Depleted Sri Lanka eye series win over India

Sri Lanka hope to overcome a weakened bowling attack and secure a series-clinching win in the second Test against India, which starts on Monday, their first match in the post-Muttiah Muralitharan era.

By (AFP)

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Published: Sun 25 Jul 2010, 5:31 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Nov 2023, 3:34 PM

The world bowling record holder bid farewell to Test cricket last week by leading the hosts to an emphatic 10-wicket win in the first match in Galle, claiming eight scalps to end his career with 800 wickets.

Sri Lanka suffered a further blow ahead of the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) when sling-arm fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who grabbed 5-50 in the second innings at Galle, was ruled out with a knee injury.


Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara was confident the absence of Muralitharan and Malinga, who claimed 15 of the 20 Indian wickets between them, will not hamper his team’s progress in the series.

‘We are focused on winning the series,’ said Sangakkara. ‘We have bowlers who are looking for a chance to make a mark for themselves. This is their opportunity to prove themselves.’


Unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis will replace Muralitharan, while fast bowler Dilhara Fernando is expected to come in for Malinga.

Mendis, 25, is no stranger to the Indians, having grabbed 26 wickets in three Tests against them on his debut in 2008 to help Sri Lanka to a 2-1 home series win.

Mendis, who has 44 wickets so far in 10 Tests, reminded the Indians of his prowess when he took 6-67 in a three-day practice match at the start of the current tour.

Sangakkara said the SSC wicket will be as batting-friendly as in the past and urged his bowlers to maintain a tight length and line to keep the Indian batsmen in check.

The absence of Muralitharan and Malinga will bring relief to the Indians, who folded for 276 and 338 in good batting conditions at Galle to put their number one Test ranking at stake.

India cannot afford another slip-up, as a 2-0 or 3-0 series scoreline in Sri Lanka’s favour will remove Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men from the perch and lift the hosts to the top spot.

‘If we lose the number one ranking, we will try to get it back,’ said Dhoni. ‘We just have to play well and the rankings will take care of themselves.’

India’s lone series win in Sri Lanka came way back in 1993, but Dhoni was confident his team will bounce back in the remaining two Tests.

‘We have moved on from Galle,’ he said. ‘We obviously have to bat better and ensure we don’t commit the same mistakes. We are looking to fight back.’

India managed to take just eight Sri Lankan wickets in Galle as off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, the bowling spearhead in the absence of injured paceman Zaheer Khan, failed to strike in either innings.

Opener Murali Vijay was placed on stand-by after Gautam Gambhir missed training on Sunday with a knee strain, but Dhoni ruled out playing a fifth bowler, saying India had won matches in the past with four bowlers.

Opener Virender Sehwag, who hit a robust 109 in the first innings and a double-century on the previous tour in 2008, is the only Indian to reach three figures in a Test in Sri Lanka since 1999.

But the tourists will be heartened by a fluent 84 from veteran Sachin Tendulkar and half-centuries from Yuvraj Singh and VVS Laxman in the first Test.


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