will never touch 2002 again, I wanted to have another story - Sri Lanka :p)

BREAKING NEWS
The Sri Lankan cricket board today announced the sacking of former coach Tom Moody for fellow Australian Robertinho Dela Cruz. It's reported that the board were sick of Moody being "moody" constantly. Dela Cruz is an unknown in the world of cricket - it's believed he played backyard cricket during childhood years yet currently that is purely speculation.

The move comes just before the Sri Lankan test series against the West Indies and it's rumoured to be a "must-win" series for the team.

The board defended it's appointment of Dela Cruz as an attempt to "freshen the side up", and said it hoped Dela Cruz would be able to help the ageing side transition from old to new.
 

Robertinho

Cricketer Of The Year
Sri Lanka vs West Indies, 1st Test at Colombo

Sri Lanka XI:

M. Atapattu
S. Jayasuriya (c)
D. Jayawardene
H. Tillakaratne
T. Samaraweera
K. Sangakkara (wk)
U. Chandana
K. Fernando
W. Vaas
M. Muralitharan
D. Zoysa


West Indies XI:

C. Gayle
D. Smith
B. Lara (c)
S. Chanderpaul
R. Sarwan
R. Hinds
R. Jacobs (wk)
D. Mohammed
R. Cunningham
C. Collymore
J. Lawson


In all honesty, I'm pretty confident we can win this one, West Indies have some stars but really not that great a side. We've definitely got the wood over them in the bowling department and I'd also go as far as to say the batting aswell.
 

Robertinho

Cricketer Of The Year
Sri Lanka vs West Indies, 1st Test at Colombo

The pitch looked to be a spinner's pitch and with Muralitharan, I was hoping to win the toss and bowl first. Unluckily Lara won the toss and sent us in to bat first.


Atapattu and Jayasuriya began steadily, the score working it's way to 75 before Dave Mohammed bowled Atapattu for 34. Cunningham struck soon after, bowling Jayawardene for just 8, Sri Lanka poised at 2/84. Old hands Tillakaratne and Jayasuriya were very clinical in their 89-run stand, and Jayasuriya was very unlucky to miss out on his century, bowled by Cunningham on 94, Sri Lanka reduced to 3/173. Samaraweera looked like he would go on to a bigger score but was run out by a direct hit on 27 (the score 4/223).

Tillakaratne had ever so carefully compiled his half century off 152 balls when Sangakkara came to the crease. He raced along to 6 before Lawson struck, getting a nick which carried to Jacobs, the Sri Lankans now at 5/230. Tillakaratne smashed Cunningham for 4 and in doing so, brought up a very well deserved century, which took 240 balls to achieve. Tillakaratne and Chandana had been solid in their 78 run partnership, unbeaten and the score at 5/308, with Tillakaratne 102* and Chandana 28*. Disaster struck, however, in the 134th over when Chandana was trapped in front by Hinds 3 runs short of his half century. Tillakaratne fell in the next over for 120, the score having been reduced from 5/345 to 7/345 in just 5 balls. The exposed tail then wagged admirably carrying the score to 434 all out, Fernando with 22, Vaas with 17, Zoysa with 19 and Murali with an unbeaten 23.

Scorecard -

 
Last edited:

Robertinho

Cricketer Of The Year
Sri Lanka vs West Indies, 1st Test at Colombo

Behind by 434 runs, the West Indies were stuck in between a rock and hard place and on a pitch that even Giles could turn it on, they would face a huge challenge against the brilliance of Muralitharan.

Zoysa struck early, drawing Smith into a drive which landed straight in Jayawardene's hands at first slip. Zoysa struck again, removing Gayle for 29, singlehandedly bringing the score to 2/45. It took a whole 29 overs until the two pronged spin attack of Murali and Samaraweera was brought in. They worked hard to no avail for some time as Lara and Chanderpaul worked away, until Murali bowled a ripping doosra which Lara, who was on 54, could not pick and as a result went on to send his bails flying, West Indies 3/129. Murali removed the other danger man in Chanderpaul soon after for 46, the score 4/145. Zoysa was brought back into the attack and took his third wicket, clean bowling Hinds for 26 and cutting the score down to 5/204.

The new ball was taken immediately and Zoysa moved one step closer to a 5-for with a magnificent slower ball which removed Sarwan's middle stump while he sat on 37, the score having only moved to 6/205. Murali was brought back in soon later and wasted no time in removing Jacobs for 12 thanks to a good catch for Jayawardene in the slips. The West Indies looked in trouble at 7/226, still 208 runs behind. Two balls later Murali took his fourth wicket, removing Cunningham in the exact same fashion as Jacobs' dismissal, Jayawardene taking another beauty, the score 8/226, West Indies requiring 8 runs with 2 wickets in hand to avoid the follow on. Murali completed his 5-for with a ripping off spinner which dazzled Collymore and removed his middle stump, the score 9/228, 6 runs to avoid the follow on. West Indies managed to scrounge an extra 14 runs to avoid the follow until Mohammed was removed by the destroyer Muralitharan, who finished with figures of 30.4-8-61-6. West Indies all out for 242, 192 runs behind.

 

Robertinho

Cricketer Of The Year
Sri Lanka vs West Indies, 1st Test Match at Colombo

Atapattu and Jayasuriya got off to a very promising start, Atapattu making 53 in a 132 run partnership before he was dismissed. Jayasuriya confirmed his status as the unluckiest batsman, going out again in the nineties (92) to a nippy Cunningham delivery which he dragged onto his stumps. From this point on, the batting was quite loose and attacking, with Jayawardene, Samaraweera, Chandana and Fernando all disappointing with the bat. However, Tillakaratne hit 42 off 61 and Sangakkara hit an unbeaten 54 off 72.

Despite setting a formidable 489 run chase for the West Indies, I'm worried about our ability to get them out, because Vaas was injured and he'll take no further part in the game.

 

Robertinho

Cricketer Of The Year
Chasing a mammoth 489 in 1 day, the West Indies were faced an enormous task, however with Vaas, it would be Zoysa and Fernando opening the bowling...

Fernando, with some tight bowling, managed to send Smith back to the pavillion with a duck, a beautiful inswinger cleaning up his stumps. Gayle and Lara added a vital 82 runs before Murali drew Gayle into a mistimed sweep shot which went straight to Jayawardene, the score 2/90. Lara and Chanderpaul worked away, adding 105 runs to the total before a silly run saw Chanderpaul run out for 41. With 1 hour left of play, Zoysa removed Lara who had played beautifully for his 115, the West Indies 4/244. Chandada struck soon after, drawing Hinds down the pitch for a Sangakkara stumping, the score 5/267.

Some negative batting from the West Indies saw them 5/277 at the end of the match, which ended in a draw. Annoyed at not getting a win, but happy to have dominated throughout the match.



 

Robertinho

Cricketer Of The Year
Sri Lanka vs West Indies, 2nd Test at Colombo

There were two negatives from the previous game - the fact we couldn't bowl them out, and the fact Vaas was out for 2 weeks. The decision was made that Gamage and Fernando would come into the team for Dilshan and Vaas.

The teams:

 

Robertinho

Cricketer Of The Year
Sri Lanka vs West Indies, 2nd Test at Colombo

We lost the toss on a flat pitch and were immediately sent in to field. Zoysa and Gamage were the two opening bowlers.

Zoysa struck early by pitching it right up to Gayle who went for the slog but edged it through to Sangakkara, the scoreboard having just ticked over to 1/2. Lara entrance saw an immediate jump in the run rate - the star getting stuck into every single bowler until, with a stroke of luck, Kandana Fernando snuck a slower ball through his defence to remove middle stump, however the score had been moved to 2/112. Fernando wasted no time in securing his second wicket, with yet another slower ball which was a carbon copy of the Lara dismissal - sending Smith back to the pavillion with the Windies sitting at 3/117. A wonderful spell from Fernando saw him strike in the next over, trapping Sarwan in front for a duck and keeping the score at 4/117. Hinds and Chanderpaul got to work adding runs, yet another Fernando - Kandage, this time round - managed to get a slight deflection from Hinds' outside edge which carried beautifully to Sangakkara, Windies looking in trouble at 5/163 (from an attractive position of 1/112).

Chanderpaul, who acted as a rock when those around him crumbled, combined with the attacking mentality of Jacobs and the pair got on top for a while, only until Jacobs mistimed a straight drive which flew into the waiting hands of Sangakkara, for a respectable score of 40 and more importantly, played an important role in the 69 run partnership that saw the score taken to 6/232. Dave Mohammed and Chanderpaul worked well in their 50 run partnership, which was cut short by quicker one from Gamage which trapped Chanderpaul leg before for 73, the West Indies now at 7/282, a truly admirable batting display by the lower order. Kandana was brought into the attack and immediately removed not only Tino Best, but one of the stumps aswell, West Indies now reduced to 8/289. A fighting 38 from Mohammed was cut short by one that carried, Gamage taking his second and more importantly, left the West Indies at an unlikely 9/302. The innings finally came to a close with Fernando 5-for and the removal of Collymore's off stump, the Windies posting a fine 310 all out, Fernando the stand out bowler with 17.1-4-34-5.

 

Robertinho

Cricketer Of The Year
Sri Lanka vs West Indies, 2nd Test at Colombo

Atapattu and Jayasuriya looked threatening until Dave Mohammed struck and removed Jayasuriya for 56, the score having just reached 100. Sangakkara (12) and Jayawardene (10) fell soon after, however Tillakaratne (35) provided a bit more resistance as Atapattu brought up his century in emphatic style with a superbly timed 4 on the last ball of day 2. Samaraweera came to the crease at 4/252 - and managed a nice half century and added 113 runs with Atapattu until Marvin fell an agonising 14 runs short of the double century, falling victim to Hinds. Samaraweera soon fell for 61, Sri Lanka 62 runs ahead at 6/372 just before tea on day 3.

The two K Fernandos found themselves batting together - Kandage on 5* and Kandana the new batsman. The rest of the batsmen put the pedal to the metal, with some big hitting from Kandana (34), Murali (16) and Gamage (11) racing the innings to an end, all out for 447 and 137 runs ahead.

 

cameeel

International Captain
Robertinho said:
Sri Lanka vs West Indies, 2nd Test at Colombo

Atapattu and Jayasuriya looked threatening until Dave Mohammed struck and removed Jayasuriya for 56, the score having just reached 100. Sangakkara (12) and Jayawardene (10) fell soon after, however Tillakaratne (35) provided a bit more resistance as Atapattu brought up his century in emphatic style with a superbly timed 4 on the last ball of day 2.

Shades of Waugh there..
 

Robertinho

Cricketer Of The Year
Sri Lanka vs West Indies, 2nd Test at Colombo

Ahead by 137 runs and with over 2 days to go, we were confident that some good bowling would hand us the match. For this innings, Kandana Fernando and Gamage were chosen to open the bowling. Gayle played well for his 26, but threw his wicket away, slashing at a Fernando ball well outside offstump, which went to Tillakaratne, 1/41 and 96 runs behind. Fernando, with immense form on his side, charged on, luring Lara into a slog which went directly to Atapattu, snaring the prized wicket for just 3 runs, 2/45 and still 92 runs behind. The next over Gamage joined the carnage, with Chanderpaul hitting the ball cleanly but directly to silly mid wicket where it was caught easily, the score now at 3/50, and 87 runs behind, with Gayle, Lara and Chanderpaul all MIA.

Sarwan and Smith were a shining light for the West Indies, Sarwan blasting his way to 74, lifting the score up to 4/183 in a scintillating 133 run partnership with Smith, until he was bowled by a nippy delivery from Zoysa, the West Indies now 46 runs ahead, effectively 4/46. Jubilation was followed by heartbreak for the West Indies as Smith worked a ball away behind square leg for his century, only to be run out by a direct hit going back for the second - the score 5/225, effectively 5/88. Just minutes later, a magnificent reflex catch by Jayawardene off Gamage's bowling saw the dismissal of Hinds for 23, the Windies 6 wickets down and just 93 runs ahead. The 92 over old ball helped Samaraweera pick up Jacobs for just 2, after a good catch by Fernando, the Windies now effectively 7/104. Samaraweera, having had about 10 chances, took the wicket of Tino Best with ease, the ball turning sharply from the rough and hitting him plumb. Samaraweera's mayhem did not stop, he soon removed Collymore thanks to Fernando's reflex catching at silly mid wicket. He snared his fourth wicket in Dave Mohammed, a simple catch for Sangakkara, the West Indies having crumbled from 4/225 to 257 all out, the lead a meagre 120 runs.

 

_Ed_

Request Your Custom Title Now!
Going well in this game, great all-round performance from Samaraweera.

Keep it up!
 

Robertinho

Cricketer Of The Year
Sri Lanka vs West Indies, 2nd Test at Colombo

There was a somewhat long break between innings, but Atapattu and Jayasuriya came to the crease, with 14 minutes left on Day 4, chasing 121 to win. Immediately they took it to the bowlers, Atapattu working his way to 47 from 63 before the first wicket fell at 1/101. However, it took only a few more overs before the game was Sri Lanka's, Jayasuriya top scoring with a magnificent 63* from 68 balls. The target was reached in 23.1 overs, which ended a terrible game for the West Indies.





Atapattu got a very well deserved Mom, with 186 (405) & 47 (63). Kandana Fernando was the crop of the bowlers with 5/34 and 2/57.

Overall, this match was a great success, with some decent bowling and some great batting. However, we allowed them to make 300+ in the first innings which we'll look to fix in the next match.
 

Robertinho

Cricketer Of The Year
Sri Lanka vs West Indies, 2 Test Match Series



We dominated the series and won, in the end, quite comfortably. We should have won the first test, and overwhelmed them in the second. A good effort by everyone.

The two openers can take credit for alot of our success - our first wicket partnerships were 75, 132, 100 & 101.
Code:
M	I	R	AVE	HS	50s	100s
2	4	408	102.00	132	1	3
They were also the top scorers, both reaching 300 runs. I think the batting performance was good, however it seems Jayawardene's career could be over.



Bowling wise, I'd say we can definitely improve. Were it not for some great bowling by individuals (1st test - Murali 6/61, Zoysa 4/56. 2nd test - Fernando 5/34, Samaraweera 4/13) we may have found ourselves struggling a little bit. The good thing about this though, shows that all of our bowlers can win matches, and if they all fire in the same match, then.. well, you know :)



The man of the series goes to...

Sanath Jayasuriya! The skipper performed admirably, scoring a half century in every single innings, together with Atapattu easing the pressure from the rest of the batting order and giving us great starts. His scores were 94, 92, 56 & 63*. He amassed 305 runs at an average of 101.67 and a strikerate of 51.78.

Next up, we have a triangular with the West Indies and India, no doubt a tough series.
 

Top