Galle: day two washed out without any play

Agencies

Galle, 19 July 2010:  Unrelenting rain played spoilsport as the second day of the first cricket Test between India and Sri Lanka was called off without a single ball being bowled here on Monday. Sri Lanka remained on their overnight score of 256 for two and the washout has now greatly diminished the prospects of a result in Muttiah Muralitharan’s swansong Test. The outfield was already wet due to overnight showers and things only got worse due to more rain on Monday morning.

The brief appearance made by the sun in the afternoon, which prompted the ground staff to take off the covers, turned out to be a false dawn as it started pouring soon after, leaving the match officials with no choice but to call off the day’s proceedings at about 1500 hrs (local Time). It is monsoon season in Sri Lanka right now and the weatherman has predicted overcast conditions for all five days of the match.

 

 

The Test has risen in profile as veteran Sri Lankan off-spinner Muralitharan is set to bid adieu to his 18-year-old career at the end of it but rains gods are threatening to play spoilsport. The Lankans have dominated whatever little play has been possible so far. Captain Kumar Sangakkara and Tharanga Paranavitana struck centuries on the opening day as Sri Lanka laid the foundation for a mammoth first innings against a lacklustre India.

Sangakkara (103) notched up his 22nd century while Paranavitana (110 batting) scored his maiden ton, exposing India’s bowling failities to pile up 256 for two on a rain-truncated first day. Electing to bat, the Sri Lankan batsmen capitalised on easy batting conditions at the Galle International Stadium to take control of the match. It has been a miserable outing so far for the Indians with a depleted bowling attack struggling to make any impact on the Sri Lankan batsmen who scored at a brisk pace under overcast conditions.

 

Earlier Report: Galle, rain stops, play might resume later

 

The rain has stopped in Galle and play might be possible some time later in the day. No play has been possible so far on the second day of the first test match between India and Sri Lanka. Earlier, play was expected to start after lunch but that looks difficult now. An official word from the umpires though is awaited.

 

The hosts would have hoped for the action to start especially after they made the Indian bowling without Zaheer and Sreesanth look pretty ordinary. A partnership of 173 runs between Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakarra and opener Tharanga Paranavitana set the tone for the home team. The hosts finished Day 1 on 256/2 with Mahela Jayawardene and Paranavitana at the crease. For India Abhimanyu Mithun playing his debut test match and Virender Sehwag took the two wickets to fall.

 

The hosts took full advantage of the toothless Indian bowling attack. The visitors did not make things an easier for themselves by dropping catches even if they were half chances. Sangakkara and Paranavitana were both given lives before scoring their respective centuries. The Indian cause was not helped by the health of Harbhajan Singh who was suffering from both flu and a troubled hamstring.

 

The Indians could have had Dilshan early but an lbw appeal was turned down by umpire Daryl Harper. The Indians who ended up with egg on their faces when the last time they toured Sri Lanka a couple of years ago because of the UDRS system opted not to go for it this time and paid the price for it.

 

Muralitharan who is eight wickets away from 800 test wickets might not reach the magical figure if the rain gods have their way over the next few days. But according to the little master Sachin Tendulkar, "Murali will not be a lesser bowler if he does not touch the 800 figure or be a greater bowler if he if he crosses that mark."